1 Misery is mine! Indeed, I am like one who gathers the summer fruits, as gleanings of the vineyard: There is no cluster of grapes to eat. My soul desires to eat the early fig. 2 The godly man has perished out of 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. 3 Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe; and the powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together. 4 The best of them is like a brier. The most upright is worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen, even your visitation, has come; now is the time of their confusion. 5 Don't trust in a neighbor. Don't put confidence in a friend. With the woman lying in your embrace, be careful of the words of your mouth! 6 For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. 7 But as for me, I will look to Yahweh. I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. 8 Don't rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, Yahweh will be a light to me. 9 I will bear the indignation of Yahweh, because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my case, and executes judgment for me. He will bring me forth to the light. I will see his righteousness. 10 Then my enemy will see it, and shame will cover her who said to me, where is Yahweh your God? Then my enemy will see me and will cover her shame. Now she will be trodden down like the mire of the streets. 11 A day to build your walls- In that day, he will extend your boundary. 12 In that day they will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt even to the River, and from sea to sea, and mountain to mountain. 13 Yet the land will be desolate because of those who dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings. 14 Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your heritage, who dwell by themselves in a forest, in the midst of fertile pasture land, let them feed; in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. 15 "As in the days of your coming forth out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous things." 16 The nations will see and be ashamed of all their might. They will lay their hand on their mouth. Their ears will be deaf. 17 They will lick the dust like a serpent. Like crawling things of the earth they shall come trembling out of their dens. They will come with fear to Yahweh our God, and will be afraid because of you. 18 Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn't retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness. 19 He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. 20 You will give truth to Jacob, and mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
The prophet's office of threatening woe is now over. Here, out of love, he himself crieth woe unto himself. He hath "continual sorrow in heart" Romans 9:2 for his people. He bewails what he cannot amend, and, by bewailing, shews them how much more they should bewail it, over whose sins he sorrows; how certain the destruction is, since there is none to stand in the gap and turn away the wrath of God, no "ten righteous," for whose sake the city may be spared. Rup.: "These words flow out of the fount of pity, because the good zeal, wherewith the Holy seem to speak severely, is never without pity. They are wroth with the sins, they sympathize with the sinner." So Isaiah mourned for the judgment, which he prophesied against the world, "Woe is me!" Isaiah 24:16 he sorrowed even for Moab Isaiah 15:5; Isaiah 16:11; and Joel, "Alas for the day!" Joel 1:15. and Jeremiah in that exclamation of impassioned sorrow; "Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole world!" Jeremiah 15:10.
The prophet begins this chapter with lamenting the decay of piety and the growth of ungodliness, using a beautiful allegory to imply (as explained in Micah 7:2) that the good man is as seldom to be met with as the early fig of best quality in the advanced season, or the cluster after the vintage, Micah 7:1, Micah 7:2. He then reproves and threatens in terms so expressive of great calamities as to be applied in the New Testament to times of the hottest persecution, Micah 7:3-6. See Matthew 10:35, Matthew 10:36. Notwithstanding which a Jew is immediately introduced declaring, in the name of his captive people, the strongest faith in the mercy of God the most submissive resignation to his will, and the firmest hope in his favor in future times, when they should triumph over their enemies, Micah 7:7-10. The prophet upon this resumes the discourse, and predicts their great prosperity and increase, Micah 7:11, Micah 7:12; although the whole land of Israel must first be desolated on account of the great wickedness of its inhabitants, Micah 7:13. The prophet intercedes in behalf of his people, Micah 7:14. After which God is introduced promising, in very ample terms, their future restoration and prosperity, Micah 7:15-17. And then, to conclude, a chorus of Jews is introduced, singing a beautiful hymn of thanksgiving, suggested by the gracious promises which precede, Micah 7:18-20.
INTRODUCTION TO MICAH 7
This chapter begins with a lamentation of the prophet, in the name of the church and people of God, concerning the general depravity and corruption of the times in which he lived, Micah 7:1; then declares what he was determined to do for his relief in such circumstances, Micah 7:7; comforts himself and the church with a good hope and firm belief of its being otherwise and better with them, to the shame and confusion of their enemies that now rejoiced, though without just reason for it, Micah 7:8; with promises of deliverance, after a desolation of the land for some time, Micah 7:11; and with the answer returned to the prayers of the prophet, Micah 7:14; which would issue in the astonishment of the world, and their subjection to the church of God, Micah 7:16; and the chapter is concluded with admiration at the pardoning grace and mercy of God, and his faithfulness to his promises, Micah 7:18.
(Micah 7:1-7) The general prevalence of wickedness.
(Micah 7:8-13) Reliance on God, and triumph over enemies.
(Micah 7:14-20) Promises and encouragements for Israel.
The Church's Penitential Prayer, and the Divine Promise - Micah 7
The prophet responds to the threatening of the Lord (Micah 6:9-16) in the name of the believing church with a penitential prayer, in which it sorrowfully confesses the universality of the deep moral corruption, and painfully bemoans the necessity for the visitation of God (Micah 7:1-6); after which it rises, through belief in the fidelity of God, to the confidential hope that the Lord will cause the light of His grace to rise again upon the church, which is bearing the merited punishment, and will not let its enemies triumph over it, but will procure it justice, and deeply humble the foe (Micah 7:7-13); and to this it appends a prayer fore the renewal of the former manifestations of grace (Micah 7:14). The Lord answers this prayer with the promise that He will renew for His people the wonders of the olden time (Micah 7:15-17); whereupon the prophet closes by praising the mercy and grace of the Lord (Micah 7:18-20).
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.