Return of the King

Micah 7:1-20

Main Idea: Micah provides hope by promising that the world will be restored to its created perfection when the Messiah, King Jesus, returns.

1. I. The Return of King Jesus Will Be Preceded by Global Apostasy (7:1-7).
   1. A. There will be a global epidemic of wickedness (7:1-4).
   2. B. There will be a global epidemic of rebellion (7:5-6).
   3. C. There will be a global epidemic of persecution.
2. II. The Return of King Jesus Will Restore Israel to Her Promised Glory (7:8-17).
   1. A. Jerusalem will be rebuilt (7:11a).
   2. B. Israel’s territory will encompass all of the land promised to Abraham (7:11b).
   3. C. King Jesus will reign on earth in Jerusalem (7:12-17).
3. III. The Return of King Jesus Will Be Anticipated by a Righteous Remnant (7:18-20).
   1. A. God will forgive the sins of His people (7:18).
   2. B. God will save His people from their sins (7:19).
   3. C. God will position His people beyond the reach of sin (7:20).
4. IV. The Return of King Jesus Gives Us Hope for Today (7:7).
   1. A. Hope results from keeping our eyes on the Lord.
   2. B. Hope results from trusting in God’s promise of provision.
   3. C. Hope results from knowing that God hears our prayers.

All of us long for peace and hope in this troubled world. Instead, we find ourselves facing increasingly difficult days. Our entire lives have been changed and affected by the threat and consequences of terrorism. Exploding planes, suicide bombers, dirty bombs, and terror of every kind are increasing threats to our lives. Plagues of biblical proportion, which once seemed impossible in our technologically advanced world, now threaten to overrun our scientific resources. Crime, fueled by greed, guns, drugs, and gangs, is overwhelming our legal system and our sense of human decency. Gone are the days when soldiers with swords and guns fought wars on battlefields; now drones wage wars remotely with weapons capable of destroying the earth itself. And the promise that technology would eradicate poverty now rings as hollow as the promise that money cures all ills. These are discouraging days on the earth.

This is why I love the book of Micah; it provides the promise of hope in a chaotic world. Chapter 7 continues that message. Here Micah reminds us that the world as it is does not represent the world as it will one day be. One day our Messiah, King Jesus, will return, and all will be as God intended it to be before sin marred His perfect creation. Micah concludes his book with several important truths.

The Return of King Jesus Will Be Preceded by Global Apostasy

Micah 7:1-7

Micah began this section with these words: “How sad for me!” He wasn’t talking about the people here; he was talking about himself. Keep in mind that prophets like Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others spoke God’s truth to generations of people who had no interest in their message. Despite their best efforts to call the people back to an authentic covenant relationship with God, they had little success. For a prophet, there is no worse feeling.

Micah continued to lament the coming judgment of God. He said that his heart felt empty like the fields after harvest. He wanted to enjoy the luscious fruit of summer, but nothing was left but tired vines. His spirit was discouraged by the lack of any spiritual vitality among his people. Then he made this sad and tragic statement: “Godly people have vanished from the land; there is no one upright among the people” (v. 2a). It is reminiscent of Elijah’s conversation with God, when he suggested that he was the only man in Israel who hadn’t bowed to worship Baal (1 Kgs 19:10-18). God reminded Elijah that he wasn’t alone, and I’m sure Micah wasn’t alone either—it just felt that way. Then, Micah explained the reason for his feelings: “All of them wait in ambush to shed blood” (v. 2b). In other words, the vast majority of people were totally self-absorbed, pursuing their own agendas, no matter how corrupt they had to become to do it. Then, suddenly, out of his hopelessness came a word of hope. Despite all of the heartache around him, a day of joy was coming. He wrote, “He will bring me into the light; I will see His salvation” (v. 9). Micah knew that one day he would see the promises of God fulfilled for his people and himself.

There Will Be a Global Epidemic of Wickedness (7:1-4)

Micah described several things that led to this tragic moment in Israel and Judah. They are the very things that will lead to the moment of judgment when King Jesus returns to earth to establish His kingdom at the end of the tribulation. First, Micah noted the rise of wickedness. There were princes, priests, rulers, and judges who showed favor only to those who lined their pockets with bribes or payoffs. The rich alone flourished because they had the ability to manipulate circumstances to their own benefit. They bore the most responsibility before God because they were tasked with leading the people toward righteousness. Yet the common people were not immune from these sins either. As they had been led, so they lived. They, too, were responsible for their sinful choices.

There Will Be a Global Epidemic of Rebellion (7:5-6)

Second, he noted a rise in rebellion. There were neighbors warring against each other, friends at odds with each other, and family members who could not be trusted. Sons mocked their fathers while daughters stood in opposition to their mothers. A spirit of rebellion defined both nations.

There Will Be a Global Epidemic of Persecution

Third, he noted a rise in the persecution of the righteous. The righteous live in a fallen world, and they often suffer because of the sinful choices of others. The righteous who lived in Micah’s day would suffer the same fate. When we consider all of the poor choices made by the people of Israel and Judah, it is easy to understand how Micah might have wondered whether the godly had really “vanished from the land.” In spite of this, he told the righteous remnant not to lose hope in the face of darkness.

The Return of King Jesus Will Restore Israel to Her Promised Glory

Micah 7:8-17

It is because of this hope-inspiring truth that Micah could encourage such hope. In 7:8-10 Micah admitted he was in a time of trouble and darkness. He understood that the sins of his people were the source of God’s impending judgment, but he was facing that sad truth with hope. He had confidence that God would bring him into the light; he would see God’s salvation. Clearly he was talking about a future event—the return of King Jesus to restore Israel to its promised glory.

Jerusalem Will Be Rebuilt (11a)

In verses 11-17 Micah provided some important information for us about the millennial reign of King Jesus. First, Jerusalem will be rebuilt. During the tribulation, great harm will come to the city of Jerusalem. When Jesus reigns, the great city of God will be rebuilt into a place of matchless beauty. It will be the seat of global power; and the remaining nations, whose lands have been destroyed as a result of global sin, will come to Jerusalem for aid and guidance.

Israel’s Territory Will Encompass All of the Land Promised to Abraham (11b)

Second, Israel’s territory will be expanded to include all of the territories promised to Abraham (Gen 15:18). At long last, the covenant will be fulfilled.

King Jesus Will Reign on Earth in Jerusalem (12-17)

Third, King Jesus will reign on earth. During this time, the entire world will live under His sovereign power and glory. He will lead His people like a loving shepherd, providing for their needs with the best of everything He has to offer. His people will experience peace and favor in abundance. And they will witness and enjoy the miraculous works of God on their behalf. Having endured suffering at the hands of evildoers, the people of God will enjoy a forever rest under the loving reign of King Jesus. However, He will be a different kind of leader for the unregenerate who survive the tribulation. They will still bear the mark of the beast, and their hearts will still embrace an absolute rebellion against the conquering Messiah, King Jesus. Like Gollum, the tortured hobbit in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, the people have been possessed by the spirit and mark of the antichrist, and they are doomed. They will rebel against King Jesus and will only bow before Him by force (vv. 16-17). These He will rule with a rod of iron (Ps 2).

God has placed within every human heart the desire for the ultimate beauty, rest, and peace that King Jesus will provide on His return. However, only those who possess a personal relationship with King Jesus will ever experience it in the way that God promises. Israel will be the crown jewel of the earth during His millennial reign, and the saints of all the ages will experience and enjoy this age of unrivaled peace.

The Return of King Jesus Will Be Anticipated by a Righteous Remnant

Micah 7:18-20

But that is still to come. In the meantime we wait for King Jesus. Micah ended his book with this truth: The return of King Jesus will be anticipated by a righteous remnant. The prayer of the New Testament is, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:20). Authentic believers, struggling through the final days of the tribulation, will long for His return.

God Will Forgive the Sins of His People (7:18)

The concluding verses of Micah are amazing! Micah shared some wonderful truths about God’s continued faithfulness to His children. First, God will forgive their sins. In spite of all of their sin, wickedness, and rebellion, God was still extending His offer of mercy. He offered this forgiveness to “the remnant of His inheritance.” He was providing forgiveness to all those in Israel and Judah who were pursuing a covenant relationship with Him based on loyalty and obedience. He was still blessing those who loved God and neighbor.

God Will Save His People from Their Sins (7:19)

Second, God will save them from their sin. This isn’t a carte blanche, universal forgiveness extended to people who reject God and His ways while choosing a lifestyle of rebellion against Him. This forgiveness and salvation are for those who receive them by faith. We, too, receive God’s mercy and forgiveness by grace on the basis of faith in God’s Son, King Jesus. He is the One who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and was raised to life to demonstrate the effectiveness of His substitutionary sacrifice for us. He is the One who has made our reconciliation with God the Father possible, allowing us to be forgiven, sealed, and adopted into God’s forever family. All who place their faith in Jesus receive God’s pardon. He vanquishes our sins and casts them into the depths of the sea. Remember, God doesn’t look past our sin or over our sin; He blots our sins out. God has justified us, and this means He sees us just as if we had never sinned and just as if we had always obeyed perfectly—this is real, life-changing hope! We are fully forgiven by God, and our relationship with Him is fully secured by His eternal power and promise.

God Will Position His People Beyond the Reach of Sin (7:20)

Third, God will position His people beyond the reach of sin. In the final verse of this book, Micah ended with the most amazing promise: “You will show loyalty to Jacob and faithful love to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from days long ago.” Micah found hope in God’s promise of eternal relationship. He knew that a day was coming when God’s covenant loyalty to His people from all the ages, both Jew and Gentile alike, would be fully realized. In that day His people would be completely delivered from the grip of sin.

The Return of King Jesus Gives Us Hope for Today

Micah 7:7

We live in the reality of that promise too. As followers of King Jesus, we are among the families that God promised to bless through Abraham. Yet we struggle with many of the same challenges that faced the people of Israel and Judah. As we strive to be a people who do justice, love faithfulness, and walk humbly with God, we still carry the residual effects of our old nature (Rom 7:7-25). There will be days when we will face temptations, and the pull of this world will be strong in our lives. What will we do if we succumb in that moment? We will hear God say, “I want you to come back, confess your sin, experience My forgiveness, and continue to pursue Me with your life.” This is the restoration process that Micah was referencing. It begins in this life, and it will be fully realized in the presence of God in the next. God forgives, saves, and restores people to fellowship with Himself, and that is the source of our hope. There is nothing we can do that will take us outside the reach of God’s grace.

Hope Results from Keeping Our Eyes on the Lord

There’s one final word of hope that Micah provided for us in this chapter. We find it in verse 7: “But I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.” What do we do between the here and the hereafter? That is the pressing question. What does it mean to follow King Jesus in a world increasingly hostile to Christianity? We begin by keeping our eyes on the Lord. That’s the remedy for every temptation. That’s the solution to the problem of our strong attraction to the world and its false promises of hope. It’s the means whereby we embrace hope. If we look at our circumstances, we’ll be tempted to doubt. Like Micah, we may begin to wonder whether we’re the last generation that will pledge allegiance to King Jesus. Micah said in effect, “Everything around me may be spinning out of control, but I will keep my eyes on the Lord. I’m going to follow Him no matter what.”

Hope Results from Trusting in God’s Promise of Provision

Then, we trust in the promised provision of God in our lives. Micah said, “I will wait for the God of my salvation.” He knew that God had a plan, and He was going to accomplish that plan regardless of the obstacles that appeared to be in His way. We must live with that same confidence in the Lord. God is at work in us and around us, and we can have hope that His purposes for our lives will be fulfilled.

Hope Results from Knowing That God Hears Our Prayers

Finally, we must remember that we have this hope because we know that “My God will hear me.” He hears and answers our prayers as He works out His will in our lives. Unlike the people of Israel and Judah, who placed their hope in all of the wrong places, our hope must be placed in God. King Jesus will return! In the meantime, there is nothing better than living with the confident expectation that God will fulfill His promises to us as we follow after Him, both in this life and in the life to come!

Reflect and Discuss

1. Micah wasn’t the only person in Israel who felt lonely as one of God’s covenant servants. Read 1 Kings 18–19. What similarities do you see between Elijah and Micah?
2. When you read Micah 7:2b-6, what similarities do you see between Micah’s day and our own?
3. Apostasy means to abandon or renounce one’s religious beliefs. When the term is used in the Bible, it refers to those who have “fallen away” from their faith through apathy or “abandoned” their faith through rebellion. In Scripture, apostasy is always a sign of an unbeliever. Genuine Christ-followers practice perseverance in the face of adversity or persecution. While they may wrestle with issues of faith at times, they do not fall away from the faith. What are some ways you can guard against the influence of apostasy in your own life? Review the following Scripture passages for some ideas: 2 Timothy 3:12-17; Hebrews 3:13-19; Acts 20:28-31; Hebrews 10:23-25; Ephesians 6:10-18.
4. Micah and Isaiah were contemporaries. Read Micah 7:8-10 and Isaiah 6. What can we learn about confession from these two texts?
5. In the New Testament we learn that confession is essential both for salvation and for daily cleansing. Read Micah 7:18-19; Ephesians 1:7-10; Colossians 2:13-15;1 John 1:9. What do we learn from these texts about the scope and purpose of God’s forgiveness in our lives?
6. Micah understood that some of God’s promises come after the long passing of time (7:7). As a result, he was prepared to wait for the answers to his prayers. God does not always respond to our prayers in the way or time frame we desire. Sometimes He is silent for an extended period of time. This can cause anxiety and uncertainty in our lives. However, we should not give in to these emotions. A Christ-follower is someone who understands that God is sovereign over all of life. These times of extended silence may cause us to become spiritually unfocused or make some poor life choices. Read Psalm 27. How does God want us to respond when we are waiting for Him to answer our prayers?
7. Before we placed our faith in Christ, we were sinners living in a sinful world. But when we placed our faith in Christ, we were redeemed to make a difference for God in our communities and around the world. How does our role change in the world as a result of becoming Christ-followers? Read John 15. What does this text reveal about our purpose as Christ-followers?
8. Micah wrote a book of hope in times of great spiritual despair. How do God’s promises provide us with strength to remain faithful in our own lives?
9. Read Revelation 19–22. Spend time rejoicing in the promise of the return of King Jesus.