Good morning everyone. It’s certainly a warm one here in the UK today! While we might be longing for cooler weather, we’re also reminded of the profound shifts and changes we encounter, not just in climate, but in our spiritual journey. As we gather, let us open our hearts and minds to God’s Word.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing us together this morning. We thank you for your word, we thank you for its truth, and we pray today, Lord, that you will help us to understand it. You will help us to apply it to our lives, and that through understanding it, Lord, we might live for you, that we might follow you more deeply. May you open our eyes and our hearts to your word this morning in Jesus’ name. Amen.
This morning, we continue our journey through the book of Micah, now in its final chapter, Micah 7. For those who may be joining us or need a quick recap, we’ve been exploring Micah’s prophecies for several months. Micah, a prophet from the 8th century BC, primarily spoke to the southern kingdom of Judah, though his messages often referenced the northern kingdom of Israel, which had already fallen to the Assyrian Empire. His ministry spanned the reigns of several kings, including Hezekiah.
As we delve into Micah’s prophecies, it’s important to remember that terms like “Judah” and “Israel” can sometimes refer to the people, the land, or even all of God’s people, requiring careful consideration of the context. Thankfully, today’s passage is a little more straightforward, though it begins with a stark and challenging tone.
Micah 7 presents a powerful contrast: misery into hope. Verses 1 to 6 paint a bleak picture of despair, while verses 7 to 10 offer a beacon of hope. Let’s begin by examining the first section.
Micah opens by declaring, “Woe is me!” or “I am miserable,” as some translations put it. Have you ever felt truly miserable or sad? We all have, haven’t we? Perhaps through grief, illness, or professional difficulties. While we’ve all experienced misery, I wonder how many of us would admit to feeling miserable for the reasons Micah expresses.
Micah’s misery stems from a profound spiritual barrenness he observes in his nation. He laments, “I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the time of the grape harvest. There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs I crave” (Micah 7:1, NIV). He is searching for ripe fruit, for the righteous and faithful, but finds none. The land is spiritually barren, devoid of integrity.
This imagery brings to mind Jesus’ encounter with the fig tree in Matthew 21. Seeing a fig tree with leaves, Jesus expected to find fruit. Finding none, he cursed it, and it withered from the root. Jesus’ action wasn’t arbitrary; it was a powerful critique of the religious leaders of his day. They presented an outward appearance of piety but bore no spiritual fruit. Similarly, Micah is looking for righteousness among his people, but finds a complete absence of it.
Verse 2 reveals the depth of the corruption: “The faithful have been swept from the land; there is no one upright. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets.” This paints a vivid picture of a society where people are actively preying on one another, using snares and traps, much like hunters seeking their prey. This is not a literal hunt, but a powerful metaphor for the deceit and malicious intent prevalent among the people.
The corruption extends to all levels of society. Verse 3 states, “Both hands are skilled at doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, and the powerful dictate what they desire—they all conspire together.” Micah describes a people so adept at wickedness that they can commit evil with either hand, demonstrating a complete moral depravity. Leaders, judges, and those in power are driven by self-interest and greed, exploiting the vulnerable for their own gain. This depiction, sadly, doesn’t always feel so distant from the world we inhabit today.
Even “the best of them are like a briar, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge” (Micah 7:4). This imagery warns that even those who appear respectable are dangerous and harmful, like sharp thorns that inflict injury upon approach. The pervasive wickedness means that righteousness is scarce, and even those who should offer guidance are corrupted.
Micah also notes that the people are oblivious to the impending judgment: “The day of your watchmen and your punishment has come; now is the time of your confusion” (Micah 7:4). Having witnessed the fall of the northern kingdom to Assyria, Micah understands that Judah’s continued sin will inevitably lead to God’s wrath and consequence.
The societal breakdown is so severe that trust is non-existent. “Do not trust a neighbour; put no confidence in a friend. Guard your mouth from her who lies in your embrace” (Micah 7:5). Micah’s words echo the sentiment of the X-Files’ famous catchphrase, “Trust no one.” Even within the closest relationships, betrayal lurks.
Verse 6 delivers a particularly poignant blow: “For a son dishonours his father, a daughter rises against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.” This resonates with Jesus’ own words in Matthew 10 and Jeremiah 9, highlighting the painful division that can occur even within families when some choose to follow God and others do not. Micah’s world, like ours, is riddled with such painful realities.
It’s a truly bleak assessment, isn’t it? Micah’s misery is palpable, rooted in the deep sinfulness of his nation and the impending judgment. His words challenge us to consider whether we too feel moved by the sinfulness around us, both our own and that of our society.
But then, everything changes in verse 7. Micah pivots dramatically, turning from despair to an unshakeable hope:
Micah 7:1-10 (NIV):
1 What misery is mine!
I am like one who gathers summer fruit
at the time of the grape harvest.
There is not a cluster of grapes to eat,
none of the early figs I crave.
2 The faithful have been swept from the land;
there is no one upright.
Everyone lies in wait to shed blood;
they hunt each other with nets.
3 Both hands are skilled at doing evil;
the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes,
and the powerful dictate what they desire—
they all conspire together.
4 The best of them is like a briar,
the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.
The day of your watchmen and your punishment has come;
now is the time of your confusion.
5 Do not trust a neighbour;
put no confidence in a friend.
Guard your mouth
from her who lies in your embrace.
6 For a son dishonours his father,
a daughter rises against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
7 But as for me, I wait in hope for the Lord;
I wait for God my Saviour;
my God will hear me.
8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be my light.
9 Because I have sinned against him,
I will bear the Lord’s wrath,
until he pleads my case
and upholds my cause.
He will bring me out into the light;
I will see his righteousness.
10 Then my enemy will see it
and will be covered with shame—
she who said to me,
“Where is the Lord your God?”
My eyes will see her downfall;
she will be trampled underfoot
like mire in the streets.
Micah declares, “But as for me, I wait in hope for the Lord; I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me” (Micah 7:7). Even in the darkest hour, when trust in humanity is shattered, Micah places his unwavering confidence in God. He knows that despite the sin and impending judgment, God’s ultimate plan is one of rescue and restoration for His remnant.
Micah’s hope is not a passive waiting. This isn’t like waiting impatiently for a delayed train. This is an active, confident, and patient waiting, much like a dedicated waiting staff attentive to every need of their guests. It is a posture of faith that recognises God’s sovereignty and faithfulness.
Micah’s confession, “Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord’s wrath, until he pleads my case and upholds my cause” (Micah 7:9), shows his awareness of personal and national sin. Yet, he believes that God will ultimately bring him “out into the light.” This foreshadows the ultimate rescue brought by Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and through his resurrection, offers us hope and salvation.
Micah also foresees the downfall of God’s enemies: “Then my enemy will see it and will be covered with shame… My eyes will see her downfall; she will be trampled underfoot like mire in the streets” (Micah 7:10). This speaks to a future where God’s justice prevails, and those who oppose Him are ultimately defeated.
The contrast between Micah 7:1-6 and 7:7-10 is striking. The misery of a fallen world is met with the unwavering hope found in God. This powerful contrast should also be evident in the lives of believers. Our faith is not just a Sunday morning affair; it is a transformative commitment that permeates every aspect of our lives.
We are called to live differently, to be skilled in doing good, not evil. Our actions should bear fruit in keeping with repentance, turning away from sin and actively following Christ. It is not about earning our salvation, for that was bought and paid for by Jesus on the cross. Rather, it is a joyful response to the incredible rescue he has provided.
Let us examine our lives this week. In our everyday routines, are we walking alongside Jesus? Do our words and actions bring Him pleasure? This is not to create pressure, but to inspire a heartfelt response to His immense love and sacrifice. He rescued us, saved us from our sins, and paid the ultimate price.
Our verse for today is Micah 7:7: “But as for me, I wait in hope for the Lord; I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me.” In a world often shrouded in darkness, God is our light. As followers of Christ, let us shine that light for others who are lost and without hope. Let us be Jesus’ hands and feet, drawing others into the glorious hope found only in Him.
Father God, we thank you for your word and for Micah’s powerful message. We thank you, Lord, that even though it reminds us how dark the world can be, it also reminds us that you are our hope. When we fall, you lift us up. When we are in darkness, you are our light. We confess our sins before you and rejoice in your forgiveness. May we respond by bearing fruit in keeping with repentance, turning our backs on sin and living fully for you. May you have your rightful place in every aspect of our lives, big and small. Give us wisdom, encouragement, and strength as we enter the week ahead, that we might fully serve you and look to Christ for our hope and salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
- Counting the Cost of Comfort (Matthew 8:19-20)
- A Determined Desire: Choosing a Life of Integrity (Psalm 101:2)
- A Heart Captivated: The Foundation of a Godly Life (Psalm 101:1)
- The Richness Within: Christ, Chorus and Christian Community (Colossians 3:16)
- The Sovereign’s Vow (Introduction to Psalm 101) 
Andy Brown 