©Michael Player
Chapter 7:8-13 (ESV) - Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;
when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be a light to me.
I will bear the indignation of the Lord
because I have sinned against him,
until he pleads my cause
and executes judgment for me.
He will bring me out to the light;
I shall look upon his vindication.
Then my enemy will see,
and shame will cover her who said to me,
“Where is the Lord your God?”
My eyes will look upon her;
now she will be trampled down
like the mire of the streets.
A day for the building of your walls!
In that day the boundary shall be far extended.
In that day they will come to you,
from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,
and from Egypt to the River,
from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.
But the earth will be desolate
because of its inhabitants,
for the fruit of their deeds.
Question to consider: Why would the nations ask, ‘Where is the Lord your God?’
Even though the LORD used the nations to bring His judgment against Israel and Judah, the desolation of the land would be temporary, and He would care for His people in captivity. Unlike the justice of men, the LORD’s justice is tempered with mercy and given in appropriate measure.
In the word given to Ezekiel, the LORD expressed anger toward the nations that reveled in the judgment of Israel or sought more than what was due them. While the same details are not given by Micah, it is evident that after the judgment began with the house of the LORD, the inhabitants of the earth would receive their due.
Like Job, Micah was willing to endure the time of trial because he trusted that there was a day in which he’d be raised up and vindicated by his Redeemer. Assyria and Babylon may have thought their gods were the ones bringing judgment upon Israel and Judah, but it was from the LORD, and one day they would be made to realize it. Even though Micah did not participate in the idolatry of his people, he recognized the part his sin played in their time of judgment. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. While we may experience difficulties in this world because of sin, we have a blessed hope in the day when we will be raised up incorruptible and pure.
One of the more beautiful prophetic books is Zechariah because it was dedicated to announcing that peace had returned to God’s people after seventy years of desolation. Ultimately, this time of peace pointed to the eternal peace found in Christ, and we get a wonderful picture of this when the high priest Joshua is made clean by the declaration of God so that he could begin the sacrifices for the sin of the people before the temple was rebuilt.
The apostle Peter also recognized that we would face suffering in this world for the sake of Christ. Because people hate Christ, they will hate us as well. Peter wrote that we should not be surprised by this suffering but praise God that we bear the name of Christ. He advice to us was, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your perfect justice and for offering a path to receive Your mercy instead of the judgment we deserve. Help us to show the same mercy we have received to those who have wronged us so that they can glorify Christ when He returns. Amen.