Micah 7:8-20

The prophecy had specific relevance to the events surrounding Israel's return from captivity. We know this because it mentions the wall being rebuilt, and it mentions the Assyrians.

However the fact that God did those things then, shows us something about Him. And those characteristics of His are eternal.

God later expressed those characteristics in an even greater way when He sent His promised Saviour to Israel.

And the Holy Spirit can use fulfilled prophecy as an illustration of God's willingness to express the same character towards you in whatever circumstance you are facing.

⁸ Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.

Israel would rise again.

⁹ I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.

But first, Israel must go into captivity.

Note:- God pleads the cause not of the righteous but of sinners. It is His work.

¹⁰ Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.

The enemies of Israel indeed saw it, at their return from captivity. All of Israel's enemies lost their kingdoms.

¹¹ In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed.

The walls were built in Nehemiah's day.

¹² In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.

This dates the fulfilment of the prophecy. This was to be Israel's destiny, but first...

¹³ Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.

...but first Israel had to go through a time of captivity.

¹⁴ Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed inBashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

A prayer for Israel before they went into captivity.

¹⁵ According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.

The return from captivity was almost as momentous for Israel as their deliverance from Egypt.

¹⁶ The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.

Israel's deliverance from captivity was so unlikely if not for God's doing.

¹⁷ They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.

¹⁸ Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

¹⁹ He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

²⁰ Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

It was fulfilled at the return from captivity. And as other prophecies show, the performance of God's promised mercy also included the coming of Christ. Gentiles also inherit the promises. The New Covenant is based on better promises.