Albert Barnes Commentary Micah 7:8

"Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, Jehovah will be a light unto me." — Micah 7:8 (ASV)

Rejoice not against me, O my enemy – The prophet still more makes himself one with the people, not only in looking for God, but in penitence, as Daniel bewails "his own sins and the sins of his people" (Daniel 9:10). The "enemy" is Babylon and Edom (Obadiah 1:10, Obadiah 1:12; Psalms 137:7); and then, in all times (since this was written for all times, and the relations of the people of God and of its enemies are the same), whoever, whether devils or evil men, rejoice over the falls of God’s people.

Rejoice not; for you have no real cause; "the triumphing of the ungodly," and the fall of the godly, "is but for a moment." When I fall, I shall arise (Psalms 30:5); (literally, "when I have fallen, I have arisen"; ) expressing both the certainty and speed of the recovery. To fall and to arise is one.

"The fall of infirmity is not grave, if free from the desire of the will. Have the will to rise, He is at hand who will cause you to rise." (Ibid. 5:47). "Though I have sinned, You forgive the sin; though I have fallen, You raise up; lest they, who rejoice in the sins of others, should have occasion to exult. For we who have sinned more, have gained more; for Your grace makes more blessed than our own innocence."

When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light to me – Montanus says: "He does not say ‘lie,’ but sit; she was not as one dead, without hope of life, but she sat solitary as a widow, helpless, unable to restore herself, yet waiting for God’s time."

The darkness of the captivity was lightened by the light of the prophetic grace which shone through Daniel and Ezekiel, and by the faithfulness of the three children. It was also lightened by the brightness of divine glory spread through them, when Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed to all people that their God was God of gods and Lord of kings (Daniel 2:47), and that none should speak anything amiss against Him (Daniel 3:29).

This was even more so when, at the close of the captivity, they were delivered from sorrow, trouble, bondage, and death, to joy, rest, freedom, and life.

Yet how much more this is true in Christ (for whom this deliverance prepared the way), when the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined (Isaiah 9:2).

God is not only our light, as Lapide notes, by "restoring us" outwardly "to gladness, freedom, happiness, of which light is a symbol, as darkness is of sorrow, captivity, adversity, death."

Scripture speaks of God in a more direct way, as being Himself our light. The Lord is my light (Psalms 27:1). The Lord shall be to you an everlasting light (Isaiah 60:19). He calls Himself, The light of Israel (Isaiah 10:17). He is our light by infusing knowledge, joy, and heavenly brightness, in any outward circumstance.

He does not say, "after darkness, comes light," but when I shall sit in darkness, then, the Lord is light to me. The "sitting in darkness" is the occasion of the light, in that the soul or the people in sorrow turns to Him who is their light. In their sin, which was so punished, they were turned away from the light.