Watch Expectantly for the Lord

Note from today’s Bible reading: Micah 1-7

Micah prophesied during the time leading up to the Babylonian captivity. He described the spiritual condition of the people in this way: “The godly person has perished from the land, and there is no upright person among them. […] Concerning evil, both hands do it well” (Micah 7:2-3).

However, despite how discouraging the condition of the nation might have been, there was a reason for hope. Micah said, “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me” (Micah 7:7). Earlier in this book, Micah prophesied of the coming of Christ (Micah 5:2-4) and the establishment of His kingdom (Micah 4:1-3). Neither the sin of the people nor God’s judgment of the nation would prevent this from being fulfilled.

With the confident expectation that the Lord would fulfill His promise, Micah said in the next verse, “Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me” (Micah 7:8). No matter what might happen to him, he knew that God would lead him out of the darkness and bring about salvation. We must have this same confidence today as we face discouragement, temptation, and opposition in our service to God.

So watch expectantly for the Lord. He will save us if we are faithful to Him. Let us not allow the trials of life to discourage us so much that we lose our faith in God and abandon the hope He has given us.