Intro. The Grace of God has provided deliverance for all, through the grace of the greatest preacher that ever lived, God in the Flesh, Jesus.
He intervened, when I was doomed, on my behalf! His grace still amazes Me.
Yet, we ignore the one that has supplied the means to redeem us from our human fall of sin! In the first few verses of this chapter, we find the condition of a world far from God. In verse 2, mankind is identified - There is none righteous! We neglect to see a Holy God who stooped down to save us! Oh, we want to think of ourselves better, but in reality, we all need God, and we know it! When God is left out of peoples lives, society will face their hardest and saddest times. THERE IS NO HOPE, NO JOY, NO TRUE FRIENDSHIP, without the True God.
Verse 18 is our text and it is the theme verse of this book. This book of prophecy speaks of judgment, but the declaration at the end of the book reveals the motive of the message! Judgment coming, but ends with the Question: “Who is a God like unto thee?” There is none! Today I can say with the uttermost confidence and faith that the other gods of this world pale in comparison to my wonderful and awesome God.
There is no God besides him, none so great, so mighty, as He; none like him for the perfections of his nature; for the works of his hands; for the blessings of his goodness, both of providence and grace; and particularly for his pardoning grace and mercy.
Even by the very name of the Prophet, that God through his Sovereignty chose to write this prophecy, it is seen. The name Micah means: “Who is like God?” Now join me in the wonderful conclusion of this chapter in vs. 7-19
I. My God is Supreme in Deliverance - vs. 7-12 You see, I’ve been Rescued. Anywhere you find the judgment of God - Deliverance is somewhere close at hand!
A. He Will Hear - vs. 7 - Psalms 4:3 "But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him." You need His ear, just cry out to Him!
B. He Will Give Light - vs. 8-9 I once sat in darkness, but now I can see! Psalms 107:14 "He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. 15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" You need His light, just cry out to Him!
C. He will defeat the Enemies - vs. 10-12 Here the prophet also looks to the future deliverance of Israel out of bondage that he has prophesied - But we too can look for coming deliverance!
2 Timothy 4:18 "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Almighty God has RESCUED ME!
My flesh, my ability, my thinking, nor my frail goodness was enough!
Romans 5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
II. He is Supreme in His Care - vs. 14 No Shepherd like my Shepherd!
The only benefit of Salvation is not just deliverance, it is also Companionship! The Theme of the Shepherd is found in Micah 2 and 4, but no better place to see this care than to Quickly look at Psalm 23 - Under the care of the Shepherd, the sheep will lack nothing needed - "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!"
A. I will not lack Rest - vs. 2 - He maketh me to rest, while He watches me!
A man by the name of Phillip Keller wrote a book about Psalm 23, and He said there were four things that must be done in order for a sheep to lie down:
1. Free from all Fear - That is my Shepherd - Romans 8:15 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
2. Free from Friction with other Sheep - John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
3. Free from Torment by pests or parasites - Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
4. Free from hunger - Isaiah 49:10 "They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them." So the Psalmist, who was a shepherd, had found his Shepherd to be sufficient! There is no other Shepherd like my Shepherd!
B. I will not Lack Guidance - vs. 2-3 - The Shepherd leads them to good grazing land, yet some still wander to barren fields.
C. I will not Lack Safety - vs. 4 - This talks of the Shepherd’s ability to protect in the face of danger! The valleys are the places of the richest pasture and abundant water, but they are also places of danger. Predators and Storms! But the Shepherd is able to care for His Sheep.
D. I will not lack Provision - vs. 5 “Thou Preparest a table” - the indication that the Shepherd goes before to remove any hazards, or any poison plants, or the predators from where the sheep will graze!
John 10:1 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." THERE IS NO SHEPHERD LIKE MY SHEPHERD!
III. He is Supreme in Mercy - vs. 18-20
You may be here today with a burden that you cannot bear! You realize you want this Shepherd – Just come, you will find Mercy. He is Supreme
A. The Pardon - It means He “lifts it off of them”
B. The Passing - He takes no notice of it any longer! That is freedom!
There is no pursuit of my offense against Him!
C. The Pleasure - He does not hold His anger, but “finds pleasure” in Mercy! AND GOD ENJOYS HIS MERCY!
D. The Permanence - vs. 19 - He threw them away!
And as I said a few weeks ago - Aren’t you glad that sins do not float! Once you confess and forsake your sins - They are gone!
THERE IS NO GOD LIKE MY GOD!
Concl. Have you been to Calvary? Have you trusted Christ for eternal Salvation?
John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." You need Mercy, You need Forgiveness, You need Grace, just come to the one that Shed His Blood for You!
His Grace Still Amazes Me - No God like my God, and no Grace like His Grace!
Disclaimer: A man once told me that if it is true, it is not new. If it is new, it is not true. We all know there is nothing new under the sun. With that said, I glean ideas for my sermons from God’s Word, my own thoughts and work, and many other sources. Any similarity to my sermons and others, where credit is not given, is either coincidental, or an unintentional mistake on my part. As none of us have a corner on the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word, it is my desire that any of my outlines be an encouragement, a help, and hopefully a motivation for others to preach God’s Word clearly. Please feel free to use any portion of my sermons if they can be of help to you and your ministry. It is all for His Glory.
