Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Monday after Misericordias Domini

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Micah 2:12-13 (NKJV)

2:12 “I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, like a flock in the midst of their pasture; They shall make a loud noise because of so many people.


13 “The one who breaks open will come up before them; They will break out, pass through the gate, and go out by it; Their king will pass before them, with the Lord at their head.”


Devotion
The prophet Micah, a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah, prophesied of the return of God’s people, even before they had gone into exile (1:16)! Micah emphasized God’s comfort—a comfort which they would need during their future exile in Babylon and the Jewish dispersion throughout the world. Three verbs are used to show the certainty of God’s action: assemble, gather, and put them together. Although only a faithful remnant would come back, God would multiply that remnant so that they would become a great people. Micah said that the praise and rejoicing of God’s flock would become “a loud noise because of so many people.” Of prime importance is that the LORD (Yahweh) would be their king! He would be “at their head.”


In the Christian Church believers are “called, gathered, enlightened, and sanctified.” We had been sold in slavery to sin, but our Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, has come and saved us. Our Lord has led us through death and the grave so that we may not fear. Because He did “break out,” we too “will break out” of the bonds of sin and death. Through the preaching of the Word and the administration of the Sacraments we are gathered out of the world into the holy Christian Church and His flock. We remain safe in His fold.


Just as Moses led God’s people out and the LORD was with them, so now our King Jesus passes before us and is seated at the right hand of God. We will pass through the gates of the shadow of death and be welcomed into His heavenly kingdom.


We pray: O heavenly Father, gather us from the east and the west along with the faithful remnant that we may sit down with them in the kingdom of heaven. Amen.


Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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