and loving devotion to Abraham
The mention of Abraham underscores the covenantal relationship initiated by God with the patriarchs. God's loving devotion, or "chesed" in Hebrew, implies a deep, loyal love that goes beyond mere obligation. This covenant with Abraham, found in Genesis 12:1-3, includes promises of land, descendants, and blessings to all nations through him. This devotion is a precursor to the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, who is a descendant of Abraham and fulfills the promise of blessing to all nations (Galatians 3:16).

as You swore to our fathers
This phrase refers to the solemn oaths God made to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These oaths are foundational to Israel's identity and hope, as seen in passages like Genesis 22:16-18 and Genesis 26:3-5. The swearing of oaths by God is significant because it underscores the certainty and seriousness of His promises. In Hebrews 6:13-18, God's oath to Abraham is highlighted as an assurance of His unchangeable purpose.

from the days of old
This phrase points to the ancient origins of God's promises, emphasizing their longstanding nature and reliability. The "days of old" hark back to the early chapters of Genesis, where God's interactions with the patriarchs set the stage for His redemptive plan. This historical context reassures the faithful that God's promises are not new or fleeting but have been part of His divine plan from the beginning. This continuity is seen in the New Testament, where Jesus Christ is portrayed as the fulfillment of these ancient promises (Luke 1:54-55).

- The verse opens with a confident declaration of what God will do, not merely what He might do. Because Scripture is literally true, we can read “You will show faithfulness” as a guarantee rather than a wish.

- “Jacob” stands for the entire nation of Israel—the descendants of the man whose name was changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28).

- God’s track record of faithfulness to Jacob is evident:

• Genesis 28:15: “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.”

• Psalm 105:8–10 reminds us that He “remembers His covenant forever… to Israel as an everlasting covenant.”

• Romans 11:29 affirms that “God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable,” underscoring that He has not abandoned His ancient people.

- For believers today, this line assures us that the same unchanging God keeps every promise to His covenant people and therefore to us who have been grafted in (Romans 11:17).

- While “faithfulness” highlights God’s reliability, “loving devotion” highlights His warm, committed affection.

- Abraham received God’s personal pledge in Genesis 12:2–3: “I will make you into a great nation… and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

- Luke 1:72–73 shows this pledge still celebrated centuries later: “to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath He swore to our father Abraham.”

- Galatians 3:8 links that Abrahamic promise directly to the gospel: “All the nations will be blessed through you.” This love was ultimately displayed when Christ came from Abraham’s line to bless the world (Matthew 1:1).

- The pairing of “faithfulness” (to Jacob) and “loving devotion” (to Abraham) reassures us that God is both utterly dependable and deeply affectionate—attributes that never conflict in Him.

- Micah roots Israel’s future hope in God’s past oath, reminding the people that their confidence rests on His sworn word.

- Genesis 22:16–17 records God swearing “by Myself” to multiply Abraham’s offspring. Hebrews 6:13 underscores that because God “could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself.”

- Deuteronomy 7:8 tells Israel why God brought them out of Egypt: “because He loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers.”

- God’s oaths are immutable; they cannot be broken without God ceasing to be God—an impossibility (Titus 1:2).

- For us, every New Testament promise—eternal life, forgiveness, the Spirit—carries the same oath-backed certainty.

- This phrase stretches the timeline backward as far as the promise itself, reminding readers that God’s plan predates their current distress.

- Micah has already pointed to ancient origins in Micah 5:2, where the Messiah is described as One “whose origins are from the days of eternity.”

- Malachi 3:6 anchors hope in God’s unchangeableness: “For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”

- Ephesians 1:4 reveals that believers were “chosen in Him before the foundation of the world,” showing a continuity between God’s ancient purposes and His present work.

- Knowing the promise is “from the days of old” means it will still stand tomorrow, no matter how unstable today feels.

Micah 7:20 caps the prophet’s book with a reminder that God’s relationship with His people rests on an unbreakable covenant. God’s unerring faithfulness to Jacob, His warm-hearted devotion to Abraham, His solemn oath to the fathers, and His ancient, unchanging plan converge to guarantee Israel’s future and, through Christ, our own. The verse calls us to rest securely in a God whose promises are as old as His eternal nature and as certain as His own character.

Parallel Commentaries ...