Micah 07
Micah 7:1 I am depressed! Indeed, it is as if the summer fruit has been gathered, and the grapes have been harvested. There is no grape cluster to eat, no fresh figs that I crave so much.
Micah has a prophetic vision which transports him into the future of the Great Tribulation. He sees himself as a member of the believing Jewish Remnant. He s depressed, because he is in the middle of the Great Tribulation. Israel was metaphorically seen as the first fig of Israel. The first fig of a fig tree was a delicacy. However, during the Great Tribulation, Israel has been plucked off of the fig tree and devoured.
2 Faithful men have disappeared from the land; there are no godly men left. They all wait in ambush so they can shed blood; they hunt their own brother with a net.
The godly saints have been raptured out of the world. At this one time in history, there is not a single righteous person left on the earth. Those who remain on the earth are godless killers who desire to shed blood.
It is important to note the Rapture is not mentioned in the Old Testament. However, there are other evidences in the Old Testament about there being no godly believers left on earth. Examples are found in Psalms 12:1, 14:2-3, 53:2-3, and Isaiah 57:11-2.
3 They are determined to be experts at doing evil; government officials and judges take bribes, prominent men make demands, and they all do what is necessary to satisfy them.
Those who are left behind will become involved in legal corruption. Government officials and judges will take bribes. Wealthy men will make unlawful demands. These groups of evil leaders will bind together in conspiracy.
4 The best of them is like a thorn; the most godly among them are more dangerous than a row of thorn bushes. The day you try to avoid by posting watchmen— your appointed time of punishment—is on the way, and then you will experience confusion.
After the Rapture, the most righteous man on earth will be like a sharp thorn. The watchmen were the true prophets of God. The watchmen warned Israel about the terrors of the Great Tribulation, but Israel would not believe them. Therefore, they will have to experience the confusion of the Great Tribulation.
5 Do not rely on a friend; do not trust a companion! Don’t even share secrets with the one who lies in your arms!
During the Great Tribulation, no one will be able to trust their best friend, their next-door neighbor, or even his own wife when he is making love to her.
6 For a son thinks his father is a fool, a daughter challenges her mother, and a daughter-in-law her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are his own servants.
The Jewish family structure has always been very strong. However, it will break apart during the Great Tribulation. A son will think that his father is foolish. A daughter will challenge her mother. The employees will become enemies to their employers. The person of Jesus will cause all of these divisions.
7 But I will keep watching for the Lord; I will wait for the God who delivers me. My God will hear my lament.
The Jewish Remnant during the Great Tribulation will suffer, but their hope will be in the soon return of Jesus. They know that God will eventually bring them physical and spiritual salvation. God will hear the funeral song of this coming Jewish Remnant.
8 My enemies, do not gloat over me! Though I have fallen, I will get up. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
The enemies of Israel are warned not to gloat over the judgment of Israel. Even though Israel will fall, she will still get up. Even though Israel will go through the darkness of the Great Tribulation, she will survive to see the light at the end of the Great Tribulation. The light at the end of the Great Tribulation is the return of Jesus in his Shekinah Glory form.
9 I must endure the Lord’s anger, for I have sinned against him. But then he will defend my cause, and accomplish justice on my behalf. He will lead me out into the light; I will experience firsthand his deliverance.
The Jewish Remnant sinned against God, so they must go through the Great Tribulation. However, God will eventually end the judgment upon Israel and turn his wrath towards the Gentile enemies of Israel. Jehovah will deliver the Jewish Remnant both physically and spiritually.
10 When my enemies see this, they will be covered with shame. They say to me, “Where is the Lord your God?” I will gloat over them. Then they will be trampled down like mud in the streets.
The goat Gentiles will at first mock Israel. They will ask them “Where is your God?” However, Jesus will show up at His Second Coming and trample the goat Gentiles. All of the world will know who the one true God is.
11 It will be a day for rebuilding your walls; in that day your boundary will be extended.
During the Millennial Kingdom, Israel will be restored and rebuilt. Her borders will be extended.
12 In that day people will come to you from Assyria as far as Egypt, from Egypt as far as the Euphrates River, from the seacoasts and the mountains.
During the Millennial Kingdom, Jews from all over the world will return to Jerusalem.
13 The earth will become desolate because of what its inhabitants have done.
The Great Tribulation will cause desolation. This desolation must precede the restoration of Israel.
14 Shepherd your people with your shepherd’s rod, the flock that belongs to you, the one that lives alone in a thicket, in the midst of a pastureland. Allow them to graze in Bashan and Gilead, as they did in the old days.
The Jewish remnant will offer a prayer of restoration. They will ask the Messiah to shepherd Israel with a rod of iron. They will ask the Messiah to bless the land agriculturally.
15 “As in the days when you departed from the land of Egypt, I will show you miraculous deeds.”
Just as Moses led Israel into the Promised Land by miraculous deeds, so will Jesus lead the Jews into the Promised Land at the Second Coming of Jesus.
16 Nations will see this and be disappointed by all their strength, they will put their hands over their mouths, and act as if they were deaf.
Gentiles will be disappointed when Jesus returns. They will no longer taunt Israel.
17 They will lick the dust like a snake, like serpents crawling on the ground. They will come trembling from their strongholds to the Lord our God; they will be terrified of you.
When Jesus returns at His second coming, the unbelieving Gentiles will fear Him. They will tremble in His sight.
18 There is no other God like you! You forgive sin and pardon the rebellion of those who remain among your people. You do not remain angry forever, but delight in showing loyal love.
There is only one true God. God is unique. God forgives sin and pardons rebellion of His people. God will not remain angry at Israel forever. After the Great Tribulation, He will show loyal love to His people.
19 You will once again have mercy on us; you will conquer our evil deeds; you will hurl our sins into the depths of the sea.
When Jesus returns, He will have mercy on Israel once again. He will conquer their evil deeds by the national conversion of Israel. He will hurl the sins of Israel into the depths of the sea.
20 You will be loyal to Jacob and extend your loyal love to Abraham, which you promised on oath to our ancestors in ancient times.
The reason that Israel will receive national salvation is because of the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant.