Light in the Darkness

Today’s scripture sharing is Micah 7:1-10, where the prophet Micah could not help feeling sad for the people in the Kingdom of Judah after witnessing its sins, corruption, and decay.

“The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains,” he sighed. People there would frame their own, “hunt each other with nets.” Micah 7:2 He reprimanded those in power for not only are they “experts at doing evil”, but also the “Government officials and judges take bribes.” They were openly breaching the law and engaged in corruption, doing unjust things; those with authority abused their power and conspired with one another. The prophet ridiculed those so-called ”best” and “most upright” people and compared them to “brier” and “thorn hedge”, which are worthless and God’s curse, and will be eventually burned. The interpersonal relationship had been distorted, trust was lost between people, one had to protect him/herself from others. “Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace.“ Micah 7:5 There was no affection in a family where “A son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” Micah 7:6

“He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.”

God saw all the sins of Judah, The Prophet Micah declared, “The day God visits you has come,” Micah 7:4 people ought to fear, because the enemy will conquer all of Judah and its Kingdom will fall; the Jews will be abused, mocked, and questioned, “Where is the Lord your God?” Facing with the destruction of his own home and suffering of his own—the prophet did not get discouraged, but rather hopeful, “I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior.” Micah 7:7 He shouted at the enemies who now wantonly oppressed the Jews, “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.” Micah 7:8 He acknowledged that they have offended God in the past, therefore they “must endure the Lord’s fury”. Yet God will save his people; he knew that God will answer their prayers and give them justice. He looks forward to his arrival, “He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.” Micah 7:9 He believes there will come a day where he sees his enemy being punished for their wrongdoings, and “trampled underfoot like mire in the streets.” Micah 7:10

The wicked can destroy everything of ours but they can never stop us from sowing good seeds.

In the current world of injustice where it is failing at distinguishing right from wrong—the wicked are more arrogant and domineering than ever, whereas the righteous are repeatedly being wronged. The good people and things were stepped on and crushed; making us all feel disheartened, angry, and powerless. While it may seem that we are unable to fight against Satan, the prophet Micah reminded us not to be intimidated by the darkness before us, but rather believe that God’s salvation and justice will eventually arrive. As the American civil rights leader Martin Luther King said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” The wicked can destroy everything of ours but they can never stop us from sowing good seeds. As Jesus said in his parable of a grain of wheat, “If it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24 Likewise, if an apple tree is chopped down—it may seem lifeless, yet if the seeds are planted in good soil then they will blossom and bear fruit in the future.