The Lord Gathers

            I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men. He who opens the breach goes up before them; they break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king passes on before them, the LORD at their head.
Micah 2:12–13
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The Lord Gathers
The Lord is the one who gathers His people. From a thousand hills, the Lord searches for you, His lost sheep. With His very voice, He calls you and rescues you. Our sin led us away to other gods and our own pleasures. We were like sheep without a shepherd, so He shepherded us. Jesus has compassion on His people. The thing about Jesus and His compassion is that it always moves Him to action. The compassion of our Lord always ends up with Him doing something to save, to gather, to make new, to nourish, and to keep. His compassion moves Him to the cross. Jesus told His disciples that when He was lifted up, He would draw all men to Himself.  It is in His dying that He gathers everyone into one holy people. Micah reminds us that our King goes on before us. This should remind you of Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into the holy city of Jerusalem on a donkey, humble and lowly, in order that He might be glorified for the sake of His people. Your King goes before you. He goes to the cross. He comes still in His Word preached. He leads you to quiet waters and green pastures with His Word and Sacraments. Thanks be to God that He has given us such a Shepherd.