The bible – Book of Micah

1. The Bible – Book of Micah– 7th
February 2017
“Lord,who isa God likeyou? You forgivesin. You forgiveyourpeople when theydo whatiswrong.You
don’tstayangryforever.Instead,you takedelightin showing yourfaithful loveto them.”(Micah 7:18)
The author of the Bookof Micah was the ProphetMicah as we can readfrom Micah1:1, “A message
fromthe Lord came to Micah. He wasfrom the townof Moresheth.The message came while Jotham,
Ahazand Hezekiahwere kingsof Judah.Thisisthe visionMicahsaw concerningSamariaandJerusalem.
Here is whathe said.”The Bookof Micah was likelywrittenbetween735and 700 B.C. Micah the
Morashtite”wasa prophetinJudaism whoprophesiedfromapproximately737to 696 BC in Judahand
isthe authorof the Bookof Micah. He isconsideredone of the twelveminorprophets of the Tanakh
(HebrewBible)andwasa contemporaryof the prophets Isaiah,AmosandHosea.
Micah was fromMoresheth-Gath,insouthwestJudah.He prophesiedduringthe reignsof kings Jotham,
Ahaz,and Hezekiah of Judah.Micah’smessageswere directedchieflytoward Jerusalem.He prophesied
the future destructionof JerusalemandSamaria,the destructionandthenfuture restorationof the
Judeanstate,andhe rebukedthe people of Judahfordishonestyandidolatry.Hisprophecythatthe
Messiahwouldbe borninthe townof Bethlehemiscitedinthe Gospel of Matthew.Informationabout
the endof hislife isnotknown.
The message of the Book of Micah is a complex mixture of judgmentandhope. Onthe one hand,the
propheciesannounce judgmentuponIsrael forsocial evils,corruptleadershipandidolatry. This
judgmentwasexpectedtoculminate inthe destructionof SamariaandJerusalem. Onthe otherhand,
the bookproclaimsnotmerelythe restorationof the nation,butthe transformationandexaltationof
Israel andJerusalem. The messagesof hope anddoomare notnecessarilycontradictory,however,since
restorationandtransformationtake place onlyafterjudgment.
The prophetcondemnsthe rulers,priests,andprophetsof Israel whoexploitandmisleadthe people ,
much like inthe contextof some preaches today!Micahstatedthat itwas because of theirdeedsthat
Jerusalemwillbe destroyed. The prophetMicahproclaimsthe deliverance of the people whowill go
fromJerusalemtoBabylonandconcludeswithanexhortationforJerusalemtodestroythe nations who
have gatheredagainsther.The ideal rulerwouldcome fromBethlehemtodefendthe nation,andthe
prophetproclaimsthe triumphof the remnantof Jacoband foreseesadaywhenYahwehwill purge the
nationof idolatryandreliance onmilitarymight.
The prophetMicah setsfortha powerful andconcise summaryof Yahweh'srequirementforjustice and
loyaltyandannouncesjudgmentuponthose whohave followedthe waysof Omri andAhab (false
gods). The bookcloseswitha propheticliturgycomprisingelementsof alament. Israel confessesitssin
and isassuredof deliverance throughYahweh'smightyacts.
We can readfrom a Messianicprophecy inMicah5:2, The Lord says,“BethlehemEphrathah,youmight
not be an importanttown inthe nationofJudah. But out ofyou will come for me a ruler over Israel.
His familylinegoes back to the early years of your nation.It goes all the way back to days of long
ago.” Thisis

2. quotedwhenthe magi were searchingforthe kingbornin Bethlehem aswe see inMatthew 2:6). These
kingsfromthe East were toldthat fromthe tinyvillage of Bethlehemwouldcome forththe Prince of
Peace,the Lightof the world.
Micah’s message of sin,repentance andrestorationfindsitsultimate fulfillmentinJesusChristwhois
the propitiationforoursins as statedin Romans3:24-25, “The free giftof God’sgrace makes usright
with him.ChristJesus paidthe price to set us free. 25
Godgave Christas a sacrificeto payfor sins
throughthe spillingofhisblood.SoGodforgivesthe sinsof those whohave faith.Goddid all this to
prove that he does what is right.He is a Godof mercy. So he didnot punishfor their sinsthe people
who livedbefore Jesus lived.”We mustknow deepinour heartsthat JesusChrististhe onlywayto God
as we can learnfrom John14:6, “Jesusanswered,“I am the way andthe truth and the life.No one
comes to the Father except throughme.”
The practical application forusinthe bookof Micah is that God giveswarningsso we will nothave to
sufferHiswrath.Judgmentiscertainif God's warningsare notheededandHisprovisionforsininthe
sacrifice of HisSon isrejected.Forthe believerinChrist,Godwill disciplineus—notfromhate—but
because He lovesus.He knowsthat sindestroysandHe wantsus to be whole.Thiswholenesswhichis
the promise of restorationawaitsthose whoremainobedienttoHim.
Key Verses:
Micah1:2, "Hear, O peoples,all ofyou, listen,O earth and all who are in it, that the Sovereign LORD
may witnessagainstyou,the Lord from His holytemple."
Micah5:2, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,thoughyouare small amongthe clansof Judah,out of you
will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,whose originsare from of old,fromancient times."
Micah6:8, "He hasshowed you,O man, whatis good.And what does the LORD require of you?To act
justlyand to love mercy and to walkhumblywith your God."
Micah7:18-19, "Whoisa God likeyou, who pardonssinandforgives the transgressionofthe remnant
of His inheritance?Youdo not stay angryforever butdelightto showmercy. You will againhave
compassiononus; youwill tread our sinsunderfootand hurl all our iniquitiesintothe depths of the
sea."