The book called Micah is a message to Jerusalem and Samaria, capitals of the southern and northern kingdoms, respectively. At the time of these prophecies, the southern kingdom of Judah had become as unrighteous as their estranged brothers to the north. There was dishonesty in business, sham religion, prophets preaching for money, judges controlled by bribes, and rampant exploitation of the poor.
God had shown them how to live, and they had habitually rejected his ways. Therefore, God would abandon them. — but not forever. We find in chapter 5 that a ruler would one day be born in Bethlehem who would bring peace to Israel and to all the world. In the closing verses of the book, Micah writes: "But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." (Micah 7:7)
What does it say?
Micah's prophecy alternates between the message of doom and the message of hope. It is a prophecy of judgment followed by deliverance.
Micah stresses God's hatred of idolatry, injustice, rebellion and empty ritualism. But God delights in offering pardon to those who repent. God's requirement is spelled out; the people are "to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). If the people listen and respond, God will restore them. Micah writes: "You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19)
Faces & Places
Micah is the prophet through whom God delivered this message. Outside of this book, we know of Micah also from Jeremiah 26:18. God's message through Micah is directed to both the people of Jerusalem and the people of Samaria. These are the capitals of the southern and northern kingdoms, respectively.
Key Verses & Themes
The Requirement of God:
Micah 6:8 "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
The Mercy of God:
Micah 7:18 "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy."
The Righteousness of God:
Micah 7:9 "Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord's wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness."
So what?
This book of Micah's prophecies was written, along with Isaiah and Amos, during the eighth century B.C., a period of political power and economic prosperity for both the northern and southern kingdoms. But it was also a time of excessive sin, moral decay, and spiritual decadence. It should be a time in history we can relate to very well.
It seems that just about everyone in Israel was looking out for number one, concerned for their own prosperity at the expense of anyone they could control. We call it "social and economic injustice."
Micah gives us God's response: "Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance. Therefore, the Lord says: 'I am planning disaster against this people, for which you cannot save yourselves. You will know longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity." (Micah 2:1-3)
Are you in the habit of giving preference to others? Are you in the habit of using what power you have for the good of others or merely yourself? Do you plot ways to bring advantage to yourself because you have the power to do so? Read Micah with yourself in mind? Do you act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?
