Micah 7:9
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.
In Hebrew the word for ‘Bear’ means ‘to lift up’. I will lift up the
LORD’s wrath. I will lift up his judgment and punishment. Both the
words ‘pleads’ and ‘my case’ mean an argument or a debate. The
connotation of the word is a violent quarrel, resorting to violence.
Didn’t Jesus fight the fight that was due to us? Wasn’t there a
tremendous battle to take place as we would each ultimately be defeated
by the first weapon of Satan, sin, and the second weapon, death? But as
we lift up our sin to Him, He picks it up and finishes the fight we
started when we were born as a descendent of Adam.
Many other prophets talk about the day of the Lord, and the way life
will be after God brings salvation. Only a few of the prophets actually
talk about the act of salvation and how specifically it will take
place. I think Micah had some kind of special look at the Messiah. He
is the one that talks about Bethlehem in 5:2 “…out of you will come
for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of
old, from ancient times.” And he talks about a shepherd guiding His
people in v. 4 “He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of
the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will
live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the
earth. And He will be their peace.”
If that doesn’t talk about the reign of Christ spreading all over the
earth, and Him adopting many people into His flock, I don’t know what
does. “Peace on earth, good will towards men on whom His favor rests.”
the angel army (host is an old word for army) said on Christmas night.
Micah 7:11 “The day for building your walls will come, the day for
extending your boundaries.”
The Hebrew word for boundaries isn’t fence or border, but would be
better translated customs, ways, precepts, edicts, laws, reign. The day
for extending God’s reign is upon us, as we fulfill Christ’s call to
GO.
Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent
curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your
stakes.”
The tent of the LORD is where He dwells. As more and more people come
to a saving knowledge of Him, the place of His tent grows. Can we put
aside national pride and prejudice, look to the foreign nations, and
pray to God, “Do not hold back Your salvation. The day for extending
Your ways has come. Plead their case and establish their righteousness.
Bring the nations into the light, so they may see Your righteousness.”
Amen! Even so, come Lord, Jesus!