The Prophecy Of (
God’s (
SLIDE 57 Micah’s name means “”Who Is (
SLIDE 58 VIDEO
The Date
SLIDE 59 Micah began prophesying during the reigns of Jotham, (
The Times In Judah
SLIDE 60 During the days of Uzziah or Azariah, Judah enjoyed immense material prosperity, perhaps not as had been seen since the days of Solomon’s reign. This was due in large part to Uzziah’s success in wars and in reviving commerce and agriculture (2 Chron. 26:6-15). Yet, pride was Uzziah’s undoing (2 Chron. 26:16-21) and his son Jotham succeeded him. Jotham followed in his father’s steps in trying to walk after Jehovah’s precepts (2 Chron. 27:2), but his son Ahaz did not. He imitated the kings of Israel and served the Baals, even to the point of engaging in child sacrifice (2 Chron. 28:1-4).
During the reign of Ahaz, Judah was threatened by an alliance of Israel and Syria because Judah would not join them in rebellion to Assyria (2 Chron. 28:5-15). Ahaz made his appeal to Tiglath-pileser III, king of Assyria, for help (2 Chron. 28:16-21). This political move cost him dearly in heavy tribute. When his godly son Hezekiah took the throne, his legendary reforms were his attempt to lead the people back to Jehovah (2 Chron. 29:5 - 31:20). During the days of Hezekiah, both Sargon II and Sennacharib, kings of Assyria, attempted to invade Judah and destroy Jerusalem (2 Chron. 32). It is understood that had it not been for the rule of the good king Hezekiah, plus the preaching of Isaiah and Micah, it is very likely that Judah would have gone the same way as Israel – to the captivity of the Assyrians.
Despite the prosperity brought by Uzziah, Judah was morally bankrupt and impoverished. The rulers and ““the privileged”” were obsessed by greed. The rich enlarged their possessions by driving small land-owners from their property (2:1-2). The poor were robbed and stripped of what was rightfully theirs (2:8-9). The rich “”ate up”” those who borrowed from them (3:1-3). Judges could be bought with bribery (3:9-11). Merchants cheated their customers (6:10-12).
Despite the religious reforms of Hezekiah, the hearts of the people were wholly engrossed in evil and wickedness. Priests and prophets spoke for hire (3:11). The people ““bought”” prophets who would tell them what they liked (2:11). Micah apparently was not very impressed with the ““reforms”” of Hezekiah. He hardly mentions them at all. He emphasized changing one’s heart before God rather than an outward show of piety (6:6-8). As far as he was concerned, there was not a (
The Prophet
Nothing is known of Micah’s upbringing or his occupation. He hailed from the village of Moresheth-gath (1:1,14; Jer. 26:18). This was a small village on the border between Judah and Philistia, about 22 miles SW of Jerusalem.
He was a contemporary to Isaiah in Judah and to Hosea in Israel. He may have even known Amos, who was older but did not live far from him. Truly we see the wisdom of God at work in His calling both Micah and Isaiah at the same time to preach in Judah. Isaiah was ““of the city”.” He was in ““close contact with world affairs, and was the associate of kings and princes”” (Homer Hailey, Commentary On The Minor Prophets, pg. 187). Micah, on the other hand, appeared to be a simple country man, much like Amos. He seems to have not been interested in the political affairs, but instead focused on the pressing spiritual and moral problems facing Judah. This may have been what gave him such a sympathetic awareness of the downtrodden and abused.
The Message
SLIDE 61 The message of Micah’s prophesying can be summed up in the words “the (
While the immediate purpose of Micah’s preaching was to correct inequity and injustice in Judah, he, like other prophets, looked into the future and spoke of the future kingdom of God under the coming Ruler, the Messiah. He foretold of His birth, the establishment of “the mountain of the house of the Lord”, and the acceptance of the “remnant” into this kingdom (4:1-5:4).
SLIDE 62 Outline Of Micah’s Prophecy
(JUDGMENT) on Samaria and Judah- Salvation of a remnant (1:1-2:13)
Judgment on Samaria and judgment on Judah (1:2-16)
Samaria– her destruction (1:2-7)
General announcement of judgment (2-4)
Destruction of Samaria (5-7)
Lament over the destruction of Judah (1:8-16)
Causes that make the judgment inevitable (2:1-11)
Arrogance and violence of the nobles (1-5)
False prophets who would silence the true prophet (6-11)
Eventual restoration of a remnant (2:12-13)
Contrast (BETWEEN) present devastation and future exaltation (3:1 -– 5:15)
The sins and crimes of the heads of the nation (3:1-12)
Civil rulers - –outrages committed by them (3:1-4)
False prophets –condemnation of their mercenary practices (3:5-8)
Rulers, prophets, and priests – renewed condemnation (3:9-12)
The accusation against them (9-11)
Consequence: Jerusalem to be plowed as a field (12)
Messianic hope in contrast to present destruction (4:1-5:15)
The glory of the latter days (4:1-8)
The glorification of Zion the center of universal religion of Jehovah (1-5)
The restoration of “the former dominion” –healing of the dispersed (6-8)
Distress and captivity before restoration, “now” (4:9-5:1)
Distress - into Babylon before restoration (4:9-10)
Deliverance of Zion and destruction of the enemy –Jehovah’s purpose (4:11-5:1)
The Messiah and the Messianic era (5:2-15)
The Messiah who shall arise out of Bethlehem, shall feed the flock (2-4)
The Messiah to be the peace of His people (5-6)
The Messiah provides power to His people (7-9)
The remnant to be as dew among the peoples (7)
To be as a lion (8)
To triumph over their enemies (9)
In this strength and power Israel is to triumph (10-15)
Jehovah and Israel in (CONTROVERSY) (judicial contest) – the way to salvation (6:1 -– 7:20)
The case against Israel (6:1-16)
Israel’s ingratitude for blessings bestowed (1-5)
Not outward sacrifice, but righteous conduct, is God’s requirement (6-8)
Jehovah’s threat of judgment - denunciation of prevalent crimes (6:9-16)
Penitential prayer and divine promise (7:1-20)
Confession of nation’s guilt - people or prophet (1-6)
Confession of faith - prayer of the penitent (7-13)
Prayer for renewal of grace and the Lord’s answer (14-17)
Doxology: praise to Jehovah who alone is God (18-20)
SLIDE 63 Group Questions
What images come to mind when you imagine a courtroom and a criminal trial? If you picture the opening passage of Micah as a courtroom, how is it like and how is it different from a contemporary courtroom?
Why is Micah so sad that he must “lament and wail?” What does this say about him?
In what way did covetousness especially show up with the Israelites? What are the definitions of covetousness and materialism?
What was the shallow theology the false prophets of Israel espoused at this time? Where do you see shallow theology today?
What in your church or your own spiritual life are you concerned may be “soft religion” that pampers your pride and makes it easy to sin?
Give a description of people who hate the evil and do the good. What are they like? What sorts of things to they do and say?
Who are the people today whose lies have made it easy for corrupt officials to carry on their evil deeds? What, if anything, can we do about it?
How can we balance being lovingly sensitive to people but not trying too much to please them?
When you read the prophets rebuking those who commit or tolerate injustice, do you feel that they are talking about somebody else, or also about you? Explain.
Why is it easy to take for granted the great things God has done on our behalf centuries ago, or even years ago?
Micah 6:8 does not mention belief or faith as a requirement of God. How can this fit together with John 6:28-29?
Why is the word remember so important in our spiritual lives?
When the future seems hopeless, how can our trust in God be strengthened?
Questions
- Who is summoned in 1:2? For what purpose? (1:3) What would be gained by the nations gathering for this?
- How is Jehovah’s anger and wrath described in 1:4? Specifically, why is He executing this judgment? (1:5) What will be the fate of Samaria? (1:6-7) What do you think is the point made with the reference to “harlot” in 1:7?
- Because of Jehovah’s actions, what was Micah led to do? (1:8) Was this for Samaria or Jerusalem? (1:9) What are Micah’s mournful instructions in 1:10-16?
- Who do you think Micah addresses beginning in 2:1? What in them does the prophet rebuke? What specific wickedness is mentioned in 2:2? What will be the Lord’s judgment against them? (2:3-5)
- What do you think is being said in 2:6? [Consider other translations]
- What false notion does Micah address in 2:7a? Of what does the prophet remind them about the word of God, whether it is in the form of rebuke or instruction? (2:7b; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Titus 2:11-15) To what kind of person will the word of God benefit?
- Instead of being recognized as those who walk uprightly, how did God regard His people? (2:8a) Of what were they guilty that rightly classified them this way? (2:8b-9) Because of their guilt, what was their Divine sentence? (2:10)
- What hypocrisy does Micah expose in 2:11? How does this same activity still go on today regarding teachers? (2 Tim. 4:3-4)
- Interrupting his message of judgment, on what hope does Micah elaborate in 2:12-13?
- What groups are addressed in 3:1-4, 3:5-8, and 3:9-12?
- What was the disappointing truth Micah emphasizes in 3:1? Yet, of what is the ruling class of Judah guilty that Micah graphically describes? (3:2-3) What will happen when they cry to Jehovah for deliverance? (3:4)
- How did the false prophets contribute to Judah’s decline before God? (3:5a) How does Micah properly describe the false prophets in 3:5b? Because of their error, what awaits these false teachers from Jehovah? (3:6-8)
- How does Micah address the state of political affairs in 3:9-11a? What pitiful description does he give regarding God’s people in Jerusalem? (3:11b) What will come upon them for their disobedience? (3:12)
- What do you see Micah begin to address in 4:1-5? (Isa. 2:1-4) When are the “last days”? What is the “mountain of the house of the Lord”?
- How are those who make up the remnant under the Messiah described in 4:6? What else is emphasized about the Messiah in 4:7-8?
- Before such glory can be realized, what first must happen? (4:9-10) How is the coming calamity vividly described? Where was Judah’s destination? (4:10; Isa. 39:1-6)
- What was the present threat against Judah? (4:11) How was Jehovah going to meet this threat? (4:12-5:1)
- What additional hope does Jehovah give Judah that she is destined for greater things besides falling captive to the Assyrians? (5:2-4) What is this “One” said to be? (5:5; Isa. 9:6; Eph. 2:14)
- Who do you think “the Assyrian” is in 5:5? What will the kingdom ruled by the Messiah do when he invades? (5:5b-6) What kind of “battle” will this be? (4:3; 2 Cor. 10:3-5; Eph. 6:10-17) How else is the remnant described in 5:7-9?
- What else will be destroyed in the days of the Messiah’s reign? (5:10-15)
- Returning to the disappointing present, recall what God had already done in 1:2. What does God now give the people a chance to do in 6:1-2? What do you think is the reason for God’s question in 6:3? In fact, what had God done? (6:4-5)
- Apparently convinced, and speaking for the people, what does Micah initially offer in response to be reconciled back to Jehovah? (6:6-7) Has this solution ever worked? (1 Sam. 15:22; Psalm 51:16-17) How might we see this same disposition played out among unfaithful Christians today?
- What did Micah say God required of His people for them to be reconciled? (6:8)
- What advice does the prophet have for Judah? (6:9) What are his rhetorical questions? (6:10-11) What fate awaits God’s people? (6:12-16)
- How does Micah acknowledge Judah’s woeful condition for which God has declared His righteous judgment? (7:1-6) Just how bad had it gotten in Jerusalem? (7:5-6) Where and how is this passage used in the New Testament?
- From whose perspective do you think Micah speaks in 7:7-17? What does this group readily admit? (7:9) Yet, what do they know? (7:11-13) What is the prayerful request of the remnant? (7:14-17)
- In closing his prophecy, how does Micah praise Jehovah? (7:18-20) What theme(s) do you see that are also emphasized under Christ’s covenant today?