Read the Passage: Micah 6-7
Plea and Punishment (6:1–15)
Just as He had done in the previous two cycles of judgment, so in this chapter God begins His third and final cycle of judgment by pointing out the need for repentance. Yet, this last cycle of judgment is unique in that God creates a courtroom scene where Israel is invited to testify against Him in order to explain themselves. In this passage God notes that He had delivered His people from bondage, given them competent leaders, cursed the pagan nations, and brought His people into the promised land (cf. Mic. 6:3–5). In light of this overwhelming evidence of God’s goodness, in Mic. 6:6–7 the people asked God what He required of them. Observe that the people didn’t even know how to repent. In response, God said, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic. 6:8).
In Mic. 6:9–16 God’s tone changes from reasonable pleading to certain judgment. In this passage God speaks of having already appointed the rod of His wrath (cf. Mic. 6:9) and He describes what life would be like under His judgment (cf. Mic. 6:13–15). In this passage God focuses on material and financial matters, as He confronts the people for their economic injustice (cf. Mic. 6:11), as well as for their violence and deceit (cf. Mic. 6:12). Given that the people’s sins related to material goods, and since God often judges in accord with our sin, in Mic. 6:13–15 God revealed that He would make the people sick, desolate, and hungry. Moreover, God spoke of economic matters as He taught that the people would sow grain but not reap it, tread olives but not anoint themselves, and grow grapes but not drink wine. Such unproductivity was a curse for the people’s sins.
Sorrow and Confession (7:1–13)
In Mic. 7:1–2 the prophet laments over the sinful condition of Israel, for he was aware of the terrors and trials that awaited them. Mic. 7:2 is a scathing but accurate description of natural man, as Micah writes, “The faithful man has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net.” Next, in Mic. 7:3–4, with a degree of sarcasm, God observes how skillful the people were at sinning, and notes the extent of their corruption, as it involved princes, judges, and other great men (cf. Mic. 3:11; 7:3). Finally, in Mic. 7:5–7 the prophet warns the people not to trust anyone in their midst, for their culture was so morally corrupt that it was not even safe to trust friends or family members. Note Jesus quoted Mic. 7:6, in a different context, to teach that the gospel can bring division to families (cf. Matt. 10:35).
In Mic. 8:8–13 the prophet envisions a time of future repentance by God’s people. It is possible that in this passage Micah is recounting the real effects of a revival that occurred during the reign of Hezekiah (715–686 BC). It is also possible that the repentance in view here is a prophecy about the people’s return from exile, or it could refer to the coming of Christ and the church age (cf. Mic. 5:2). Alternatively, Micah may be speaking about an end-times revival at Jesus’ second coming. Whether or not Micah is writing about any or all of the preceding revival events, it is certain that Mic. 7:9 teaches the people in view here: (1) have admitted their sin and guilt, (2) have recognized that God must act for them, and (3) have trusted in God’s righteousness alone. At Mic. 7:10–13 Micah notes that this revival also entails the defeat of God’s enemies and the rebuilding of the city.
Forgiveness and Hope (7:14–20)
While throughout this book Micah has presented God’s judgment upon Israel as a sure and certain reality, in Mic. 7:14–20 God also assures His people about the possibility of forgiveness and restoration. In fact, at Mic. 7:14–17 the text records the astonishment that neighboring nations will feel when they see Israel restored by the grace of God. Indeed, Micah himself seems overwhelmed by the prospect of future restoration of the nation, for he rhetorically asks, “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?” In light of the judgment with which Micah begins this book, it is refreshing to read in the final verses of Micah’s prophecy about God’s mercy, compassion, and forgiveness of sins (cf. Mic. 7:18–20). This restoration was possible for the nation of Israel, and it is possible for God’s people today.
Application Questions:
- For which of God’s attributes are you most thankful: His long-suffering, His grace, His mercy, or His love?
- Is it possible for natural man to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God?
- Does God still care about financial matters? What is God’s economic ideal for His people?
- If salvation is a free gift from God to man, why is the message of the gospel so offensive to so many people?
- When sin is confronted, how important is it to hold out the hope of forgiveness and restoration?
