
Micah 7
Micah 7 addresses the prophet’s lament over the moral decay and pervasive sin in Israel. He describes the corruption and faithlessness of the people, contrasting it with his personal resolve to look to God for salvation. The chapter also offers hope, foretelling God's compassion and the ultimate restoration of Israel. The prophet oscillates between grief over societal sin and hope in God’s mercy, ending with a proclamation of God’s faithfulness and a prayer for Israel’s renewal.
Micah 7:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Woe is me! For I am like those who gather summer fruits, like those who glean vintage grapes; there is no cluster to eat of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires.
2 The faithful man has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net.
Micah opens with lamentation, comparing himself to a person seeking fruit during the harvest but finding none, symbolizing his search for righteousness among the people. He is grieved that the faithful and upright have disappeared from society, replaced by violence and betrayal. This vivid imagery expresses the moral desolation Micah sees in his community, where self-interest and cruelty prevail.
Micah 7:3 (NKJV)
3 That they may successfully do evil with both hands—The prince asks for gifts, the judge seeks a bribe, and the great man utters his evil desire; so they scheme together.
Micah condemns the corruption of the leaders, noting that both princes and judges are corrupt, taking bribes and enabling evil. The influential in society openly express wicked desires, working together to achieve selfish ends. This verse captures the societal decay, where those in power exploit justice for personal gain, leaving little hope for integrity.
Micah 7:4-6 (NKJV)
4 The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge; the day of your watchman and your punishment comes; now shall be their perplexity.
5 Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom.
6 For son dishonors father, daughter rises against her mother, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
Micah describes the moral landscape as one where even the best people are harmful, like a brier or thorn. This day of judgment will bring confusion and distress. Trust has eroded to the point where even close relationships are unsafe, leading to division within families. This speaks to the depth of societal breakdown, where loyalty is scarce, and family bonds are shattered by mistrust and betrayal.
Micah 7:7-8 (NKJV)
7 Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.
In contrast to the prevailing despair, Micah declares his resolve to trust in God. Despite his surroundings, he believes in God’s salvation and steadfast love. Even if he stumbles, he expresses hope in God’s light and strength. This shift in tone reveals Micah’s unshakable faith, finding hope in God despite the darkness around him.
Micah 7:9-10 (NKJV)
9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness.
10 Then she who is my enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, “Where is the Lord your God?” My eyes will see her; now she will be trampled down like mud in the streets.
Micah acknowledges his own need for repentance, accepting God’s discipline until justice is restored. He expresses faith that God will vindicate him, bringing him into the light and showcasing His righteousness. The prophet envisions that his enemies, who once taunted his faith, will witness God’s vindication, ending in their defeat.
Micah 7:11-13 (NKJV)
11 In the day when your walls are to be built, in that day the decree shall go far and wide.
12 In that day they shall come to you from Assyria and the fortified cities, from the fortress to the River, from sea to sea, and mountain to mountain.
13 Yet the land shall be desolate because of those who dwell in it, and for the fruit of their deeds.
Micah prophesies a future day of restoration when Israel’s boundaries will expand, drawing people from distant lands. This picture of unity and growth contrasts with current desolation, highlighting God’s promise of renewal. However, Micah warns that the land remains desolate due to the people’s sinful actions, underscoring the consequences of their choices.
Micah 7:14-15 (NKJV)
14 Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your heritage, who dwell solitarily in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel; let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in days of old.
15 “As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them wonders.”
Micah prays for God to shepherd His people, providing for them in abundance as He did in past prosperous times. The reference to Bashan and Gilead recalls periods of blessing, while the mention of Egypt evokes God’s miraculous deliverance. This appeal reinforces the hope for a restored relationship between God and His people, marked by divine guidance and provision.
Micah 7:16-17 (NKJV)
16 The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might; they shall put their hand over their mouth; their ears shall be deaf.
17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent; 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.
Micah envisions a time when nations will witness God’s power and be humbled, ashamed of their former pride. The imagery of them “licking the dust” suggests complete submission and fear. This demonstrates the ultimate sovereignty of God, as even foreign nations acknowledge His majesty and tremble before Him.
Micah 7:18-20 (NKJV)
18 Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy.
19 He will again have compassion on us and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
20 You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old.
Micah ends with praise for God’s incomparable mercy and forgiveness, marveling at His willingness to forgive and renew. He reflects on God’s covenant with Israel, affirming that God’s promises to their ancestors will stand. This final passage emphasizes God’s grace and faithfulness, giving hope to a people in need of redemption.