Micah

Bible Study with Pastor Terry Gray


Prophet Micah


Prophesied during the same time as Isaiah. That is, Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah.


Many things said by Micah are the same as what Isaiah has said. Some scholars therefore argued that Micah plagiarized Isaiah. My take on this is, since all Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), there must be a reason why God chose to put both the Book of Micah and Jonah in the Bible. Hence, it could very well be that God gave both Micah and Isaiah similar messages. And let's face it, given our track record at listening, we need more than we can get.


Micah lived during 740-698 BC, a period of great political turbulence. There was political unrest everywhere. Micah had lived through and seen what good and bad leaders can do to a nation: Jotham was a good king; Ahaz was a horrible king; Hezekiah was a good king. Micah also witnessed how the Assyrians destroyed the Northern Kingdom.


During Micah's period, the Southern Kingdom was invaded by the Syrians, Edomites, and Philistines. King of the Philistines was such an idolater that he would sacrifice children to his pagan god.


Micah 1:1
Micah was from the Southern Kingdom and prophesied to Samaria, the capitol city and epicenter of influence of the Northern Kingdom, and to Jerusalem, the capitol key city of Judah. That is, Micah prophesied to both kingdoms, bringing primarily the message of judgment to both kingdoms.




Book of Micah
This book is a record of 3 sermons. Each sermon contains the same 4 subject matters:


1. A list of specific sins Israel is guilty of
2. The warning of the coming judgment due to the sins they have committed
3. Micah's personal reaction to his witness
4. Promises of restoration, comfort, and hope to Israel, despite the fact that it would soon be judged


Sermon 1: Micah 1-2
Sermon 2: Micah 3-5
Sermon 3: Micah 6-7




1. SINS OF ISRAEL


Idolatry (Micah 1:6-7)
The Israelites were supposed to be the people who KNEW the one true God, the people who, through them, would bring blessing to all other nations. Yet, instead of remaining true to God, they idolized false gods.


Exploitation of poor people through injustice and corrupt businesses (Micah 2:1-2; 2:8-9; 3:1-3; 6:10; 7:2)


Forbade God-given prophesies (2:6) but embraced messages of false prophets (2:11)
People were absolutely dull and could no longer recognize the truth of God. They had become so dull, they could no longer discern what is true and what is not.




2. JUDGMENTS
The Israelites had no interest in God or what He had to say and pushed God out of their nation. When the heart of Israel was so hardened, God basically condoned, "You want me to leave? Fine. I'll leave." When God leaves, He removes His hand of protection (they were therefore overtaken by enemy nations), His revelation (no one knew what was going on), and His blessing (no one prospered).


Micah 1:6
The Northern Kingdom (symbolized by its capitol city, Samaria) was prophesied to be wiped out. It was. In 722 BC, Assyria wiped out Samaria of the Norther Kingdom.


Micah 1:10-16
10 cities of the Northern Kingdom was prophesied to be harassed by other nations. It happened.


Micah 2:3
There would be political unrest: The result of Israel's judgment would be so detrimental that they would become a scorn of other nations. This is very sad. They were suppose to be setting an example. Instead, they became the laughing stock of neighboring nations, taunting them about "their God."


Micah 3:4
God will not hear them. When our heart no longer follows God, God no longer hears our cries.


Micah 3:6
Since the Israelites resolutely rejected true prophets, they will thus remain blind. No revelation will be given to them any more. They will no longer receive messages from God.


Micah 3:12
The Southern Kingdom will be held captive by Babylon. It happened, in 586 BC.


Micah 6:13-15
Prosperity is going to leave Israel. No matter how hard they work, they would not prosper.


Inspiration: Do we honestly think our success are our own? Do we believe that as long as we work hard, we will succeed? Not if our heart is not in the right place! When we work to the will of God, we will succeed because we have His blessing. However, just as easily as God can provide, He can take away. When His blessing is no longer upon us, we could work as hard as we want, and we would bear no fruit.




3. MICAH'S REACTIONS


Micah 1:8
Micah saw the condition of his nation, saw what was coming down the pipeline, and he grieved. He was broken; his heart was hurt. He was hurt deeply for his people.


Inspiration: We should be grieved for those who do not know the Word. If we are to have have the love of God, we would grieve deeply for all those souls still lost. We should grieve, and we should therefore work hard to bring more people to Jesus.


Micah 3:8
Despite hostile environment, Micah became more resolved to share the Truth.


Inspiration: Always preach the truth, not what people want to hear. Preach the whole truth, not half-truths. Only the truth will save souls. Anything else is just sugar-coating the slippery slope toward eternal suffering in Hell. As Christians who love, how could we tell lies just to make people feel better? We tell the truth because we love all.


Micah 7:1, 5, 7
In those days, things would get so bad there would be no trust to be found. Micah, instead of being despaired, will look to the Lord and stay strong. He will stay committed and remain faithful to God. He will work hard to maintain his relationship with God.


Micah 7:8
Micah hands over injustices done against him to God, with hope, knowing those people will be judged. We forgive because we know we are not the judge. When we forgive, we hand those who have sinned against us over to God. We do not judge because we sin against others as well.


Micah 7:9
Micah repents for his own sins.


Inspiration: Micah 7:8-9 paints a great picture for self-initiated forgiveness and repentance. 




4. COMFORTING PROMISES 


Micah 2:13
Israel will be assembled and restored. This has started to
happen with Israel being restored as a nation in May, 1948.


Micah 4:1-4
There will be an everlasting peace on Earth centered around Jerusalem.


Micah 5:2
A deliverer is going to come. 700 years after this prophecy, Jesus was born in Bethelhem. Jesus would come again and judge those who took advantage of Israel.


Micah 7:18
Israel will eventually be completely forgiven of their sins. God will come back to Israel, and God will be received by the Israelites. Israel will repent, and there will be a complete restoration of Israel to God.




From the Israelites, we see this flow of events:
1. God assigned the Israelites as His representatives.
2. The Israelites failed.
3. The Israelites turned away from God and refuse to return.
4. Israel was judged after multiple attempts to bring it back.
5. Israel was scattered.
6. Israelites will be assembled again as a nation.
7. There will be a kingdom of everlasting peace centered at Jerusalem.
8. Jesus will reign and rule in Jerusalem.


In sum, God chose Israel and gave them the Law. Israel sinned resolutely against the Law. They deserved judgment. They got judgment. However, God promised them a savior. They got one. Israel will eventually come back to the Lord, repent, and be reconciled.


Just as God dealt with Israel, He will deal with us.


Individually, we were born sinners because of Adam and Eve. Each one of us, because of our sin, deserve judgment and death. However, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to receive our collective judgement and death for us. Jesus died our death and gave us His righteousness. Jesus took away our sin and conquered death. When we choose to come back tot he Lord and repent, we will therefore be reconciled with God through the blood of Jesus Christ.