You Will Arise

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Do not rejoice over me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.
Micah 7:8 (NKJV)

Have you ever met people who rejoice when others are in trouble? These individuals declare that you will not come out of your sickness, financial crisis, family challenges, and other troubles because you are a sinner. To them, you are under a curse for which there is no cure, unlike them, who are righteous and favoured.

I Will Get Up

If so, you are not alone. Prophet Micah had this to say about the enemies of Israel: “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light. I will see His righteousness.” (Micah 7:8-9).

The enemies alluded to here are the nations of Asshur and Babylon, which were superpowers at the time. Owing to the sins of the Jews, God would use the surrounding nations as His agents to punish His wayward people. In response, the enemy nations would become arrogant and jeer at the Jews, saying, “Where is the LORD your God?” (Verse 10).

I Will Stand
Like the Jews of Micah’s day, we will be ridiculed because of our negative situations. Even among believers, there is a tendency to turn other people’s misfortunes into opportunities for gossip and ridicule. Instead of genuinely sympathizing with and helping those in need, some professed believers are quick to judge those in suffering as people without hope of getting out of ‘darkness’.

If you find yourself in such a situation, take heart, because your suffering is only for a moment. When the Lord has accomplished His purpose in you, He will restore and heal you. Today your enemies may rejoice because darkness surrounds you, but tomorrow they will turn away in shame (read verse 10) because of the light God will shine on you.

I Will Arise
Turn to God in repentance. Be resilient while bearing the consequences of your sins and wrong decisions. Do not despair, saying that God has forgotten you. Listen not to those who prophecy misfortune for you. They are not God. Tell your detractors: “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.

Prayer
Dear God, thank You because, by Your mercies, though I fall, I will arise