Day 82: They laugh best who laugh last – Micah 7 vs 8 - 13
8 Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
9 I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, for I have sinned against him. But after that, he will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies. The Lord will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness. 10 Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side. They will be ashamed that they taunted me, saying, “So where is the Lord - that God of yours?” With my own eyes I will see their downfall; they will be trampled like mud in the streets.
11-12 In that day, Israel, your cities will be rebuilt, and your borders will be extended. People from many lands will come and honour you - from Assyria all the way to the towns of Egypt, from Egypt all the way to the Euphrates River, and from distant seas and mountains. 13 But the earth will become empty and desolate because of the wickedness of those who live there. Micah 7:8-13 New living Translation
It’s not unusual to come across people who laugh at the misfortunes of others. That's what Micah says was going to happen to Israel. When God's punishment fell on them because they had been so disobedient the people of other nations were going to laugh and gloat, and even taunt the Israelites that their God was a no-body. That's all in vs 8-10.
But what’s the other important part of Micah message in those same verses?
Micah seems to identify himself with God's people here and says, yes, we deserved God's punishment for the wrongs we've done, but, after we've been disciplined, God will bring us back to His light and righteousness; and then it will be the turn of those who laughed and gloated who will experience God's punishment! Verse 10 describes that well. Then verses 11-12 speak of how God would bring the Israelites back to their own land again from all the places they’d been scattered, and how they would receive honour once more. Psalm 126 describes how Israel felt when that happened. It says: “When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, 'What amazing things the Lord has done for them.'” Psalm 126:1-2.
What Micah said in these verses is a good example of some words of warning in Proverbs 24:17-18 where the Bible says: “Don't gloat when your enemy falls! When they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.” We shouldn't laugh at the calamities of others – even if they’ve been horrible to us.
And there's encouragement for us here too in seeing how God restored Israel after disciplining them. Proverbs 24:15-16 says: “Don't lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, don't plunder their dwelling-place - for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” As Christians we may experience mocking about who and what we believe in, and people of the world will often gloat if we mess up or go through hard times. But God will always lift His children up again. Others may laugh at us for being Christians – but we will laugh louder when God fills our hearts with the joy which only He can give. It's the joy of forgiveness and reconciliation.
In contrast to our joy, what does Micah say in vs 13 is the outcome of wickedness, and of those who gloated over the misfortunes of God's people?
This is why Paul cautioned Christians about how we respond to those who have wished or done us harm. He says: “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, 'I will take revenge; I will pay them back', says the Lord. Instead, if your enemies are hungry, feed them - if they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads. Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Romans 13:19-21.