What note of grief and despair did Micah utter?

Micah lamented that he was like a hungry man in search of food but could find none (Micah 7:1). He cried that there was no godly or upright person left in the land, only murderers and thieves (Micah 7:2). He cried that rulers and judges could be bought and that men were skillful at doing evil with both hands (Micah 7:3a). Men of the upper class were not ashamed to have their evil desires known by others and wove their evil plans with their partners to cheat and deceive and take from others (Micah 7:3b). Even the best of men was like a briar or thorn bush (Micah 7:4a). Surely the judgment announced by God’s prophets was imminent (Micah 7:4b). In the midst of and immediately after that judgment it would become unsafe to trust anyone, including family members and neighbors (Micah 7:5-6).

Practical Consideration: Society suffers when there is an absence of godly people.
Micah lamented that the godly had perished from the land and that there was an absence of upright people (see Micah 7:2). The godly play a vital role in society. Jesus said we are to be salt and light in the world (see Matthew 5:13-16). Salt preserves and spices and light enables men to see what they otherwise would not be able to see. Someone has also noted that when godly men do nothing evil runs rampant.

What note of hope concludes the book of Micah?

[A]   Micah declared that his trust was in the Lord and that he eagerly watched for the Lord who would act on his behalf (Micah 7:7).

[B]   Micah 7:8-10 are spoken from the viewpoint of Jerusalem who had suffered defeat and taunting at the hands of her enemies (Micah 7:8 and 10a). Jerusalem reminded her enemies that though she had fallen she would rise again and that though she was in darkness the Lord would be a light for her (Micah 7:8). Jerusalem also acknowledged that God’s judgment had come in response to her sins but that God would use the judgment in a redemptive way (Micah 7:9). In addition, Jerusalem’s enemies would suffer humiliation and defeat (Micah 7:10b). Micah 7:11-13 are hope-filled verses which declare the restoration of Jerusalem. Jerusalem’s walls would be rebuilt (Micah 7:11a), her boundaries would be enlarged (Micah 7:11b), and her exiles would return from throughout the earth (Micah 7:12). As for the rest of the world, it would suffer because of its wickedness (Micah 7:13).

[C]   Micah 7:14-17 beseech God to shepherd His people and restore to them the territory of Bashan and Gilead (territory east of the Jordan taken by the Assyrians after 734 BC). God responded by declaring that He would show His people miracles like those associated with the exodus from Egypt (Micah 7:15) and that their enemies would suffer defeat and humiliation (Micah 7:16-17).

[D]   Micah 7:18-20 are moving verses that deal with forgiveness. The hope contained in these verses is anchored in God’s promise to the patriarchs (Micah 7:20). These verses contain seven statements regarding God’s forgiveness:

[1] “Who is a God like Thee who pardons iniquity” – God is a forgiving God.

[2]   “And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?” – God will not allow our sin to destroy our relationship with Him.

[3]   “He does not retain His anger forever” – God is redemptive in His attitude toward His people.

[4]   “Because He delights in unchanging love” – God is committed to honoring the terms of His covenant with His people. He continues to love His people even when they do not merit that love.

[5]   “He will again have compassion on us” – God cares for His people in a tender way. See also Psalm 103:13.

[6]   “He will tread our iniquities underfoot” – God will wash or cleanse His people of their sin.

[7]   “Yes, Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depth of the sea” – God is victorious over sin.