Micah 7:7-13
A Confident Prophet
Rich Freeman, DMin
In contrast to the impatient Israelites of his day, the prophet Micah resolved to “watch” and “wait” for God to act as He had promised. He wrote, “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me” (Mic 7:7). One might question why, amid the awful circumstances in his time, Micah was so optimistic. The answer lies in his determination to trust in God. His faith was focused on the God of his salvation.
Divine Light
In this final chapter, Micah concluded his book by writing a liturgical hymn consisting of expressions of assurance, prayer, and worship. He said, “Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me” (Mic 7:8). Micah’s enemies rejoiced when they saw him discouraged over the sins of his people. He told them not to rejoice because, though he seemed to have fallen, the Lord Himself would make him and his nation rise again. Amid the dark situation, the Lord would be his light and illuminate his path. This hope echoes what the psalmist said in Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Divine Advocate
As a representative of the people of Israel, Micah confessed their sin (Mic 7:9). As a part of his nation, he was with them in their guilt, even though he had not committed the sins of his fellow Israelites. However, he would have to bear some of the consequences of divine discipline upon the nation. Ultimately, the Lord who indicted the Israelites earlier in this book (Mic 6:1–2) would be his divine advocate. Micah would not suffer the same level of punishment as the guilty leaders of the nation. Eventually, he would come out of those dark circumstances and into the light of God’s presence. He wrote, “He will bring me out to the light, and I will see His righteousness” (Mic 7:9). He would see God demonstrate His justice and faithfulness to His promises. In the end, God will vindicate the faithful.
Micah’s enemies would see God’s righteousness and feel ashamed for accusing the God of Israel of abandoning His prophet and his people. Micah would also see these enemies humiliated and brought low. “My eyes will look on her; at that time she will be trampled down like mire of the streets” (Mic 7:10). His enemies would be stepped on like mud in the streets. Micah’s critics and those skeptical of his prophecies would see they were wrong when their city walls were rebuilt, and the boundaries of Judah extended. This event refers to the distant future when Messiah returns, and God regathers and reestablishes Israel in her land.
Israel’s former enemies from all over the world— represented by Assyria and the Euphrates River in the northeast, and Egypt and its cities in the southwest—would come to Israel (Mic 7:12). They would come from “sea to sea and mountain to mountain,” a figure of speech for visitors from everywhere on earth. The nations will come to worship the reigning Messiah Jesus, seated on the throne of David (Psalm 2:12; Revelation 5:9–10). However, before the Messiah returns to establish His messianic kingdom on earth, Micah said God would judge the world for its sinful deeds: “And the earth will become desolate because of her inhabitants, on account of the fruit of their deeds” (Mic 7:13). This judgment of the nations will occur during a time of tribulation before and immediately following the Lord’s glorious second coming.
