November 19: Thoughts on Micah 7:2-7

"The godly have been swept from the land; not one upright man remains. All men lie in wait to shed blood; each hunts his brother with a net. Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire— they all conspire together…Now is the time of their confusion. Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with her who lies in your embrace be careful of your words. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man's enemies are the members of his own household. But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me."
~Micah 7:2-7

Do you ever feel like we're living in the middle of this passage? Our society is filled with unrighteousness and with people who either deny God or hate Him, or both. Brother turns against brother. Our rulers demand gifts and ceremonies, our government officials accept bribes (at least some of them), and the powerful dictate what they want without regard for those without power. Everybody conspires together to do evil. Confusion, about God and morality, is rampant. We can't trust some of our neighbors. They'll steal from us before we even know it. Those we call friends and lovers betray us, too. Families are turned against one another. The family, once the sacred center and basis of all society, is shattering into a million pieces right before our eyes. It's a horrifying sight, and most of us want to hide our eyes. We vote, but what good does it do? We pray, but murder and crime and hatred are still widespread.
But in the middle of all this, there's hope.

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

The Lord is the only hope for a lost and dying generation. It's our responsibility to share His love, and though we can devise programs and committees and patrols, God is the only true method we have for lasting change in our world. God our Savior will hear us. We have that hope. Like Micah, we watch in hope for the Lord and wait upon Him, and we will renew our strength (Isaiah 40:31).