Micah 7:8-10

The prophet’s role is not to speak for himself. When a preacher stands before the congregation, he is primarily speaking for God. Much of what Micah spoke was God’s message to His people. Micah now spoke as the voice of Jerusalem and Israel. He spoke words of warning, words of condemnation and words of hope.

From their position of victory, Jerusalem’s enemies taunted her. They asked her, “Where is the Lord your God?” Jerusalem, personified in the person of Micah, warned her enemies not to gloat. It was natural that the Assyrians, Babylonians and Egyptians would believe that it was by their own power that they had conquered Jerusalem. It is a human trait for people to take credit for victories, so Jerusalem told her enemies that they did not win because of their mighty power; they won because her God did not fight on her behalf. Her God did not abandon her because He was unfaithful, but rather because she was.

Jerusalem expresses her hope that even though she has fallen, she will get back up. She is now in darkness, but her God is the light and she will return to Him. When she does, He will lead her out of darkness and reveal His righteousness through her. On that day, He will cover her enemies in shame. She warned her enemies to be careful about taunting God. They will see Him, but it will be as He tramples them underfoot.

Ungodly conquerors, with no personal knowledge of God, and God’s children defeated by their own unfaithfulness heard the same words, but the message to Jerusalem was different than it was to her conquerors. Israel’s enemies heard a message that warned them to show mercy, because one day they would need mercy. The Israelites in darkness heard a message of hope; when they turned to the Lord, He would lead them into the light. A message from God will meet us where we are at and point us to where we need to be.