Micah 7:8-20

Zion's Vindication

8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will stand up; though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.^[a]

9 Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the Lord's rage until He argues my case and establishes justice for me.^[b] He will bring me into the light; I will see His salvation.^[c]

10 Then my enemy will see, and she will be covered with shame, the one who said to me, "Where is the Lord your God?"^[d] My eyes will look at her in triumph; at that time she will be trampled like mud in the streets.^[e]

11 A day will come for rebuilding your walls; on that day [your] boundary will be extended.^[f]

12 On that day people will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,^[g] even from Egypt to the Euphrates River and from sea to sea and mountain to mountain.

13 Then the earth will become a wasteland because of its inhabitants, and as a result of their actions.

Micah's Prayer Answered

14 Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock that is Your possession. They live alone^[h] in a scrubland, surrounded by pastures. Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead^[i] as in ancient times.

15 I will show them^[j] wondrous deeds^[k] as in the days of your exodus from the land of Egypt.

16 Nations will see and be ashamed of^[l] all their power. They will put [their] hands over [their] mouths, and their ears will become deaf.

17 They will lick the dust like a snake;^[m] they will come trembling out of their hiding places like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will tremble before the Lord our God; they will stand in awe of You.

18 Who is a God like You,^[n] removing iniquity and passing over rebellion^[o] for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not hold on to His anger forever, because He delights in faithful love.

19 He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our^[p] sins into the depths of the sea.^[q]

20 You will show loyalty to Jacob and faithful love to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from days long ago.

Micah 7:8-20 Meaning and Commentary

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, Mic 7:1-6; then declares what he was determined to do for his relief in such circumstances, Mic 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, Mic 7:8-10; with promises of deliverance, after a desolation of the land for some time, Mic 7:11-13; and with the answer returned to the prayers of the prophet, Mic 7:14,15; which would issue in the astonishment of the world, and their subjection to the church of God, Mic 7:16,17; and the chapter is concluded with admiration at the pardoning grace and mercy of God, and his faithfulness to his promises, Mic 7:18-20.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ps 27:1
• [b]. Jb 23:3-7; Lm 3:58
• [c]. Or righteousness
• [d]. Ps 42:3,10; 79:10; 115:2
• [e]. Zch 10:5
• [f]. Zph 2:2
• [g]. Isa 19:23-25
• [h]. Nm 23:9; Dt 33:28
• [i]. Jr 50:19
• [j]. Israel
• [k]. Ex 3:20; Ps 78:11-16
• [l]. Or ashamed in spite of
• [m]. Ps 72:9; Isa 49:23
• [n]. Ex 15:11; Ps 71:19; Isa 40:18
• [o]. Rm 3:25
• [p]. Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read their
• [q]. Ps 103:9-12; Isa 43:25