Old Testament Survey
Micah
- Jotham reigns in Judah 750 B.C.
- Pekahiah reigns in Israel 742 B.C.
- Micah the prophet 740 B.C.
- Pekah reigns in Israel 740 B.C.
- Ahaz reigns in Judah 735 B.C.
Key Verses
1:5-9
6:8
7:18-20
Key Chapters
Chapters 6, 7
Key Concepts
Hear
Desolation, Desolate, Destruction
Gather, Assemble
Thoughts for Reading
Are there degrees of
sin?
Does it matter?
Micah
7:7
Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will
wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
Title -- Author
Micah comes from the town of Moresheth which may be the same as Moresheth-gath (1:1, 14). This means he lived about 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem near Gath of Philistine (the home of Goliath). Most likely he was not part of the official court or Temple families. He lived during the times of Jotham (750-732/35), Ahaz (735-713/16), and Hezekiah (716-687), kings in Judah. This makes him a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea, and probably Amos.
Micah’s name means “Who is like the Lord.”
Micah wrote to both the of the divided kingdoms, although his message appears to be primarily for Judah.
PURPOSE
Micah’s message was one of confirmation. He emphasized God’s justice and love even as he warned of the impending doom of both the Northern and Southern kingdoms. The thrust of his message is that Judah was as guilty of Israel, so they would be judged the same way. Micah does contain a message of hope in God’s future restoration of Israel, but this is not a primary message of this book.
A simple outline of Micah is:
- Judgment for both kingdoms - Chps 1, 2
- Doom will be followed by deliverance - Chps 3-5
- Denunciation for sin
and a promise for blessing - Chp 6, 7
Throughout both the Old and New Testaments exists the idea of a “remnant” of believers who will be saved and receive the blessings of God. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Micah speak of a remnant which return to the land. Zephaniah & Zechariah add their voice to the future blessings upon the remnant and Paul writes of the salvation of the elect remnant.
Micah places great emphasis on the failure of the people to live up to the covenant of God. This is the same message as that of the other prophets. Micah delivers three messages with the theme of judgment playing a major role in each. At the same time, the principle of a remnant finds it place in each of the messages (2:12; 4:7; 5:7, 8; 7:18). The prophet looks forward to the restoration of the nation.
Micah’s call is a lot like that of Hosea. The people should not walk in the rituals of religion. They need to find God in their hearts and lives. Chapter 6 is a courtroom scene with God serving as judge, witness, and jury. There is little doubt of the outcome.
Micah 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good;
and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Jesus in Micah
One of the great prophecy of Scripture is found in Micah 5:2:
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
In response to Herod’s question as to where the Messiah is to be born, the priests and scribes quote this passage (Matt 2:1-6).
In addition, Jesus is seen as the God of Jacob (4:2), the future Ruler of the nation (5:2), and the Judge of the Gentile nations (4:3).
The elders of Jeremiah’s day quote Micah 3:12 in support of Jeremiah’s own message of coming judgment (Jer 26:18).
Micah 3:12
Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed
as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain
of the house as the high places of the forest.
Six prophecies of Micah have been fulfilled:
- Fall of Israel – 722/21 B.C. - (1:6, 7)
- Invasion of Judah – 605 B.C. - (1:9-16)
- Fall of Jerusalem – 586 B.C. - (3:12,; 7:13)
- Captivity in Babylon – 586 B.C. - (4:10)
- Return from captivity – (4:1-8; 7:11, 14-17)
- Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem – (5:2)
Have you been faithful to seek forgiveness of your sins?
Do you ignore the examples of those around you?
Or, have you been chastised?
