Historical bg:
(BKC) Like his contemporary Isaiah, Micah prophesied about the Assyrian destruction of the Northern Kingdom and the later defeat of the Southern Kingdom by the Babylonians. Micah prophesied in the eighth century B.C. during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Micah 1:1; cf. the chart “Kings of Judah and Israel and the Preexilic Prophets,” near 1 Kings 12).
Context:
(BKC)
Micah’s prayer that God would again shepherd His flock (7:14)
The Lord’s promise to show miraculous things to His people (7:15–17)
Micah’s affirmation that God is unique (7:18–20)
Ob and In:
1. Micah prayed when Israel was in a difficult situation and he asked for a relief
v.14b,c 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.
(NET) The point seems to be that Israel is in a vulnerable position, like sheep in a thicket populated by predators, while rich pastureland (their homeland and God’s blessings) is in view.
2. God answered Micah in a way more abundant than what he asked for v.15-17
v.15b I will show you miraculous deeds...
v.16a Nations will see this and be disappointed by all their strength...
Perhaps those nations were invading Israel and when God remembered Israel the forces of Israel's enemy would not compared with God's.
v.17b They will come trembling from their strongholds to the LORD our God;
they will be terrified of you.
Not sure when will this happen? When Israel returned after exile, did they experience that? Or in the future when Christ returned?? But anyway, God has answered Micah's prayer abundantly.
3. By the fact that after judgment, God promised for the victory or restoration was enough for Micah to burst into praise in v.18.
a. God forgives sin, pardon the rebellion, not staying angry forever
b. God delights in showing loyal love, have mercy again on Israel
c. God conquers Israel's evil deeds (NET) sin is personified as an enemy that the LORD subdues.
God hurl their sins into the depths of the sea (NET) In this metaphor the LORD disposes of Israel’s sins by throwing them into the waters of the sea (here symbolic of chaos).
d. God keeps His promise v.20
Summary and Reflection: a and c are different reasons to praise. After God turns from His anger than He shows His love. Then He helps us to conquer our enemy-sin. Finally, He disposes our sins away. Thank God for also promise us the same in the NT. He did not just redeemed me from the penalty of sin, but also freed me as the slave of sin.
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