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Micah
1:1 - 8
The Hebrew
name translated "Micah" means "Who is
like Jehovah? He tells us that he prophesied “in the
days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of
Judah
”. This
means that Micah was a contemporary
of Isaiah. Isaiah was the
older of the two and commenced his ministry earlier, in the reign
of Uzziah.
Although
they were from very different backgrounds, Isaiah was a
man who was at home speaking to kings while Micah was
more at home speaking to farmers, it seems they were at
home in each other’s company. In their writings there
are certain expressions, and historical references that
are common to them both.
As he is writing just shortly after Hosea we should not
be surprised that the message is very similar. God gets
no pleasure from punishing sinful mankind but sin pays
wages and the wages of sin is eternal separation from
God. Nevertheless, as described in 2 Peter, He is patient with us, not wanting
anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
The
word that Micah
received from the Lord concerned God's grief over
Judah
's
and
Israel
's
evil deeds and the coming judgment and destruction that
those deeds would bring. Although he is preaching in
Judah
he frequently refers to
Israel
.
Micah recognises that while both countries are separated
politically they are both God’s chosen people and
although they will both be judged they
will both be re-gathered (
2:12
)
and when Messiah establishes His kingdom on earth people
of both nations will be restored (
2:13
).
However, Jeremiah adds a word of caution to these
promises.
Jeremiah 3:14-18
14 "Return, faithless people," declares the Lord,
"for I am your husband. I will choose you — one
from a town and two from a clan — and bring you to
Zion
.
15 Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with
knowledge and understanding.
Let us turn now to Micah. Micah receives visions of God's grief over
Judah
and
Israel
evil deeds, their coming destruction and later
deliverance, the capture of
Jerusalem
, and the future arrival of the Son of Man.
The
depravity of
Judah
and
Israel
Among the general population
1. They
continually plot evil (2:1).
2.
They practice fraud and violence (2:2).
3.
They reject the Holy Spirit (2:6-7).
4.
They are insolent thieves (2:8).
5.
They mistreat widows and orphans (2:9-10).
Among the
False Priests and Prophets
1. They are
drunken liars (
2:11
).
2.
They hate good and love evil (3:1).
3.
They devour the sheep (3:2-5).
4.
They despise justice (3:8-9).
5.
They shed innocent blood (
3:10
).
6.
They accept bribes (
3:11
).
The
depravity of the chosen people leads to their
destruction.
The destruction of
Judah
and
Israel
The Judge (1:1-4):
Using
fearful, poetic language, Micah describes an angry God
coming from his
Temple
in judgment.
The
judgment
1.
Israel
and
Judah
will be rewarded evil for evil (2:3).
2.
Their enemies will mock them (2:4-5).
3.
God will refuse to communicate with them
(3:6-7).
4.
Jerusalem
and the
Temple
will be destroyed (
3:12
).
Following
this judgment Micah discusses two key events: the
capture of the City of
David
and the coming of the Son of David.
The capture of the city of
David
5:1:
Jerusalem
will be taken and its king (Zedekiah) humbled.
4:9-10:
The people will suffer much and will be carried off as
captives to
Babylonia
.
The coming of the son of David
5:2-3
Christ's
first coming
His birth in
Bethlehem
(5:2)
His rejection by
Israel
(5:3)
Christ's second coming
1.
The
Temple
will become the universal worship centre (4:1).
2.
All nations will learn the Word of God (4:2).
3.
Wars will cease (4:3-5).
4.
The exiles will be strengthened (4:6-7).
5.
Israel
will be re-established in the land (4:8,10b).
6.
Israel
's
enemies will be destroyed (4:11-13; 5:5b-15).
7.
King Jesus will meet all human needs (5:4-5a).
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