Micah 7:1-6

MICAH LONGS FOR GODLINESS. Micah 7:1-6

RV. Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat; my soul desireth the first-ripe fig. The godly man is perished out of the earth, and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. Their hands are upon that which is evil to do it diligently; the prince asketh, and the judge is ready for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth the evil desire of his soul; thus they weave it together. The best of them is as a brier; the most upright is worse than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen, even thy visitation, is come; now shall be their perplexity. Trust ye not in a neighbor; put ye not confidence in a friend; keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoreth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
LXX. Alas for me! for I am become as one gathering straw in harvest, and as one gathering grape-gleanings in the vintage, when there is no cluster for me to eat the first-ripe fruit: alas my soul! For the godly is perished from the earth; and there is none among men that orders his way aright: they all quarrel even to blood: they grievously afflict every one his neighbour: they prepare their hands for mischief, the prince asks a reward, and the judge speaks flattering words; it is the desire of their soul: therefore I will take away their goods as a visitation. Woe, woe, thy times of vengeance are come; now shall be their lamentations. Trust not in friends, and confide not in guides; beware of thy wife, so as not to commit anything to her. For the son dishonours his father, the daughter will rise up against her mother, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law: those in his house shall be all a man's enemies.

COMMENTS

WOE IS ME. THE GODLY MAN IS PERISHED. Micah 7:1-2(a)

Chapter seven begins with a cry of despair from the lips of the prophet. His soul is hungry for the fellowship of godly men. In this he is disappointed as a man physically hungry who comes first to the vineyard and then the orchard and finds nothing to relieve his hunger.
Micah sees beyond the confines of the little kingdoms of Israel and Judah. If there are no godly men among the covenant people, then godliness has perished from the earth! Turning to idolatry, as the world worshipped idolatry, the chosen people had brought about a moral situation similar to that which would prevail if there were no God at all!

The statement, there is none upright. reminds us of David's affirmation concerning those fools who say there is no God. In Psalms 14:1, David wrote The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works. This is repeated in Psalms 53:1 with the additional statement there is none that doeth good, The fifth and one hundred fortieth Psalms echo this thought and expand it.

In the case of the Psalmist it was the professed atheist who is described in vivid terms as grossly immoral. Micah says that because of the idolatry of the children of Israel the same is now true of the whole world!

In Romans 3:9-18, Paul establishes this ungodliness as the universal state of man outside of Christ. There the apostle uses a catena, or chain of references, to prove that the Jews are in no better fix than Gentiles, for all are under sin.

Micah and Paul seem ready to say as Elijah in his time, I, even I only, am left. (1 Kings 19:10) Their hands are upon that which is evil. Micah 7:2(b) - Micah 7:4(a)

There are, says Micah, not only none who do good, but multitudes that do positive hurt. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother. They have a thousand cursed arts of ensnaring men to their ruin.
The magistrates, office patrons and protectors of right are the practicers and promoters of wrong. The prince and judge may be hired for bribes to exert all their power to carry out wicked purposes. The great man who has wealth and the power to do good but who desires to do evil does not utter the evil desire of his soul lest his conspiring with the prince and judge become evident.

The best of them is a brier; the most upright is worse than a thorn hedge. They prick and injure all with whom they come in contact. (Cp. 2 Samuel 23:6-7, Isaiah 55:13, Ezekiel 2:6)

THE DAY OF THE WATCHMAN. Micah 7:4(b)

This is the day of the watchman. Just as a policeman comes upon a criminal to arrest him, so the true prophet, God's watchman, comes upon the false prophet and his corrupt followers. The party is over, the piper must be paid. God's wrath is at hand.

TRUST YE NOT. Micah 7:5-6

Here follows a list of those whom honest men (if indeed there were any) could not trust. The list includes a neighbor, a friend, her that lieth in thy bosom, i.e. one's own wife, the son, the daughter, the daughter-in-law. Such a society in indeed corrupt. ready for the wrath of God.

Jesus quotes Micah 7:6(b) in connection with those He expected to persecute the new covenant people. (Matthew 10:35-36 cp. Luke 12:53)

Chapter XQuestions

Jehovah's Controversy With His People

1.

Micah Chapter s six and seven are composed of a series of __________.

2.

Just as the sins of society's leaders filter down through all classes so __________ are applied to all people.

3.

Jehovah's first controversy with His people is occasioned by their having forgotten __________.

4.

God's controversy with His people is before all creation because __________.

5.

How does Micah connect the final section of his book to the first section?

6.

In Micah 6:3-5 the __________ is made. In Micah 6:9 to Micah 7:6, the case will be __________.

7.

The cry of Micah 6:3-5 is the plea of a __________.

8.

Explain Micah's reference to Balaam. (Micah 6:5)

9.

Why remember from Shittim to Gilgal? (Micah 6:5(b))

10.

Show how Micah 6:1-5 is timely in our day.

11.

What is alluded to by shall I give my first-born for my transgression? (Micah 6:7 (b))

12.

Discuss Micah 6:8 in connection with Matthew 26:16 and Hebrews 2:1-4,

13.

God's insistence upon faithfulness is not unreasonable when we remember __________ His __________ and __________.

14.

How does Micah answer the question, what doth Jehovah require of thee? (Micah 6:8)

15.

The __________ is the Bible quoted by Jesus and the apostles.

16.

Micah 6:8 does not claim that __________ an attribute of God's character is required of God's people.

17.

Rather than compassion, Micah insists that we are required to __________.

18.

Discuss Micah 6:8 in connection with Matthew 23:23.

19.

Why must the outward forms of obedience always be expressive of inner reality?

20.

Compare Micah 6:9 and Proverbs 9:10.

21.

What is the significance of shall I be pure? Micah 6:10-12

22.

The persistent fact of __________ is a prime factor in Micah's message.

23.

Compare Micah 6:14 and Job 20:15.

24.

What is meant by Micah 6:15?

25.

What are the statutes of Omri? Micah 6:15(a)

26.

Compare Micah 6:16(b) and Micah 3:12.

27.

Discuss the historic phenomena known as anti-semitism in light of Micah 6:16.

28.

Compare Micah 7:1-2(a) and Psalms 14:1-2.

29.

Discuss Micah 7:1-2 in light of Romans 3:9-18.

30.

Micah 7:2(b) - Micah 7:4(a) refers to __________.

31.

Compare Micah 7:2(b) - Micah 7:4(a) with 2 Samuel 23:6-7, Isaiah 55:13, and Ezekiel 2:6.

32.

Who are listed as those whom honest men cannot trust? (Micah 7:5-6)

33.

Discuss Micah 7:5-6 in connection with Matthew 10:35-36 and Luke 12:53.

34.

Discuss Micah 7:7 in connection with Joshua 24:14-15.

35.

Despite the wickedness of his time, Micah is unshaken in the conviction that __________.

36.

Discuss Micah 7:8-10 in light of Romans 8:31-39.

37.

Compare Micah 7:9 to Psalms 22:1-24 and Romans 7:24 to Romans 8:1.

38.

What is meant by a day for rebuilding thy walls? (Micah 7:11-13)

39.

If one requires proof of Micah's highest motives in writing his prophecies, his prayer for __________ provides it amply.

40.

The nations shall see what and be ashamed?