Micah 7:16-20
16 Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their power. They will put their hands over their mouths and their ears will become deaf.
17 They will lick dust like a snake, like creatures that crawl on the ground. They will come trembling out of their dens; they will turn in fear to the Lord our God and will be afraid of you.
18 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
19 You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
20 You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago.
Commentary on Micah 7:18
When God is preparing to deliver His people, He often moves others to pray for them. The prophet’s prayer can be seen as pointing to Christ, the Good Shepherd, who leads and cares for His church as they live in the world but do not belong to it. In response, God promises to act with power like in past miracles. Sin leads to bondage, but God’s forgiveness brings freedom. Those who receive His mercy can only stand in awe of it.
When God removes the guilt of sin, He also breaks its power, so it no longer rules over us. On our own, sin would overwhelm us, but God’s grace is enough to overcome it. When He forgives, He completely removes sin, casting it far away so it will never be held against us again.
God faithfully completes His work in us and fulfills all He has promised. These promises point to Christ, the spread of the gospel, the restoration of His people, and the ultimate triumph of true faith. Not one of God’s promises will fail. He is faithful to do all He has said, giving strong hope to those who trust in Him through Christ.