He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace. Micah 5:4-5
To convey comfort in times of crisis people often say, “everything’s going to be alright.”
Yet, I don’t find this comforting. I think to myself, “How can you possibly know everything’s going to be alright? The truth is, for all you know, things could get worse. Unless you’re God and in charge of all future circumstances how could you possibly know that everything is going to be alright?” I don’t express this out loud because I know their intentions are well-meaning.
In this prophecy, through Micah, God is telling us everything is going to be alright. We will live securely and in peace. God can say this because he’s in charge of all future circumstances and he is responsible for all outcomes, therefore, he can guarantee the safety of those who trust in him. He brings comfort by giving us a sure hope.
This hope is based on his greatness. He tells us he will shepherd his people. He will guard, care and direct his people like a shepherd looking after his sheep. Whereas a human shepherd may meet circumstances he can’t control—excessive heat, flood, pests, but God never meets a circumstance that surprises him or one he can’t change. He acts in strength and majesty that is, with power and authority over every situation. This gives us such confidence that we never have to fear the future.
Only God is powerful enough to guarantee the security of his people. I can feel safe.
