Micah 7:1-10

Micah 7:1

Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.

Then Micah begins to lament for the fact that he entered into the vineyard of grapes and had desired to have some but when he got there, there were no grapes on the vine because someone had taken them all off and the vines were empty.  The same situation will be happening to Samaria and Judah when the invaders remove them completely from the land.  When Micah as speaking about his soul’s desire for the firstfruits, it would also have been a sacrifice dedicated unto the LORD.  The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.  (Exodus 23:19) 

Micah 7:2

The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.

Those among Israel who would have been people of honesty and integrity of character had degenerated because their society had descended into a people of moral deterioration where crime was the normal way of doing things.  Those of upright character had either been killed or they too had become degenerates as they have become murdering predators who will kill for whatever they want and they hunt for others to get what they want as a hunter waits to catch an animal in a trap and once the people are caught in the trap of violence, they become prey to those who have wealth and influence.  It became the type of society where nobody was safe.

Micah 7:3

That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

The situation was a desperate one in that those who plotted against the people did it with both hands, that is, they were fully involved with all the power and force they could use to gain whatever goal they were attempting to get.  The leaders of Israel in both the ruling and the judicial part of the government were all in for bribes and the one who could give the biggest bribes would be the one that would find the court ruling in their favor.  Then the great men, whoever they were whether the wealthy or the ruling class would use perverted power to secure whatever personal gains they wanted.  So all three classes would come together and form an unholy alliance to keep their positions locked up and the money coming in.  The prince, judge, and great man would be in league with each other to keep their evil workings secret.  God has an answer to those who think they can hide from the LORD.  Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.  (Jeremiah 23:24) 

Micah 7:4

The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.

The best people in this wayward society were no better than thorns and briers which would prick and hurt people rather than helping and loving and having compassion on one another.  Normally some of the needles on these plants were longer than one inch thick so if they stabbed you, it could hurt much worse than a standard rose bush thorn.  The day of thy watchmen would be the days of visitation which had happened to Israel throughout its history.  The LORD sent prophets which were referred to as watchmen who had prophesied that if Israel did not repent of their personal and national sins that a day of reckoning would come and since Israel did not return to the LORD their day of reckoning was about to occur.  Now they will be in a state of bewilderment or confusion as to what would be happening to them as they are overpowered by the enemy.  They had always thought that they were God’s people and could not believe that an enemy would be able to invade the land.  Right before the Lord returns to earth all the nations will be in perplexity.  This major sign is totally visible to us right now and that is the nations of the earth are in perplexity. Perplexity means “consternation, distress, confusion, or difficulty.” Does that not describe the condition of this world? The nations seems to see no way out of their problems. No matter how many summits or meetings are scheduled, the only thing that comes out of them is more problems. The people of this world are restless and are looking to government to help fix its woes but they are not getting satisfaction so they take to the streets and burn cities. It seems that countries of this world have no way out of their dilemma except the return of Christ.

Micah 7:5

Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

Since Micah had just told them that they hunted each other and would not hesitate to kill that they should protect themselves by not trusting anyone, even someone they call friend.  Henry Phillips was a man that William Tyndale called friend and betrayed him to the Roman Catholic Church who then murdered him.  The same mindset was in Samaria and they were to watch out for those who called themselves friend.  They were also not to trust a guide which could be some leader in Israel.  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.  (Psalm 118:9)  David penned Psalm 119 about 250 years prior to the situation in Samaria and now was the time to really heed that advice.  Then the husbands were not even to trust their own wives because normally a wife will not betray her husband but the living and spiritual conditions had so deteriorated, that even the most intimate person could not be trusted.  This also applied to those who would visit prostitutes or have a mistress on the side that they were not to engage in pillow talk or else it could mean their life.

Micah 7:6

For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.

Here Micah describes the breakdown of the family unit.  Once the family unit breaks down then society in the whole suffers.  We can see this plainly in many countries including the USA where many families are no longer whole but only fragments.  Instead of the families sticking together, they live as enemies within the same household.  It was probably a case of each one wanting to be better than the other and treating each other with contempt just as the whole country had adopted that mindset.  The Lord even told his 12 disciples that the time would come again when a man’s enemies would be those of his own household.  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.  (Matthew 10:36)  This time it was different because those who were rejecting Christ and staying with Judaism would turn the Christians in to the chief priests.  This principle also holds true that if one person in a household is saved and the rest are not, then all the unbelievers in that house are the enemies of the saved person.

Micah 7:7

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

Micah was a man of faith and he did not look to man, he looked unto the LORD because he knew the LORD would not forsake him or turn against him.  Micah was a saved man and knew that his relationship with the LORD was far beyond the earthly horizon because he knew that he was saved and because he was confident in his salvation, he also knew that God would hear his prayers and supplications.  Isaiah had prophesied that God would not hear the prayers of reprobate Israel:

{1} Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:  {2} But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.  {3 }For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.  (Isaiah 59:1-3)

Micah 7:8

Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.

When the Assyrians and the Babylonians come against their prospective targets in the future, they should not rejoice in thinking they have the final hand in the matter.  Micah is telling them that even though they shall fall yet they shall arise and though they sit in darkness of false gospels and captivity, yet the LORD will be their light even when it seems the most dark.  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.  (Proverbs 24:16) This is the language of salvation as previously he spoke about God being his salvation.  The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  (Psalm 27:1) 

Micah 7:9

I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.

This is the words of the prophet but he is speaking for Jerusalem and Judah.  He states that they will bear the indignation of the LORD.  The word “bear” here means “accept” the judgment that is coming their way.  They had realized that that they have sinned against him and that brings judgment.  Within that judgment Jerusalem would be allowed to plead their cause’ against the marauding enemies as God would execute his judgment upon the invaders in due time.  Then within the course of time both Assyria and Babylon would be destroyed and no longer be a kingdom.   Micah also has in view the time when salvation will go throughout the world as the light of the gospel is preached and God’s people will be able to see and experience his righteousness.

Micah 7:10

Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.