ESOCS Devotional 9 February 2024 – A Baseless Cry
MEMORY VERSE: “Now why dost thou cry out aloud? Is there no king in thee? Is thy counsellor perished? For pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.” Micah 4:9
TEXT: MICAH 4:8-END
And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
11 Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
12 But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
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Before this glorious revival, the prophet foresees calamity and exile in the nearer future; yet, he bids the people not to despair: “Why dost thou cry out aloud?” The prophet hears the cry of Zion, and asks the cause: “Is there no king in thee? Hast thou lost thy king? Is this the reason of thy sorrow?” The allusion is to the captivity of Jehoiachin and Zedekiah (2 Kings 24, 25.). The loss of the king, the representative of the help and favour of God was a token of the withdrawal of the Divine protection (Lamentations 4:20; Hosea 13:10). Thy counsellor. A synonym for “king” in Aramaic means “to counsel.” In Isaiah 9:6, the Messiah is called “Counsellor.” The comparison of sorrow of heart to the anguish of labour pains is very common (Isaiah 13:8; Jeremiah 6:24; 6:43; Hosea 13:13).
Many nations would assemble against Zion to rejoice in her calamities. They would not understand that the Lord had collected them as sheaves are gathered to be threshed; and that Zion would be strengthened to beat them to pieces.
Dearly beloved, there are so much in stock for you in Christ Jesus, regardless of your present status. God will make every stumbling block before now your stepping stone and all who asked you, “Who are you?”, will return to ask how are you. Jeremiah 1:5 told us He has the master plan, don’t lose hope; it will certainly end in praise. When God has conquering work for His people to do, He will furnish them with strength and ability for it.
Believers should cry aloud under distresses, with the prayer of faith, not with despondency. When God reveals the future, His purpose goes beyond satisfying our curiosity. He wants us to change our present behaviour because of what we know about the future. Forever begins now, and a glimpse of God’s plan for His followers should motivate me to serve Him, no matter what the rest of the world may say.
- Steadfastness and faithfulness to God are important Christian amours. Those who wear them always emerge as winners. Ensure that you are one of them.
- O God, give me the Spirit of Christ that I may be able to stand strong in the day of trial.
Further Reading: Isaiah 59:9-15; Matthew 34:34-43; 1 John 5:1-12
ESOCS Devotional 9 February 2024
