Micah

Micah 2: God gathers His flock

Begin in prayer

Before you read how the LORD judges those who take fields and houses, and gathers His flock under a King, please ask Him to speak to your family. Ask Him to show you where you want only pleasant words, and to lead you to His Shepherd.

Yahweh executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed.

Psalm 103:6

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You judge those who take from others, and show us Jesus, the Shepherd who leads His sheep. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Micah 2 begins with a woe on people who plan evil on their beds and carry it out when the morning is light. They want fields and houses, so they seize them, and the LORD says He is planning a disaster they cannot escape. The people tell Micah, “Don’t prophesy”, and they say disgrace will not overtake them. They would rather have a prophet who talks of wine and strong drink, and the LORD says they have risen up as His enemy. He tells them to arise and leave, for this land is not their resting place. Then the sorrow turns to hope, as the LORD promises to gather the remnant of Israel like sheep in a pasture. Their King will pass on before them, with the LORD at their head.

As you read Micah 2, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God judges those who take fields and houses from others, and He will gather His people under their King.

Each family’s land was its heritage from the LORD, who said that the land was His (Leviticus 25 verse 23). So when powerful men seized a family’s fields and house, they took what the LORD had given that family (verse 2). They made their plans on their beds and carried them out when the morning was light (verse 1). Their answer to Micah was “Don’t prophesy”, so they wanted a prophet who talked about wine and strong drink (verses 6 and 11). A people who love sin hate a true word, and only a word that excuses them sounds like good news. Yet the LORD says, “I will surely gather the remnant of Israel”, like sheep in the middle of their pasture (verse 12). The one who breaks open the way goes up before them, and their king goes with the LORD at their head (verse 13). Jesus called Himself the good shepherd, who goes before His own sheep and they follow Him (John 10 verses 4 and 11).

How does Micah 2 show us that God judges those who take fields and houses from others, and gathers His people under their King?

The LORD sees the evil plans made on their beds.

These men planned evil on their beds and did it when the morning was light (verse 1). They seized fields and houses, and they oppressed a man and his family (verse 2). Because they took what the LORD had given, He plans a disaster against them (verse 3). Their own fields will be taken and given to others (verse 4). They will have no one to divide the land by lot in the LORD’s assembly (verse 5).

People who love their sin do not want the truth.

The people tell Micah, “Don’t prophesy”, and they say disgrace will never come to them (verse 6). They think the LORD’s Spirit could not be angry with them (verse 7). They would welcome a prophet who talked of wine and strong drink (verse 11). A hard word from God is a kindness to sinners, because it warns them to turn before judgment comes.

The LORD gathers His flock, and a King goes before them.

The LORD promises to gather the remnant of Israel, the people left after the judgment, like sheep in a pasture (verse 12). A king passes on before them with the LORD at their head (verse 13). Jesus is the King who leads His flock. He said the good shepherd goes before his sheep, and they follow Him because they know His voice (John 10 verse 4).

Memorise

I will surely assemble, Jacob, all of you; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel

Micah 2:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what hard word from God do I push away, and why do I need Jesus?

The people told Micah, “Don’t prophesy”, because they wanted words that pleased them. The LORD, though, promised to “gather the remnant of Israel”, and said their king would pass on “before them, with Yahweh at their head”. Sinners who love their own way do not want a shepherd, and none of us can find our own way home.

Jesus is the good Shepherd who came for lost sheep. He went before His flock to the cross, where He gave Himself as a ransom and paid fully for their sins. Death could not keep Him, for He rose, and He lives to lead His own.

Come to Him now, and do not wait for a softer word. Turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Every lost sheep that follows His voice will find forgiveness and a safe place in His flock.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God judges those who take from others, and that Jesus is the Shepherd who leads His own. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Parents, please explain verses 8 and 9 in your own words, as they speak of women driven from their homes.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He gathers His flock under a King, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For you were going astray like sheep; but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 2:25

Lord God, thank You that You see how people are wronged, and that You gather Your flock under a King. Please lead us to Jesus, the Shepherd of the sheep. Forgive our sins as we turn to Him, and help our family to hear Your hard words gladly. Amen.