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 

The people of God often experience hard times when they ‘sit in darkness.’ Job lost family, possessions, and health. Hannah and Sarah both suffered from lack of children which they greatly desired.  Elijah became exhausted and depressed after spiritual struggle. Joseph felt forgotten in prison and longed to be liberated and vindicated. We may find ourselves sitting in darkness. Micah was sitting in darkness because ‘the faithful man has perished from the earth.’ He was surrounded by the bloodthirsty and the rapacious. There was bribery and corruption among those who held high office. He remarks that a man’s enemies were those of his own household. Who would be a light to him in his darkness? Micah looked to Christ his Shepherd. He says, ‘Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your heritage, who dwell solitarily in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel; Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in days of old.’ Micah and David’s Shepherd was the same Person. Christ is the Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd. He is the Light of His people when we sit in darkness. He is the Cure for our sin and for our sadness. ‘When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.’ Christ is our Light. 

Our Glorious, Living Savior, 
we rejoice that You are the Light of the world. 
We praise You that You are especially 
the Light of Your people. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

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 

The people of God often experience hard times when they ‘sit in darkness.’ Job lost family, possessions, and health. Hannah and Sarah both suffered from lack of children which they greatly desired.  Elijah became exhausted and depressed after spiritual struggle. Joseph felt forgotten in prison and longed to be liberated and vindicated. We may find ourselves sitting in darkness. Micah was sitting in darkness because ‘the faithful man has perished from the earth.’ He was surrounded by the bloodthirsty and the rapacious. There was bribery and corruption among those who held high office. He remarks that a man’s enemies were those of his own household. Who would be a light to him in his darkness? Micah looked to Christ his Shepherd. He says, ‘Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your heritage, who dwell solitarily in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel; Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in days of old.’ Micah and David’s Shepherd was the same Person. Christ is the Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd. He is the Light of His people when we sit in darkness. He is the Cure for our sin and for our sadness. ‘When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.’ Christ is our Light. 

Our Glorious, Living Savior, 
we rejoice that You are the Light of the world. 
We praise You that You are especially 
the Light of Your people. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

‘The Lord…A Light to Me’

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

We like to be able to appear to be above all the circumstances of life. This holds true, particularly for those of us who were raised in the atmosphere of, ‘positive Christian attitude,’ who under no circumstance could be anything other than totally ‘victorious’ without fear, and ‘joyful.’ This puts an astronomical amount of pressure on us to uphold the image which became synonymous with, ‘Christian testimony.’ This is entirely at variance with the whole experience of the people of God throughout history. Our text for today is but one example of many where the saint of God ‘sits in darkness.’ Micah declares, ‘when I sit in darkness.’ Notice, it is not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when.’ In the larger plan and purpose of God, all of us will ‘sit in darkness’ from time to time. We may ‘sit in darkness’ because of things which are physical, mental, social, or spiritual.  Regardless of the source of our oppression, there is for us, but one Answer. Christ is that Answer. Micah does not look to his own will, ability, or choices as that which will bring him ‘light’ in the midst of his darkness.  As all the saints before him, and all the saints after him, he looks to Christ. Christ is the Light, and is the light for us when we ‘sit in darkness.’ Today, look not to yourself, your religion, your obedience or your resolve. Look to Christ. He will be the Light for you when you sit in darkness.

Our most Gracious and Loving God,
we rejoice that You have given unto us Christ,
that He is the Light, Who lightens all our darkness.
O, Sun of Righteousness, arise, we pray with healing in Your wings.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning