It was a heavy burden to be the Lord’s prophet. He was privy not only to the difficulties that lie ahead, but the direct exposure to God exposed cracks in his own spiritual life.
Not only was Micah aware of the ominous fate of his country, all the corruption from within, the collusion even of loved ones, looming conquest by vile enemies, and future captivity in foreign lands, but his own complicitness.
Micah 7:9
I will bear the indignation of the Lord
Because I have sinned against Him,
Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me.
He will bring me out to the light,
And I will see His righteousness.
Because of this I must lament and wail,
Micah 1:8
I must go barefoot and naked;
I must make a lament like the jackals
And a mourning like the ostriches.
While much of what Micah predicted did occur, there’s much that remains to unfold. Certainly, the patterns of degradation are on clear display today, and they appear to be escalating. As was the case with the prophet, our response should be the same. We watch and wait and wail, trusting that God will hear us.
But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord;
Micah 7:7
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me.
In the end, we will conclude like the prophet…
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity
Micah 7:18
And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?
He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in unchanging love.
Proximity to God is both illuminating and purifying.
At the Gate 