[:en]SCRIPTURE: MICAH 7
“Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire— they all conspire together. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm. Now is the time of your confusion” (Micah 7:3-4)
“Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies are the members of his own household” (Micah 7:5-6)
“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me” (Micah 7:7)
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy” (Micah 7:18)
ISRAEL’S MISERY (vs. 1-7)
The prophet was sad to see no upright people remain in Israel. The ruler demand gift, the judge accepts bribes and the powerful citate what they desire (v. 3). No one can be trusted, not even members of the family. A son dishonors his father, daughter rise up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household (v. 6). What Micah did was to watch to hop and to wait for God.
ISRAEL WILL RISE (vs. 8-13)
Israel had fallen to their enemies. The enemies mocked them and said: “Where is the Lord your God?” But God promised that one day He will come to build their walls and extend their boundaries and defeat their enemies.
PRAYER AND PRAISE (vs. 14-20)
When we will turn in fear to the Lord, He will pardon our sins and forgive our transgressions. He will show mercy and compassion and trash our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depth of the sea (vs. 18-19). His grace is rich and free.
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