Mic 7:1-6 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mic 7:1-20: 7:1-20 Hopeless deception and corruption permeated God’s people (7:1-6 ); God’s mercy, however, would triumph and Israel would be restored (7:11-13 ). God’s mercy, compassion, and unfailing love would prevail (7:14-20 ). Micah mourned his people’s condition and looked to the Lord for help (7:7-10 ). 7:1 the fruit picker after the harvest: After the second crop of figs and fruit in August–September, no further yield was produced for several months (cp. Isa 16:9 ; Jer 48:32 ). No one could be found to satisfy Micah’s hunger for righteousness (Mic 7:2-6 ).

Summary for Mic 7:1-20: 7:1-20 ^a Hopeless deception and corruption permeated God’s people (7:1-6 ^b); God’s mercy, however, would triumph and Israel would be restored (7:11-13 ^c). God’s mercy, compassion, and unfailing love would prevail (7:14-20 ^d). Micah mourned his people’s condition and looked to the Lord for help (7:7-10 ^e). 7:1 ^f the fruit picker after the harvest: After the second crop of figs and fruit in August–September, no further yield was produced for several months (cp. Isa 16:9 ^g; Jer 48:32 ^h). No one could be found to satisfy Micah’s hunger for righteousness (Mic 7:2-6 ⁱ).
Summary for Mic 7:2-6: 7:2-6 ^j The people of Israel were without law, justice, or righteousness. Everyone took advantage of others for self-aggrandizement; they had created a society in which all forms of oppression were the norm. 7:2 ^k not one honest person is left: This complaint is frequent in the prophets (see Isa 59:16 ^l; Jer 5:1 ^m; Ezek 22:30 ⁿ).

• In the ancient Near East, people fished and hunted by setting traps and using nets (cp. Ps 10:9 ^o; Prov 1:17 ^p; Isa 51:20 ^q).

• their own brothers: All fellow Israelites were regarded as brothers.
7:3 ^r Both their hands: That is, they had perfected the skills for doing evil.

• Officials and judges alike demand bribes: Rulers and judges were forbidden to twist justice (Exod 18:19-22 ^s; Deut 16:18-20 ^t). Israel’s judicial system was completely corrupt.
7:4 ^u your judgment day is coming: The people of Israel would soon be conquered by the Assyrians, the people of Judah would soon face destruction at the hands of the Babylonians, and all the people of the earth will soon face God in judgment.
Summary for Mic 7:5-6: 7:5-6 ^v Don’t trust anyone: Bitterness, corruption, and treachery had poisoned the community of the Lord’s people (cp. Matt 10:34-36 ^w; Luke 12:52-53 ^x).