Like Snakes of the Earth

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

​​They shall crawl from their holes like snakes of the earth.
​​They shall be afraid of the LORD our God,
​​And shall fear because of You.
​​Who is a God like You,
​​Pardoning iniquity>
​​And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? (Micah 7:17-18)

When I thought of St. Patrick, I recalled the legend of him driving all the snakes out of Ireland. I guess I could have thought of men in plaid skirts squeezing air bladders, but that one didn't come up first. The context of Micah's prophecy speaks of a time when nations will come against Israel, but God will in that time show wonders as He did when Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry land. The prophecy turns to a question, "Who is a God like You?"

The mercy of God on the remnant of a wayward nation makes us stand in awe. All the sin of many centuries passed over. Pardon granted to the longest serving criminals. Mercy from the almighty judge. We need it too and we find it in our Lord Jesus. Even on the day our sin makes so low to the ground that we resemble snakes crawling out of holes, God's mercy lifts us up.

So, lift up the head! We are free in Christ from that sin we carried for so long. God pardons iniquity and forgives through the grace of His Son. One time we were low-down draggin' on the ground sinners, then Jesus saved us. We may yet sin, but God's mercy is new every morning.

Bucky