It is important to know the problems Israel (the 10 northern tribes) and Judah (the 2 southern tribes) were going through when Micah prophesied. Along with idol worship and turning to everything but God for salvation their leadership (both king and prophet) had become evil. They were willing to execute justice for a price and sell their position for pleasures. The most famous verse in Micah is 6:8 that reads:
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?
The reason this verse is so important is that in the backdrop of corruption God wanted to instruct His people in not selling their justice for money, or closing their eye to justice but to marry justice and mercy without losing either one. That puts 6:8 in context. However, perhaps the most blessed verse in Micah is found here:
Micah 7:8-9
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.
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 out to the light,
And I will see His righteousness.
Notice that God not only tells us to marry mercy and justice for others, He does that for us. Even though we sin God doesn't "just" forgive. God "pleads" my case and "executes" justice for me. In His pleading He shows mercy on my fault. In His executing justice He maintains justice. He doesn't just let me slide. He actually has to have the sin "paid for" to be a just God. That is what Christ did for us. He didn't just love us and forgive us. He loved us and forgives us based upon the act of offering Himself for our sins. Though I fall, I will rise ... why? ... because "He will bring me out to light" ... how? ... He executes mercy and justice ... the same He wants me to do for others.
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