Micah 7:7-13

THE PROPHET LOOKS TO GOD. Micah 7:7-13

RV. But as for me, I will look unto Jehovah; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, Jehovah will be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of Jehovah, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgement for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. Then mine enemy shall see it and shame shall cover her who said unto me, Where is Jehovah thy God? Mine eyes shall see my desire upon her; now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets. A day for building thy walls! in that day shall the decree be far removed. In that day shall they come unto thee from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt even to the River, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. Yet shall the land be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
LXX. But I will look to the Lord; I will wait upon God my Saviour: my God will hearken to me. Rejoice not against me, mine enemy; for I have fallen yet shall arise; for though I should sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he make good my cause: he also shall maintain my right, and shall bring me out to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. And she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shall clothe herself with shame, who says Where is the Lord thy God? mine eyes shall look upon her: now shall she be for trampling as mire in the ways. It is the day of making of brick; that day shall be thine utter destruction, and that day shall utterly abolish thine ordinances. And thy cities shall be levelled, and parted among the Assyrians; and thy strong cities shall be parted from Tyre to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. And the land shall be utterly desolate together with them that inhabit it, because of the fruit of their doings.

COMMENTS

(Micah 7:7) From the stench of social injustice and personal immorality brought on by false worship, Micah lifts his eyes to God. Like Joshua, when he was confronted with the people's attraction to false gods, (Joshua 24:14-15) so the prophet in the face of popular apostacy takes his stand on the side of the Lord.

Not only will he look to the Lord, he will wait for the God of my salvation.

Here is a timely lesson for anyone who would serve God. Whether it be Elijah, despairing in loneliness because of the unfaithfulness of God's people, or Joshua standing like an oak, alone if necessary but steadfast, or Micah declaring his trust to a faithless generation, he who would serve God faithfully must be able to differentiate between God Who is faithful and His people who too often are not. Micah is unshaken in his conviction that my God will hear me!

REJOICE NOT AGAINST ME. Micah 7:8-10

Truth is ever in the minority. Error is ever on the throne. and with this unnatural imbalance the wicked always boast and scoff and rejoice in the discomfort of God's people. But their joy is as hollow as it is destined to be short-lived.
Though enemies triumph and insult, they shall be silenced and put to shame.

Here is another eternal truth, spoken first in the Old Testament and re-affirmed in the New. Romans 8:31-39 asks and answers the same question. If God is for us, who can be against us?. in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us!

The enemies of God's faithful may rejoice for a season in God's chastening of His people, but their joy is to be brief. Micah sees his own plight, as does every true worshipper see such circumstances as a result of sin. Micah confesses himself a sinner (Micah 7:9) and stands ready to bear the indignation. of Jehovah. This is a common attitude among spiritual giants. David, in his great guilt, felt abandoned by God, yet he knew God had heard and would deliver him. (Psalms 22 compare Psalms 22:1 and Psalms 22:24.)

Paul cried out in recognition of his own sin, wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me out of the body of this death and immediately rejoiced in the answer there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 7:24 to Romans 8:1)

A DAY FOR BUILDING THY WALLS. Micah 7:11-13

Having stated his trust in God, accepted his discomfiture as the just result of his own sin, and rejoiced in the sure hope of deliverance, Micah now transfers this entire process to the people. Beyond the anticipated exile the prophet sees the decree for deliverance and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. (Cp. Amos 9:11 and Zechariah 12:6)

... FROM ASSYRIA. EGYPT. TO THE RIVER. ESA TO SEA. Micah 7:12

In the day of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, following the fall of Babylon, the Jews now to be scattered shall return from throughout the surrounding nations.

THE LAND. DESOLATE. Micah 7:13

The returning exiles will not find, as did their forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. Rather the land will be desolate, the temple, the walls of the cities in ruins. They must recognize this as the fruit of their doings. The history of the rebuilding of their lands by the returned remnant is one of the most thrilling Chapter s in the history of this stiff-necked people. (It is recommended that the reader interrupt the study of Micah here long enough to re-read Ezra and Nehemiah.)

Chapter XQuestions

Jehovah's Controversy With His People

1.

Micah Chapter s six and seven are composed of a series of __________.

2.

Just as the sins of society's leaders filter down through all classes so __________ are applied to all people.

3.

Jehovah's first controversy with His people is occasioned by their having forgotten __________.

4.

God's controversy with His people is before all creation because __________.

5.

How does Micah connect the final section of his book to the first section?

6.

In Micah 6:3-5 the __________ is made. In Micah 6:9 to Micah 7:6, the case will be __________.

7.

The cry of Micah 6:3-5 is the plea of a __________.

8.

Explain Micah's reference to Balaam. (Micah 6:5)

9.

Why remember from Shittim to Gilgal? (Micah 6:5(b))

10.

Show how Micah 6:1-5 is timely in our day.

11.

What is alluded to by shall I give my first-born for my transgression? (Micah 6:7 (b))

12.

Discuss Micah 6:8 in connection with Matthew 26:16 and Hebrews 2:1-4,

13.

God's insistence upon faithfulness is not unreasonable when we remember __________ His __________ and __________.

14.

How does Micah answer the question, what doth Jehovah require of thee? (Micah 6:8)

15.

The __________ is the Bible quoted by Jesus and the apostles.

16.

Micah 6:8 does not claim that __________ an attribute of God's character is required of God's people.

17.

Rather than compassion, Micah insists that we are required to __________.

18.

Discuss Micah 6:8 in connection with Matthew 23:23.

19.

Why must the outward forms of obedience always be expressive of inner reality?

20.

Compare Micah 6:9 and Proverbs 9:10.

21.

What is the significance of shall I be pure? Micah 6:10-12

22.

The persistent fact of __________ is a prime factor in Micah's message.

23.

Compare Micah 6:14 and Job 20:15.

24.

What is meant by Micah 6:15?

25.

What are the statutes of Omri? Micah 6:15(a)

26.

Compare Micah 6:16(b) and Micah 3:12.

27.

Discuss the historic phenomena known as anti-semitism in light of Micah 6:16.

28.

Compare Micah 7:1-2(a) and Psalms 14:1-2.

29.

Discuss Micah 7:1-2 in light of Romans 3:9-18.

30.

Micah 7:2(b) - Micah 7:4(a) refers to __________.

31.

Compare Micah 7:2(b) - Micah 7:4(a) with 2 Samuel 23:6-7, Isaiah 55:13, and Ezekiel 2:6.

32.

Who are listed as those whom honest men cannot trust? (Micah 7:5-6)

33.

Discuss Micah 7:5-6 in connection with Matthew 10:35-36 and Luke 12:53.

34.

Discuss Micah 7:7 in connection with Joshua 24:14-15.

35.

Despite the wickedness of his time, Micah is unshaken in the conviction that __________.

36.

Discuss Micah 7:8-10 in light of Romans 8:31-39.

37.

Compare Micah 7:9 to Psalms 22:1-24 and Romans 7:24 to Romans 8:1.

38.

What is meant by a day for rebuilding thy walls? (Micah 7:11-13)

39.

If one requires proof of Micah's highest motives in writing his prophecies, his prayer for __________ provides it amply.

40.

The nations shall see what and be ashamed?