My Cup Overflows
“I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their king will pass through before them, the LORD at their head.”
Micah 2:12-13
Doom and gloom; doom and gloom! I don’t know about you but that’s how I look at the writings of the minor prophets, in the main. We study the likes of Micah who spat out the truth of God in no uncertain terms, and so he should. The people needed to understand they couldn’t continue to disobey the Law as God set it out in the Mosaic covenant. There were consequences. Hear says Micah in classical Hebrew poetry style (1:2); Listen (3:1, 6:1): the LORD does not like your sin.
Then in pops a ray of hope from the Lord. There is one who will gather that remnant of Israel, break through the gate, and go before them—their King, their LORD, their Shepherd.
That was then (and in their future); this is now. The one who breaks open the way has come. But here’s the problem: it’s still doom and gloom with the world today who say there is no God.
For those of us who know the Shepherd, it’s an entirely different story. I am drawn to the 23rd Psalm (NLT):
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need: rest in green meadows, beside peaceful streams; strength for my days; guidance along right paths bringing honor to His name; comfort and protection in the darkest valleys.
You prepare a feast for me: a victory banquet over death; my head anointed with oil; my cup overflowing with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life: all the days of my earthly life.
And I will live in the house of the LORD forever:
Hardly seems fair: doom and gloom on one hand, overflowing blessings on the other. But God is unable to turn a blind eye on sin. Thank goodness for His love nature that offers a cup overflowing to all. The choice is yours if you have not already made it.
Nancy P\
All Scripture quotations are from the NIV 1973,1978,1984, unless otherwise noted.
