Book of Micah: Chapter 7
This chapter begins with Micah the Prophet of God in agony, crying out for the nation. Micah says, “What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave.” Micah lamented because there were no godly people left in the land. Looking for a godly person was as futile as looking for summer fruit after the harvest. He compared the evil officials to hunters who wove clever nets and threw them over the helpless and trapped them (vv. 2,3). These officials and judges were skilled at perverting the law so they could rob the innocent. Micah compared them to briars and thorns that hurt people, when they should have been helping the people. Micah continues, “the day of your watchman has come, the day God visits you. Now is the time for their confusion” (v.4). The “day of your watchman” refers to judgment day, when the watchmen on the walls would see the enemy approaching and call out to warn the people. God’s prophets are spiritual leaders who were called to be His watchmen (Ezek 3:18-21) and charged with warning the nation. The evil leaders preferred lies to the truth and this brought about a “time of confusion” that reached into every level of society. They couldn’t trust their neighbors, friends, or even family members (vv. 5, 6). The basic unit of the Jewish family was falling apart. In light of this condition and the impending judgment, they should have turned to God and repented from their sins.
Micah stopped crying when he looked away from the nation’s sin and meditated on the faithfulness of the Lord. “But, as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord. I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me” (v.7). Micah chose to “watch and pray” and put his trust in God. This verse is the “bridge” connecting the sins and judgment with the closing section on hope. Micah looks down the centuries to the “last days”, “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! though I have fallen, I will rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light, because I have sinned against Him, I will bear the wrath (indictment) of the Lord. My eyes will see her downfall; even now she will be trampled underfoot” (vv. 8-9). Even though they are suffering the consequences of their sin, Israel will trust in the Lord that they will eventually conquer their enemies.
Micah now turns his focus to the city of Jerusalem (vv. 11-14), assuring Israel and Jerusalem that the city would one day be rebuilt and her boundaries enlarged. In the light of this promise, Micah lifted his heart to the Lord in prayer (v. 14) and asked God to be the faithful Shepherd-King of Israel and care for His people. God replied to Micah, assuring him that He would watch over His flock and care for them, just as He had when they departed from the land of Egypt. When Israel departed from Egypt and God opened the sea, other nations heard and feared God (Joshua 2:8-11). During the “last days”, the nations will see the wonders that God will do for Israel and be ashamed to act (v. 16). They will come out of their hiding places to submit to the Lord (v. 17b).
Micah was confident of the unchanging faithfulness of God, “who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance?” (v. 18). When Micah wrote this confession of faith in God’s grace and mercy, the future seemed hopeless to those around him. But, Micah knew that the Lord is a God who pardons sin, forgives transgressions, and delights in showing mercy. The better we know the character of God, like Micah, the more we can trust Him for the future. The more we know the promises of God, the more peace when we find ourselves completely overwhelmed by our circumstances.
Key Verses:
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever; but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” ~ Micah 7:18-19
Questions to ponder:
- When the future seems hopeless, what practical ways can we employ to strengthen your trust in the Lord?
