THE BOOK OF MICAH

INTRODUCTION:

1.MICAH prophesied to Pre-Exile Judah, but the Northern Kingdom of Israel is also included in his warnings.

2.He was from Moresheth, about twenty-five miles southwest of Jerusalem - 1:1.

3.DATE: 735-700 BC.

4.CONTEXT: 2KG 15:32-19:37; 2Ch 27:1-32:23.

5.MICAH was a contemporary with Isaiah in Jerusalem, and with Hosea and Amos in Israel.

6.Micah had a clear sense of his prophetic calling, 3:8.

7.Babylonia was still under Assyrian domination; Micah’s prediction (4:10) of future Babylonian Captivity for Judah must have seemed
far-fetched.

a.This was a time of social injustice; Micah’s words exposed those who mistreated the poor and weak.

b.He begins with Divine charges against both Nations (Judah and Israel) because of corruption of the rulers, prophets, priests, judges, businessmen, and landlords.

c.The guilty verdict led to a sentence of destruction and captivity (Israel’s was imminent; Judah’s was a little more than 100
years away).

d.But God’s covenant promises would be fulfilled in the future kingdom of the Messiah (The New Testament Church).

1.PUNISHMENT -- CHAPTERS 1-2: DAY OF CONDEMNATION
(“HEAR” - 1:2).

A.JUDGMENT: 1:2-2:11, Condemnation Of Judah And Samaria.

1.Chapter 1, Jehovah’s case against Israel; Prediction of judgment.

Verse 1, Begins by declaring condemnation of both Capitals.

Verse 2, All earth called to witness God’s charge against Samaria.

a.Israel had gone into apostasy 200 years before: They had adopted calf worship, Baal worship, and other idols.

b.God had sent Elijah, Elisha, Amos, and Hosea to turn them back; But all efforts had been in vain.

c.Verse 6, Micah lived to see his words come true (722 BC).

d.Verse 9, Israel’s sin-sickness was INCURABLE, and the Nation was almost ripe for the death blow.

2.Chapter 2, Judgment was to come on Judah also.

Verse 1, The brutality of the rulers made judgment inevitable.

Verses 2-3, The rulers’ covetousness and violence were some of the specific causes for the judgment to come.

Verses 6,11, The people hired false prophets to approve of violence to the poor.

B.HOPE: 2:12-13, Salvation Of A Remnant.

1:16, Judah also was going into captivity.

2:12-13, But a remnant would be restored in a spiritual kingdom that was to come later.

2.PROMISE -- CHAPTERS 3-5: DAY OF CONSOLATION (“HEAR”” - 3:1).

A.JUDGMENT: Chapter 3, Present Distress.

Verses 1-4, Sins of the civil rulers.

Verses 5-8, Sins of the false prophets (Powerful Preaching!)

Verses 9-11, Sins of rulers, prophets, priests.

Verse 12, For their sins, Jerusalem was doomed (as was Samaria, the Capital of Israel, 1:6).

B.HOPE: Chapters 4-5, Future Glory.

1.Future blessings are contrasted with the present corruption.

2.This two-chapter message of hope is one of the clearest Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament.

3.Chapter 4 is a picture of future glory in the coming KINGDOM; Chapter 5 is the glory to be revealed in the future KING, Who would come from Bethlehem, and out of eternity, to bring everlasting peace - cf Heb 13:20.

4.4:1-8, Glory of the latter days (of the Messiah).

Verses 1-3, This is the same as Isa 2:2-4 (Christ alludes to this prophecy - Lk 24:46-47).

a.LAST DAYS identified by Peter - Ac 2:16-17 (Joel 2:28).

b.WORD OF THE LORD will be the standard - cf 1Pe 4:11.

c.BEAT THEIR SWORDS: Spiritual enmity between Jew
and Gentile was now abolished; They were no longer spiritual belligerents; They had peace in the Lord, Jesus Christ - Eph 2:14-16.

d.The spiritual HOUSE OF THE LORD (cf 1Ti 3:15) was going to be (and now is) the center of worship for all of God’s people - Ac 2:47; Eph 3:21.

Verse 4, Symbols of peace, security, safety - cf 1Kg 4:24-25.

a.Fulfilled in Christ - Phil 3:20; Jn 10:27-30.

b.NONE SHALL MAKE THEM AFRAID - Heb 13:5-6.

Verse 5, Nations who at one time were rivals physically, could (can) now walk together in spiritual fellowship in the New Covenant - Gal 3:28-29; Eph 2:16.

Verses 6-8, Royal power restored; Return of the “former” DOMINION of the house of David.

Verses 9-10, The captivity which had to come before the restoration.

Verses 11-12, In Micah’s time, siege of Jerusalem by Assyrians.

Verse 13, This verse speaks of looking forward to the Nation that is so STRONG (Verse 7) that it can never be destroyed by any earthly power - Dan 2:34-45; Heb 12:28.>

5.Chapter 5, Zion’s Coming King; The Messiah And His Age.

Verse 1, A return to the then-present siege (the setting for the appearance of a Deliverer).

Verse 2, When the “FORMER DOMINION” (4:8) was restored, the King would not be like the king of 5:1, but would be an Eternal King with eternal rule - cf 1Ti 6:15.

a.Verses 3-6, In Micah’s horizon it was to be a deliverance from Assyria.

b.Verses 7-9, In the distance, it would be the Messiah coming out of eternity giving peace and power to His people, Isa 9:6-7; 61:1-3; Eph 6:10.

c.Verses 10-15, God would be the Victor in spiritual Israel.

3.PARDON -- CHAPTERS 6-7: DAY IN COURT -- WAY TO SALLVATION (“HEAR” - 6:1).

A.JUDGMENT: Chapter 6, Jehovah And His People In A Debate.

Verses 1-2, Because of their wickedness (violence, hypocrisy, idolatry, etc.), and ungratefulness for His blessings, God HATH A CONTROVERSY WITH HIS PEOPLE, and would PLEAD (take them to court).

Verses 3-4, If His demands had been unreasonable, or if He had not fully kept His Word to them, then let them testify against Him.

Verses 6-7, There were ceremonies, details, and sacrifice, but no righteousness and fellowship; God requires right living, not just formality.

Verse 8, True life must go hand in hand with true doctrine; This is a summary of humanity’s duty before God.

Verses 9-16, Terrible sins will bring terrible judgment.

a.Verses 10-12, These verses are an outline of the ungodliness which is here in view.

b.Verses 13,16, Therefore the coming desolation of Israel.

B.HOPE: Chapter 7, Israel’s Penitence And Prayer; God’s Promise.

Verses 1-6, Confession (which Israel should make) of guilt.

Verses 7-13, A remnant (True Israel) would serve God through their faith, penitence, and prayer.

Verses 14-17, A prayer for God’s mercy; And the recognition that it is not deserved.

Verses 18-20, Praise to God; A vision of the future gives them hope and consolation.

a.Promises to Abraham were to be fully accomplished.

b.Complete pardon was to be given - Heb 8:12; Rev 1:5.

**MICAH IN THREE WORDS:

Day In Court.

**MICAH IN THREE WORDS:

Judgment And Hope.

**CONTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK OF MICAH TO THE BIBLE:

1.Micah has been called “Isaiah In Miniature.”

a.Both addressed the same people and the same problems -- Note these comparisons:

Mic 1:2 --------------- Isa 1:2

Mic 1:9-16 ----------- Isa 10:28-32

Mic 2:8-9 ------------- Isa 10:2

Mic 2:12 -------------- Isa 10:10-23

Mic 2:13 -------------- Isa 52: 12

Mic 3:5-7 ------------- Isa 2:9-12

Mic 4:1 ---------------- Isa 2:2

Mic 5:2 ---------------- Isa 7:14

Mic 5:4 ---------------- Isa 40:11

Mic 6:6-8 -------------- Isa 58:6-7

Mic 7:7 ---------------- Isa 8:17

Mic 7:12 -------------- Isa 11:11

b.Micah focused more on moral and spiritual problems while Isaiah focused more on political affairs.

2.Micah has much to say about the future of God’s people under the reign of the Messiah.

3.Chapters 6:1-8 is considered by many to set forth the essence of true religion as well as does any statement in the Old Testament.

**CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF MICAH:

1.5:2, A prophecy of the birthplace and eternal existence of the Messiah -- See Mt 2:5-6.

2.2:12-13; 4:1-8; 5:4, The righteous reign of Christ in His kingdom.

**CONCLUSION:

1.In Micah we have seen a summary of God’s plan for the ages.

2.The plan includes all people who are willing: Are WE? - Mk 16:16; Rev 22:17; 1Co 15:58.