Book of Micah Chapter
Seven Commentary by
Ron Beckham
Audio Bible Study - Micah 7:1-5
Verse 1. "Woe is me! For I am like the
fruit pickers, like the grape gatherers. There is not a cluster of grapes to
eat, or a first-ripe fig which I crave."
Micah is no longer only speaking in judgment against the
nations Israel and Judah. Much like we see Jeremiah's heart of love for Israel
in the Book of Lamentations, Micah similarly was now confessing the sins of the people and
mourning their fate. The “godly person” of Verse 2
is compared, in this verse, with a tasty “cluster of
grapes” or the “first-ripe fig,” which were
considered especially sweet and good by those who ate them.
God is giving us a parable, comparing our desire to eat
tasty things to that which appeals to Him in a man or a woman. Here’s what He
wants to find, which is called in another place, “the fruit of the Spirit,”
consisting of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness (and) self-control”
(Galatians 5:22-23). Yes, God had His faithful remnant in the land at the time
of this Book of Micah, but they were so rare that the prophet could only call
out, “Woe is me!” in relation to those who
were lost.
Verse 2. "The godly person has perished
from the land, and there is no upright person among men. All of them lie in wait
for bloodshed; each of them hunts the other with a net."
The “fruit,” such as the “grape” and “first-ripe fig”
of Verse 1, are images representing the “godly person”
of this verse. The Hebrew word for “godly person,”
implies someone who is godly, pious, loving, merciful and righteous, in both
thought and action. It is like the “grape gatherers”
of Verse 1 entered the fields for the harvest, but did not find the “cluster(s) of grapes” they
reasonably expected; instead finding only an occasional grape, here and there.
“Woe is me!” they would
shout, for there would be little to eat and nothing to take to the market-place.
God had given much to the people and its leaders, including the Law, the
Prophets, the land, His protection and His love. Every opportunity was given
them so they would become a people who love in return, as commanded in Leviticus
19:18. But they had instead become barren, like those who “lie in wait for bloodshed,” like hunters of the soul,
lying in wait with a “net.”
Verse 3. "Concerning evil, both hands do
it well. The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe, and a great man speaks
the desire of his soul; so they weave it together."
Everyone of the time seemed to be skilled in the art of
doing “evil.” This is God’s perspective about them, and when
you think about it, His way of looking at things is ultimately all that matters.
People have the unfortunate habit of looking to one another for authentication,
hoping they will be thought of as intelligent, clever, and physically capable;
skilled in contests with others. People often are like a left and right hand to
one another, working together for a common “evil”
goal.
Everyone, including the political person such as the “prince” of this verse, along with the “judge,” who was supposed to be impartial, and the “great man” who dominated others – were all in it for the
money! And their counterparts exist today, supporting each other in the systems they have
devised. God is not pleased, and we should ask: Does the sin of that time in
Israel sound like the sin of today? The frightening answer is – Yes, it does!
and if God judged them as people and nations, will He not judge us as well?
Verse 4. "The best of them is like a
briar, the most upright like a thorn hedge. The day when you post your watchmen,
your punishment will come. Then their confusion will occur."
The “briar” of this verse
was a thorny plant used for hedges. The plant was hard and the thorns would
pierce the skin. If you fell into one, it would catch you and hold you, making
it hard (and painful) to get away. Jesus, speaking of the good “word” that God has sowed in our lives, compared such “thorns” to “the man who hears the
word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word
and it becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:19,22).
Again, as asked in the commentary on Verse 3, does the “thorn hedge” type of people of this verse sound like those in the
society around us today? What IS valuable in today’s world? Greed, power,
dominance over others and ruthless lust fill our nations. And note that if God
would judge His beloved nation Israel because they had become like a “briar” in His sight, He will certainly judge your land
and mine today.
Verse 5. "Do not trust in a neighbor; do
not have confidence in a friend. From her who lies in your bosom guard your
lips."
Jesus gave a very clear "commandment" that
reveals what God wants in our hearts and lives: “Love one another, even as I have
loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34). He continued, “By this (by your love) all men will
know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John
13:35). Why doesn’t the world turn to Jesus Christ? – It's largely because of
us, the church. If you and I have slightly
different doctrinal beliefs, we tend to avoid one another. The people of this
world see our aloofness
and decide we have no trust in one another; we have no love.
Can you utterly place your trust in your neighbor? Your
friend? Your spouse? The moral corruption of the land of Israel at
that time had become so
bad that it was impossible to trust anyone! Everyone knew that it was
impossible to open your heart, your secrets, your needs – to anyone!
Two things in today’s society make it difficult to be completely open – 1) the
sins we have committed, and 2) because we have not been trustworthy, we
therefore cannot trust others. As it was then, it is now.
Lord, have I become like a "thorn hedge?" Am I a
person who hurts others in order to protect myself? Help me, Lord, and
heal me. I confess that my trust, my love, my faith has been insufficient. Forgive me, heal me, and
help me to grow so I will find that YOU and Your love are what I need. Thank You. In Jesus Name.
Amen.
Audio Bible Study - Micah 7:6-10
Verse 6. "For son treats father
contemptuously, daughter rises up against her mother, daughter-in-law against
her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own household.”
Solomon observed, 3000 years ago, “There is nothing new
under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Yes, we have made technological advances
through the centuries, but what he meant by his statement was that our “modern”
attitudes and responses to life are remarkably the same as they were long ago.
We can see the reality of Solomon’s observation and Micah's concern in this verse that
just as it has been many times in history, the
typical “son treats (his) father contemptuously” in much of today's world.
The family relationships that should protect and sustain
us, are often not safe havens at all, but instead we find “enemies” in our “own
household.” Jesus quoted Micah’s words in Matthew 10:35-36, relating to us: “I
have come to set a man against his father…” There are two real divisions in
mankind. Every other difference is merely superficial. There are those, as in
this verse, who contemptuously think they know more than others, and those, as we will see in
Verse 7, who look to the Lord and place their trust in Him.
Verse 7. "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."
In this verse, Micah speaks for Himself, for those in
Israel and Judah who still looked to the Lord, and for those in all history who
are willing to become as little children, trusting utterly in the Lord’s
decisions for our lives. Jesus gave us God’s viewpoint on what is important in
life in Matthew 18:3, when He said you and I must be “converted and become as
little children"… In our so-called "maturity," we have lost
something very important.
Our responses to life are predictable – We want things
to improve for us, or at least remain the same. We don’t want surprises, unless
they are positive in nature, and especially we want to control the outcome of
events around us. When you prayerfully and thoughtfully read Scripture, you
discover that life will NOT be predictable and we are not in utter control. Your
greatest decision in life is to learn to “watch expectantly for the Lord… (to)
wait for the God of (your) salvation,” and to understand, “My God (He) will hear
me.” It is not control that is needed, but instead, we need the
Lord.
Verse 8. "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."
First Israel and then Judah WOULD fall to their enemies.
And God, through the prophet Micah, gives those enemies excellent advice: “Do
not rejoice over (Israel), O my enemy.” The reality is that everyone has enemies, and
God gives you and I advice about times when they fall: “Do not rejoice” when
it happens. When Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to
those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you…” (Matthew 5:44),
His intention was to protect YOU from harm.
Those who study the mind and human body have correctly
discovered that our unrelenting anger and unforgiveness will damage our lives
and ruin our health. There is healing for you in forgiving others. And just
because our life sometimes becomes a disaster does not mean God has forgotten us
or doesn’t care. Note Micah’s words for himself and for his nation: “Though I
fall I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me,” for
God will make it so.
Verse 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 out to the light, and I will see His
righteousness."
There are a lot of problems in life that just happen,
but there are other difficulties that honestly, we have caused ourselves.
The people of Israel and Judah were outwardly religious and the people of other nations thought the Hebrew people looked to the God of Creation. But they did
not. Though they were outwardly religious, they had “sinned against Him,”
against God, and unless they repented, He would destroy them because of their
attitudes and actions.
A great purpose for the troubles that do come to us all
is that we will not willingly change the way we think unless we have to.
We must often be brought forcibly to the place where we will honestly confess,
“I have sinned against Him.” But take heart, for it is God Himself who “pleads (your) case and executes justice for
(you).” If you are willing, "He will bring
(you) out to the light, and (you)
will see His righteousness.” As it says of the
Messiah, the Christ, in Isaiah 53:5 – “by His stripes we are healed.”
Verse 10. "Then my enemy will see, and
shame will cover her who said to me, ‘Where is the Lord your God?’ My eyes will
look on her; at that time she will be trampled down like mire of the streets."
Nations often are referred to in a feminine form
when they are described, as seen in the "her" of this verse. The enemy of the northern kingdom was Assyria, who
took Samaria, the capital of Israel, in 722 BC, utterly destroying that Hebrew
nation. Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, to the south, was taken and destroyed
by Babylonia, in 586 BC. The conquering nations sneered at Israel and Judah,
uttering contemptuous statements like, “Where is the Lord your God?”
If you are part of a proud, arrogant nation, look
carefully at this verse, for both of the conquering empires, Assyria and
Babylon, were subsequently “trampled down like mire of the streets.” No one
today is an Assyrian or a Babylonian, and the eyes of those in Israel can see in
historical records and archaeological digs that “shame”
did “cover” those
who had contempt on God and on the people of His land.
Lord, we look to You, knowing that we are
insufficient to be people of Your will in this world. Please forgive us.
We look to You and place our faith in You, knowing that what we cannot do, You
can. Be a "light" for me and for my nation. Bring our
leaders to trust in the Lord. Save us from our sins.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study - Micah 7:11-15
Verse 11. "It will be a day for building
your walls. On that day will your boundary be extended."
There are times when it seems like the “walls”
around our lives that protected us have fallen down. The losses seem
irreparable and we have no idea what to do. Many feel like “Humpty Dumpty,” the
anthropomorphic egg in the fairy tale who “had a great fall” and no one could
“put Humpty together again.” That was to be the condition of the Hebrew nations,
Israel and Judah, not long after this verse was written.
But if your situation has no solution, give it to God
and let Him handle it.
When Israel was taken and Judah was subsequently destroyed, it seemed impossible
for the Hebrew people to ever exist as a nation again. Yet seventy years after
the destruction of Jerusalem, survivors had returned from captivity and soon the
“walls” of the city were being rebuilt once more. Look to Him in your loss and
see if He will rebuild your life and extend “your boundary” once
more.
Verse 12. "It will be a day when they
will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, from Egypt even to the
Euphrates, even from sea to sea and mountain to mountain."
The nation of Israel exists in the land once again, after
thousands of years under foreign rule. Its borders were surrounded by enemies in
the past and it is the same today as it was then. Note the interesting
fulfillment of this verse in today’s Israel. When we walked in that land with a
tour group, a few years ago, we were constantly surrounded by other tour groups
from around the world. I remember when I was jostled out of the way by a
group of German-speaking tourists while on the Temple Mount. Israel was
and is filled with people from -
everywhere!
To get there we traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean Sea, which has been for many the “sea to sea” of this verse;
traveling from the mountains in our land to the mountains of Israel.
Languages from all over the earth surrounded us, including those that arose from
the area formerly called “Assyria.” But this verse will have an even more
significant fulfillment in the future, when the Messiah will return to this
world. All will come to pay homage to Him in that land.
Verse 13. "And the earth will become
desolate because of her inhabitants, on account of the fruit of their deeds."
In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, the Apostle Paul urges us all “that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable
life in all godliness and reverence.” We are to PRAY for our leaders, whether
secular or religious – we are to PRAY fervently for them. A key reason for our
prayers is seen in this verse.
If you live in a nation that has adopted arrogant,
sinful practices – that place and all those in it are headed for destruction.
This verse is very clear that the sinful organization, country or religion,
“will become desolate… on account of the fruit of their deeds.” Such “fruits”
are carefully spelled-out in Galatians 5:19-21 – “adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry. sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies,
outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders,
drunkenness, revelries.” If these practices exist where you are, it’s time to
pray! What your leaders, your people; what YOU do – MATTERS.
Verse 14. "Shepherd Your people with
Your scepter, the flock of Your possession which dwells by itself in the
woodland, in the midst of a fruitful field. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead
as in the days of old."
Micah the prophet was reaching out to God, the Shepherd
of Israel, in prayer. He asked that the Lord would rule and lead his people,
bringing them to safe pasture. This verse is, of course, strongly reminiscent of
Psalm 23, where the writer David, the king and representative of Israel at his
time, called out to God, rejoicing that even “in the valley of the shadow of
death," his "Shepherd" was with him. He was comforted by the “rod” and
“staff” of his Lord. That comfort is offered
to you, as well.
The “rod” in this verse in Micah, is the
shepherd’s staff, used by the good shepherd to defend and lead his flock. "Bashan"
(which means “fertile land”) and "Gilead" (“rugged” or “strong”) were places
southeast of the Sea of Galilee known for their rich pastures. It is important
for us to realize that, except for God’s constant protection, we would all be
lost. We need His protection, His abundant "living water"
(John 4:10) and the assurance that
those
who trust in Him will “feed… as in the days of old.”
Verse 15. "As in the days when you came
out from the land of Egypt, I will show you miracles."
Micah the prophet, the author of this book, has been in
prayer for his nation, the Hebrew people. In this verse, we begin to see the
answer of God to his prayer. The Lord speaks through Micah the man to the people
of Israel, that although their nation was about to be destroyed and they would enter a time of slavery to
foreigners, it would not be the end. Almighty God had (and has today) every intention of
delivering
them in the future.
The nation Israel was a tiny group of people, just a
family, actually, when they entered the “land of Egypt” to escape a famine. Two
key things happened to them during the 430 years they remained in North Africa.
They grew enormously in numbers, from a few dozen to more than a million. They
also became slaves to the leaders of Egypt. And as this verse in Micah says,
reflecting on the Book of Exodus, God used “miracles” to rescue them.
As it was then, so it is today. God has "miracles"
for you and me.
Lord, we need Your miracles, for we see that our own
efforts are not enough. We place our trust in You, knowing that what we
cannot do, You can, and You love us. Save and deliver Your people. Thank You, Lord. We praise Your
Holy Name. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study - Micah 7:16-20
Verse 16. "Nations will see and be
ashamed of all their might. They will put their hand on their mouth, their ears
will be deaf.”
Nations tend to think well of themselves if they have
demonstrable military might. Countries value themselves and the leaders become
proud when they as a country, a people, have many soldiers, bombs, tanks and strategic
military aircraft. Their strength is, of course, an illusion. They forget that
“pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs
16:18).
When someone puts “their hand on their mouth,” it is a
sign that they have been silenced by something or someone greater than
themselves. It implies that they are astonished because of an occurrence greater
than anything they expected. The phrase, “their ears will be deaf,” indicates
their very senses will be overwhelmed by the wonders they have seen. God will
deliver Israel. He will rescue His people, and the world will be astonished at
what He has done.
Verse 17. "They will lick the dust like
a serpent, like reptiles of the earth. They will come trembling out of their
fortresses; to the Lord our God they will come in dread, and they will be afraid
before You.”
This verse looks back to Genesis Three, where the Lord
addressed the ultimate enemy of mankind, who is called “Satan” in other places.
God referred to him as “a serpent,” a snake, and “cursed” him with words like,
“You shall eat dust, all the days of your life” (Genesis 3:14). Because of his
sin against mankind, he was cast down to the dust of this earth. Not only is he
fated to “lick the dust like a serpent,” but those
who follow him and are like him in his warlike ways will also be cast down as well.
All who live in literal “fortresses” and those who
isolate themselves in “fortresses” of the mind are in danger of sharing his
fate. Those who have given themselves to the Lord need not be afraid, no matter
how powerful their enemies may seem to be, for “to the Lord our God they will
come in dread, and they will be afraid before you.” And as God says in other
places to His people, “they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me” (Isaiah
49:23).
Verse 18. "Who is a God like You, who
pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His
possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in
unchanging love."
Micah the prophet continues his prayer, but he has now
lapsed into praise, for he has been shown in his spirit the future of his
nation. Yes they would fall, but they would rise again as a people because God
would make it so. And here in this verse he enters the often misunderstood area
of forgiveness and grace. Who is like God? he asks; and the answer is – no one.
The religions of the world offer words that adherents can speak and activities
they can perform, but they do not deal adequately with the problem of our sin.
We need the One who “pardons iniquity.”
God is holy, utterly pure, just in all His ways and full
of “unchanging love.” When you read the daily newspaper and look into your own
heart, you will discover that we are not like Him. How can a holy God pass over
our rebellious acts? The answer is in Isaiah 53, which speaks to us of the Messiah,
the Christ – “He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…
He was wounded
for our transgressions… bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our
peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed…
the Lord has laid on Him
the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6). We are to RECEIVE the
Lord.
Verse 19. "He will again have compassion
on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their
sins into the depths of the sea."
Micah is full of wonder at the grace of God. The people
of Israel to the north and the southern kingdom of Judah had sinned terribly in
the sight of God. They had become a people filled with unbelief and they were
mean to one another, especially to the poor and needy. The leadership of both
lands had become corrupt and the people’s love for the God who had done so much for
them was strangely missing from their own hearts and lives.
And so, off to captivity the people would go, until at
last they would once more cry out to the Lord in faith so He could hear them,
“have compassion” on them, and “tread (their) iniquities under foot.” God would
“cast all their sins into the depths of the sea,” as it says in this verse. But
God is holy and there must be a ground for salvation, for Israel, for you
and for me. That ground is found in the Person and work of Jesus Christ, for
about Him Scripture says, “there is no other name under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Verse 20. "You will give truth to Jacob
and unchanging love to Abraham, which You swore to our forefathers from the days
of old."
“What is truth,” the Roman governor asked Jesus, who was
about to go to the cross and die for our sins (John 18:38). This was a question
Jesus had already answered, responding to our every question in life when He
said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” And He continued, “No one comes to
the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). God’s “unchanging love” was expressed
in Jesus, who “is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Just as God loved “Abraham” and his grandson, “Jacob,”
whose name was changed to "Israel," God’s love for that people has never wavered.
It is an “unchanging love,” but you have to wonder about His abrupt treatment of
them, when He judged them for their sins. God's love is the kind of love that a
good parent has for a wayward child, who must be carefully and responsibly
disciplined, until he responds to his parent. “If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). He has forgiveness for you and me.
Father, we confess to You that we have sinned and ask
for forgiveness. Thank You that we are given that forgiveness in Christ
Jesus. We trust in Him. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit
and give us Your unchanging love. We praise Your Holy
Name. In Jesus Name. Amen.
