Micah 7, Who is Like YHWH?

Micah wraps up his third prophecy, begun in the last chapter. In a setting which includes the mountains as witnesses, YHWH has accused Israel and Judah of idolatry and injustice.

Micah 7:1, My misery!

What misery is mine! 

I am like one who gathers summer fruit 

at the gleaning of the vineyard; 

there is no cluster of grapes to eat, 

none of the early figs that I crave.  

Micah, with his people, is in misery. None of the beautiful wealth remains. He describes his misery like that of one who goes to enjoy fruit only to discover that the vineyard has already been harvested and nothing is left that he would crave.

In typical Old Testament wordplay, the Hebrew word for "cluster", ’eš-kō-wl, has been chosen to proceed the word "to eat", le-’ĕ-ḵō-wl, so that the rippling assonance of 

’eš-kō-wl le-’ĕ-ḵō-wl

is easy to remember.

Micah 7:2-3, Godly gone

The godly have been swept from the land; 

not one upright man remains. 

All men lie in wait to shed blood; 

each hunts his brother with a net.

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 godly people, like clusters of grapes, have been swept away and replaced by people of violence, who hunt each other. The powerful accept bribes and conspire to get whatever they desire.

Micah 7:4-6, Even within the family

The best of them is like a brier,

 the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. 

The day of your watchmen has come, 

the day God visits you. 

Now is the time of their confusion.

Do not trust a neighbor; 

put no confidence in a friend. 

Even with her who lies in your embrace 

be careful of your words.

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.  

What should be beautiful is all briers and thorns. Even one's closest friends, one's family, one's lover, are deceitful and not trustworthy.

Micah 7:7, But as for me...

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,

 I wait for God my Savior; 

my God will hear me.  

Micah makes a thematic declaration. He, even if by himself, will trust in YHWH. (See Habakkuk 3:17-18 for a similar declaration.) He details this statement in the next paragraphs.

Micah 7:8-10, I will rise

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! 

Though I have fallen, I will rise. 

Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.

 Because I have sinned against him,

 I will bear the LORD's wrath, 

until he pleads my case 

and establishes my right. 

He will bring me out into the light; 

I will see his righteousness.  

Then my enemy will see it 

and will be covered with shame, 

she who said to me, "Where is the LORD your God?" 

My eyes will see her downfall; 

even now she will be trampled underfoot 

like mire in the streets.  

Micah awaits the final results of this trial, confident that he will eventually be brought out into the light and declared righteous (even though there is past sin.) This righteousness will be a testimony to the nations around him.

Micah 7:11-13, Immigrants from foreign lands

The day for building your walls will come,

 the day for extending your boundaries.

In that day people will come to you from Assyria 

and the cities of Egypt, 

even from Egypt to the Euphrates

 and from sea to sea 

and from mountain to mountain.

The earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, 

as the result of their deeds.  

A day will come in which Israel will grow and expand. Even enemy countries like Assyria (on the east) and Egypt (on the west) will provide immigrants (Gentiles) seeking the majesty of Israel. Amos 9:11-12 has a similar prophecy.

But, at some time in this future restoration, the judgment of nations leaves the earth desolate.

 

Micah 7:14, Feed your flock

Shepherd your people with your staff, 

the flock of your inheritance, 

which lives by itself in a forest,

 in fertile pasturelands.

Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead 

as in days long ago.  

A shepherd is commanded to take care of his people, returning to idyllic times of long ago. (Waltke sees this as a request from Micah to YHWH.)

Micah 7:15-17, Nations come trembling out of their den s

"As in the days when you came out of Egypt,

 I will show them my wonders."

Nations will see and be ashamed, 

deprived of all their power. 

They will lay their hands on their mouths 

and their ears will become deaf.

 They will lick dust like a snake, 

like creatures that crawl on the ground. 

They will come trembling out of their dens;

 they will turn in fear to the LORD our God 

and will be afraid of you.  

YHWH responds to Micah's call of verse 14. He will show the Israelites miracles as in the old days of the Exodus. Once again, people will be shocked and surprised by God's displayed power. The enemies of Israel (and God) will crawl on the ground like snakes, frightened by YHWH and His people. Verse 17 echoes the first conflict with the Serpent in Eden (see especially Genesis 3:14.)

Micah 7:18-20, Who is like You?

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.

You will again have compassion on us; 

you will tread our sins underfoot 

and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

 You will be true to Jacob, 

and show mercy to Abraham,        

as you pledged on oath to our fathers in days long ago.       

                  
Micah (whose name in Hebrew is "Who is like Yah[weh]?") asks the question suggested by his name. This begins a praise passage which delights in YHWH's mercy and compassion. 

In that future day, when a remnant returns, people will delight in the mercy and forgiveness of YHWH. Israel. The sins of Israel (like the Egyptian soldiers in the Exodus) will be hurled into the depths of the sea. As promised long ago, Abraham and Jacob (and their descendants) will be shown mercy.

First published July 19, 2025; updated July 19, 2025