O R 1-4. Evil lamented.
S 5,6. Remedies. Vain.
S 7. Remedies. True.
R 8-10. Evils endured.
632-603
Micah 7)
1 Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits (figs), as the grape-gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat (see Amos 8:11): my soul desired the first-ripe fruit.
2 The gracious man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among mankind (looking for one good person but can't find one. Hard to find in this, the days we live in, the generation of the fig tree): they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. (They have the attitude of do your brother before he does you.)
3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly (full time job - taxation), the prince asks, and the judge asks for a bribe (ref. 16:19. Cp. 3:11. Hos. 4:18); and the great man, he utters the mischief of his soul (i.e. the prince and the judge): so they weave it together.
4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of your watchmen and your visitation comes (put for the day of punishment foretold by your watchmen. Before 2nd Advent. Now!); now shall be their perplexity. (Punishments foretold.)
5 Put not your faith in a friend, neither put your not confidence in a guide: keep the openings of your mouth from her that lies in your bosom. (Or you will be delivered up at the wrong time.)
6 For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. (Don't trust anybody with your soul, spirit. See Mark 13:12. Matt. 10:35,36. Luke 12:53.)
7 Therefore I will look to the LORD (He can read your mind, He knows what you are thinking); I will wait for the God of my salvation (don't be one of those that are deceived by the "Rapture". Many so called "Christians" will be deceived): my God will hear me. (You can count on it.)
8 Rejoice not against me, O my enemy: when I fall (i.e. into calamity; not into sin), I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light to me. (He gives you power over the enemy. The prince of darkness [Satan] is coming and we have power over him in Jesus Christ's name)
9 I will bear the indignation (put for the punishment which was the result of it. When He corrects you, thank Him) 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 (to Himself), and I shall look to His righteousness. (I.e. His righteous vindication.)
10 So shall she [who has been] my enemy (i.e. Assyria, see v.12) shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said to me, "Where is the LORD your God?" my eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets. (The Antichrist and his crowd.)
B T 11-13. Restoration of Israel.
U 14. Prayer.
T 15-17. Subjugation of Israel's enemies.
U 18-20. Pardon.
11 In the day that your walls are to be built, in that day shall the boundary become distant (i.e. extended). (Tent to be widened.)
12 In that day also one (i.e. you enemy) shall come home even to you from Assyria, and from the fortified cities (= the cities of Matzor [i.e. the fortress] put for Egypt. Cp. Isa. 19:6. 37:23), and from the fortress even to the river (put for the Euphrates), and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. (Nothing left out. One worldism.)
13 Notwithstanding (i.e. But first, or before this) the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings. (They will not be blessed.)
14 [Then Micah prayed, and said: O Lord shepherd You Your people with Your rod (Heb. shebet, the token of rule, the rod of correction), the flock of Your heritage, dwell you (i.e. the 'flock') alone in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the age-past time. (He will take care of you. So shall be the yet future day of Israel's consolation, not Micah's day, when Israel was in possession of Bashan, &c. No ground therefore, for dating this prayer in 'the latest period of Israel's history, the days of Haggai and Zechariah' as alleged.)
15 According to the days of Your coming out of the land of Egypt will I show to him marvelous things. (This is how its going to happen. Verses 15-17 are Yahaveh's answer as to the subjugation of Israel's enemies. Not the continuation of Micah's prayer.)
16 The nations shall see and be confounded (amazed) at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth (put for silence, of which it was the token and sign), their ears shall be deaf. (Embarrassed.)
17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent (put for utmost humiliation, as in Gen. 3:14. Cp. Ps, 72:9. Isa. 49:23.), they shall come quaking out of their fastness like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of You. (Because Micah's prayer will be answered.)
18 Who is a God (cp. the meaning of "Micah", 1:1. Ref. Ex. 34:7) like unto You, that pardons perverseness, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? (those that understand His Word.) He retains not His anger for ever, because He delights in grace (or loving-kindness).
19 He will turn again (2nd Advent. Cp. Hos. 14:8), He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Just like He did to Pharaoh's army.)
20 You will perform the truth to Jacob (all tribes), and the mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers (ref. Gen. 50:24,&c.. See Ps. 105:9,10,42) from the days of old. (Quoted in Luke 1:72,73. See Rev. 11:3-6. Nothing new under the sun.)