Choose wisely ∙∙

Choose wisely ∙∙

I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. – Psalms 130:5

Micah 7:1-7

How miserable I am! I feel like the fruit picker after the harvest who can find nothing to eat. Not a cluster of grapes or a single early fig can be found to satisfy my hunger. The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth. They are all murderers, setting traps even for their own brothers. Both their hands are equally skilled at doing evil! Officials and judges alike demand bribes. The people with influence get what they want, and together they scheme to twist justice. Even the best of them is like a brier; the most honest is as dangerous as a hedge of thorns. But your judgment day is coming swiftly now. Your time of punishment is here, a time of confusion.

As for me, I look to the LORD for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.

The Weight of Burdens

DJ Kyos observed, “Some people struggle to move forward in life because of the heavy burdens they carry. These burdens include screenshots, messages, conversations, and secrets capable of destroying families or lives. They are weighed down by grudges, hatred, anger, revenge, jealousy, gossip, lies, and envy. Their hearts are overwhelmed as they cling to the past and the mistakes of others.”

Every individual carries their own unique burdens, whether visible or hidden. A burden represents a significant responsibility, obligation, or emotional weight that requires effort and attention to manage. These burdens can take physical, emotional, or spiritual forms, often hindering personal growth and progress in life.

The Weight Prophet’s Responsibility

The prophets of the Old Testament not only delivered God’s messages with their words but also carried the burden of the people’s sins and struggles in their hearts. Jeremiah, often called the “weeping prophet,” mourned over the nation’s sins and lamented their transgressions. Jeremiah 9:1: “Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for my people who have been slaughtered.”

Similarly, Micah mourned deeply over the moral and spiritual decline of his people. He lamented the lack of righteousness, likening his search for the godly to the futile quest for summer fruit after the harvest.

A Society in Moral Decay

Micah is deeply distressed and anguished over the moral and spiritual decay and corruption of his time. He mourns with great sorrow the lack of godly and righteous people in the land of Israel. He compares the officials and judges to skilled hunters who lay traps to ensnare the vulnerable. These leaders were adept at twisting the law to exploit and deceive others. They have become experts at justifying their self-serving and defiant attitude to disobey and dismiss God’s commandments. Instead of serving as compassionate shepherds who care for their people, they have become like thorns and brambles, causing harm and spreading chaos.

Micah’s lament is captured in Micah 7:1-4: “How miserable I am! I feel like the fruit picker after the harvest who can find nothing to eat. Not a cluster of grapes or a single early fig can be found to satisfy my hunger. The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth. They are all murderers, setting traps even for their own brothers. Both their hands are equally skilled at doing evil! Officials and judges alike demand bribes. The people with influence get what they want, and together they scheme to twist justice. Even the best of them is like a brier; the most honest is as dangerous as a hedge of thorns. But your judgment day is coming swiftly now. Your time of punishment is here, a time of confusion.”

Micah’s words reveal a society where truth and integrity have been forsaken. The moral fabric of the community has come apart, and the resulting confusion and chaos spread through every level of society. Micah is not just grieving but truly heartbroken in the face of human wickedness.

The Consequences of Rejecting Truth

When truth no longer serves as the foundation of a society, everything begins to fall apart. The glue that holds communities together is the collective commitment to honesty, integrity, and faithfulness. Without these values, relationships, institutions, and systems crumble.

Micah’s lament underscores the results of rejecting truth and accepting falsehood. The people’s rebellion and stubbornness blinded them to the actual state of their situation. Instead of turning to the Lord for guidance and redemption, they persisted in their sinful ways, bringing judgment upon themselves.

The Lord Jesus Christ explains why this is so in John 3:19-21: “God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

A Call to Live as Children of the Light

As children of the King, we are called to live differently. The darkness of sin and rebellion does not control us, but we are free to walk in the light of truth and righteousness. This freedom allows us to make wise choices and to act in ways that honor the Father. Micah does exactly that. His determination amid despair demonstrates his calling.

Hope as a Strategy

In the midst of his despair, despite the corruption and upheaval surrounding him, something remarkable happened. Micah refuses to give in to hopelessness. Instead, he shifts his gaze toward God. In Micah 7:7, his optimistic tone proclaims: “As for me, I look to the LORD for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.”

This change in perspective allowed him to find hope and strength. The Hebrew verb translated as “I wait confidently” or “watch expectantly” is yachal. It is a declaration of “great faith and unshakable confidence” that one day God will make things right. Kenneth Barker suggests that it could be aptly translated, “I am resolved to wait for God my Savior to act.”

Micah’s approach was simple but powerful: he chose to watch, wait, and pray. By fixing his hope in the Lord, he could rise above the turmoil of his circumstances. The rebellion of the people and the challenges he faced became smaller and more manageable when seen through the perspective of God’s promises.

As Adam Holz aptly states, “Clinging to and acting in response to our hope in God is our strategy, the only strategy that will help us weather life’s storms.”

REFLECT & PRAY

In times of hardship, trusting the Father brings hope and confidence. Micah’s example demonstrates that even in the darkest moments, we can rely on God’s faithfulness and perfect timing.

Father, no matter how dire the circumstances, strengthen me to keep my focus on You and embrace a hope-filled strategy.

The Power of Choice: Sowing to the Spirit

The Father has established a universal principle: people will reap what they sow, whether good or bad. This principle is unchanging and inevitable. While the consequences of disobedience might not be immediate, they are sure to come.

Galatians 6:8: “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

As children of the King, we have the freedom to choose what we sow. Even if we have made poor choices and sown seeds of disobedience, there is still hope. The Father offers us the opportunity to turn around and begin sowing to the Spirit instead.

The importance of making wise choices is emphasized in the words of the Grail Knight from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: “But choose wisely. For as the true Grail will bring you life, the false Grail shall take it from you.”

Choose Hope

Micah’s example demonstrates that hope is more than just a feeling; it’s an intentional mindset. By observing, waiting, and praying, we can face life’s challenges with confidence, trusting in the Father’s faithfulness.

Choose wisely. Make hope your strategy.

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© Dr. H 2025