Micah7
New Living Translation
1How miserable I am! I feel like the fruit picker after the harvest who can find nothing to eat. Not a cluster of grapes or a single early fig can be found to satisfy my hunger.
2The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth. They are all murderers, setting traps even for their own brothers.
3Both their hands are equally skilled at doing evil! Officials and judges alike demand bribes. The people with influence get what they want, and together they scheme to twist justice.
4Even the best of them is like a brier; the most honest is as dangerous as a hedge of thorns. But your judgment day is coming swiftly now. Your time of punishment is here, a time of confusion.
5Don’t trust anyone— not your best friend or even your wife!
6For the son despises his father. The daughter defies her mother. The daughter-in-law defies her mother-in-law. Your enemies are right in your own household!
7As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.
8Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
9I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, for I have sinned against him. But after that, he will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies. The Lord will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness.
10Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side. They will be ashamed that they taunted me, saying, “So where is the Lord— that God of yours?” With my own eyes I will see their downfall; they will be trampled like mud in the streets.
11In that day, Israel, your cities will be rebuilt, and your borders will be extended.
12People from many lands will come and honor you— from Assyria all the way to the towns of Egypt, from Egypt all the way to the Euphrates River, and from distant seas and mountains.
13But the land will become empty and desolate because of the wickedness of those who live there.
14O Lord, protect your people with your shepherd’s staff; lead your flock, your special possession. Though they live alone in a thicket on the heights of Mount Carmel, let them graze in the fertile pastures of Bashan and Gilead as they did long ago.
15“Yes,” says the Lord, “I will do mighty miracles for you, like those I did when I rescued you from slavery in Egypt.”
16All the nations of the world will stand amazed at what the Lord will do for you. They will be embarrassed at their feeble power. They will cover their mouths in silent awe, deaf to everything around them.
17Like snakes crawling from their holes, they will come out to meet the Lord our God. They will fear him greatly, trembling in terror at his presence.
18Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.
19Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
20You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Micah 7.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The general prevalence of wickedness. (1–7). Reliance on God, and triumph over enemies. (8–13). Promises and encouragements for Israel. (14–20).
vv1-7
The prophet bemoans himself that he lived among a people ripening apace for ruin, in which many good persons would suffer. Men had no comfort, no satisfaction in their own families or in their nearest relations. Contempt and violation of domestic duties are a sad symptom of universal corruption. Those are never likely to come to good who are undutiful to their parents. The prophet saw no safety or comfort but in looking to the Lord, and waiting on God his salvation. When under trials, we should look continually to our Divine Redeemer, that we may have strength and grace to trust in him, and to be examples to those around us.
vv8-13
Those truly penitent for sin, will see great reason to be patient under affliction. When we complain to the Lord of the badness of the times, we ought to complain against ourselves for the badness of our hearts. We must depend upon God to work deliverance for us in due time. We must not only look to him, but look for him. In our greatest distresses, we shall see no reason to despair of salvation, if by faith we look to the Lord as the God of our salvation. Though enemies triumph and insult, they shall be silenced and put to shame. Though Zion's walls may long be in ruins, there will come a day when they shall be repaired. Israel shall come from all the remote parts, not turning back for discouragements. Though our enemies may seem to prevail against us, and to rejoice over us, we should not despond. Though cast down, we are not destroyed; we may join hope in God's mercy, with submission to his correction. No hinderances can prevent the favours the Lord intends for his church.
vv14-20
When God is about to deliver his people, he stirs up their friends to pray for them. Apply spiritually the prophet's prayer to Christ, to take care of his church, as the great Shepherd of the sheep, and to go before them, while they are here in this world as in a wood, in this world but not of it. God promises in answer to this prayer, he will do that for them which shall be repeating the miracles of former ages. As their sin brought them into bondage, so God's pardoning their sin brought them out. All who find pardoning mercy, cannot but wonder at that mercy; we have reason to stand amazed, if we know what it is. When the Lord takes away the guilt of sin, that it may not condemn us, he will break the power of sin, that it may not have dominion over us. If left to ourselves, our sins will be too hard for us; but God's grace shall be sufficient to subdue them, so that they shall not rule us, and then they shall not ruin us. When God forgives sin, he takes care that it never shall be remembered any more against the sinner. He casts their sins into the sea; not near the shore-side, where they may appear again, but into the depth of the sea, never to rise again. All their sins shall be cast there, for when God forgives sin, he forgives all. He will perfect that which concerns us, and with this good work will do all for us which our case requires, and which he has promised. These engagements relate to Christ, and the success of the gospel to the end of time, the future restoration of Israel, and the final prevailing of true religion in all lands. The Lord will perform his truth and mercy, not one jot or tittle of it shall fall to the ground: faithful is He that has promised, who also will do it. Let us remember that the Lord has given the security of his covenant, for strong consolation to all who flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them in Christ Jesus.
Key Words
אַלְלַי: alas!
קַיִץ: harvest (as the crop), whether the product (grain or fruit) or the (dry) season
אֹסֶף: a collection (of fruits)
בָּצִיר: clipped, i.e. the grape crop
עֹלֵלָה: only in plural gleanings; by extension gleaning-time
אֶשְׁכּוֹל: a bunch of grapes or other fruit
אָכַל: to eat (literally or figuratively)
בִּכּוּרָה: the early fig
נֶפֶשׁ: properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
אָוָה: to wish for
Cross References
Micah 7Jesus directly alludes to this verse when describing the domestic division of those who follow Him.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The foundational declaration of God's name (merciful, gracious, forgiving transgression) echoed in Micah's praise of God's character.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel lament over the perishing of the godly and faithful from among the children of men.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The description of the sons of Belial being like thrust-away thorns, matching Micah's brier and thorn comparison.
Supported by JFB
Identifies "her that lieth in thy bosom" as the wife, reinforcing the depth of societal breakdown.
Supported by JFB
The mocking question "Where is the Lord thy God?" is explicitly hurled at Messiah on the cross.
Supported by JFB
Licking the dust like a serpent alludes to the ultimate subjugation of God's enemies under the Edenic curse.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel exclamation of "Woe is me" and lean barrenness in a time of widespread spiritual decay.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Internal Micah parallel of princes judging for reward and leaders building up Zion with blood.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Expresses the identical posture of patiently waiting and quietly hoping for the salvation of the Lord.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates the penitent acceptance of the Lord's indignation and "accepting the punishment of their iniquity."
Supported by JFB
Prophetic parallel of the enemies of the Lord licking the dust in complete submission.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels Micah's statement that God "retaineth not his anger for ever" because He delights in mercy.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Zacharias celebrates the fulfillment of this very oath sworn to Abraham in the coming of Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry