Micah: Justice + MercySample

Sin and Holiness

By Gary Aydniec

“And this One shall be peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land, and when he treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princely men. They shall waste with the sword the land of Assyria, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; thus He shall deliver us from the Assyrian, when he comes into our land and when he treads within our borders.” Micah 5:5–6 (NKJV)

The biggest promise of the Bible, and all throughout the Bible, is the promise of the Messiah. This One, or this Man, shall be called “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV), “For He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14 NKJV). There’s a time coming for us believers when we’ll have peace that will last through all eternity. 

This is very significant in order for us to understand today’s passage. Let’s review this from a nation against nation view and then look at this from a personal perspective. The nation of Assyria was used by God to discipline the children of Israel for turning away from Him and the covenant law which should have been the standard for their lives. Babylon was in Assyria and was a rod in God’s hand for that discipline. Knowing this discipline worked, we can see the outcome and hope it will be the same on a personal level. 

Jerusalem was God’s kingdom for the people on earth while Assyria was Satan’s kingdom. God used the buffeting of Satan to bring the children of Israel back in line. Once there, they’d finally have the peace and protection they sought and would have had if they had never turned away from Him. In Revelation 21:1 (NKJV), we’re told there will be “a new heaven and a new earth,” and God’s rule will be the only rule—no more Assyria only Jerusalem, no more carnality only holiness, no more discipline only obedience. 

On a personal level, we’re called to be holy people set apart from sin and for God. Just as Abraham was called out of Ur of the Chaldeans, we’re called out of the life of sin and the world in us. Assyria represents sin and everything that is against God. God will use that sin to bring us either to our utter destruction or total submission to Him. 

In today’s passage, the seven shepherds and the eight princely men for the nation of Israel represent care (shepherd) and protection (prince) and also speaks of moving on from being sheep under the care of the shepherd to being children submitted to their King. The number seven is the number of completeness and the number eight is the number of new beginnings. Once we have dealt with our sin life and truly given ourselves to our holy God, we will be complete and experience the new beginning in the freedom Christ bought for us on the cross and through His resurrection. 

Pause: What does it mean to be holy and set apart? How can we live this out practically today? 

Practice: Let’s stop taking God’s grace for granted or using it to excuse our sin. “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13 NKJV). Confess and forsake sin, become complete in Christ, and enjoy your new beginning.

Pray: Holy God of creation and my Father in heaven, thank You that You will use what has been against me to bring me into a deeper relationship with You. I confess my blatant sin to You and ask You to forgive me as I leave it behind and move closer to You in humble submission to You and all You ask of me. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ holy name I pray. Amen.