LESSON 33 THE BOOK OF MICAH

    

The book of Micah contains a three fold message of sin, judgment and hope.   The lower class people of Samaria and Jerusalem are the main recipients of this prophecy.  However,  Micah preaches to the rich when opportunity permits.  Micah addresses issues that deal with the common people of Israel during the time of Hosea (the prophet to the Northern Kingdom) and Isaiah (the great prophet to the Southern kingdom) to princes and kings.   All three prophesied during the reign of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (1:1).   Micah did not deal with world politics as Isaiah did, but dealt with the moral, civil, and economic conditions of the country.     The message fundamentally was the same sin, destruction, restoration, and the Messianic age.

 

THE AUTHOR

The name "Micayahu" means  "Who is like Yahweh?"

Micah 7:18__________________________________________________

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His home town (Morasthite) was located 25 miles south west of Jerusalem in  the Judah/Philistine region near Gath.  Though the scriptures are silent,  this country region gives us a clue as to Micah's occupation and family life before his call.   Micah seems to lack political knowledge, unlike  Isaiah and Daniel.  A prophet to the poor, Micah expresses a clear concern for the sufferings of the people.  Micah3:8_______________________________

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 "As  goes the city, so goes the country"  is the main message God sends Micah to preach in the capital's of both the Northern and the Southern Kingdoms. The nations of that day were shaped by the cities which seemed to be the source and cause of all their evil (1:5).

 

SURVEY OF MICAH

Punishment     Chapters 1‑3

            Promise            Chapters 4 ‑5

             Pardon           Chapters 6 ‑ 7

 

 

MICAH'S THREE SERMONS

Micah preached many years, and like others prophetic books we have studied, the Holy Spirit chose to preserve only three of his discourses.  These sermons (divided by the word "Hear ye" found in 1:1 3:1 and 6:1) all end with the promise of restoration (note page 128 of outline studies). One may feel the heartbeat of Micah's ministry in 1:8.________________

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SERMON 1    Chapters 1‑2

These chapters declare judgment on Samaria and Jerusalem, the nature of and punishment of their sin, and the return and restoration of Israel.  From verse 10 on, Micah looks homeward to the lowlands and hills of Judah, including the villages of the Philistine plain where he grew up.  In the Hebrew text, there is a very descriptive word play that describes the fate that over takes Micah's homeland.  Translated literally,  verse 10 would read: "Tell it not in Tell‑town; Weep not in Weep‑town.  At the town of dust, I have rolled myself in the dust . . . "

In chapter 2 Micah turns toward the economical calamity that would bring great distress on the poor.  He closes with the future restoration of Israel from captivity.   2:12‑13_______________________________________

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SERMON 2   Chapters 3-5

B.H. Carroll outlines this sermon as "A Gross Sin, A Great Salvation, and A Glorious Savior."   They hate the good and love the evil (2:2) with the end result described in verse 12.  Compare Isaiah 2:1‑4 to Micah 4:1‑5.  Did one borrow from the other?  Or did the Holy Spirit impress upon the heart of each prophet separately?  Note the specific prophesy concerning Christ in Micah 5:2____________________________________________

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SERMON 3  Chapters 6-7

The whole duty of religion is summed up in 6:8_____________________

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This sermon expresses God's lawsuit against Israel.  The charges  against them result in a plea of guilty and a hope for mercy and pardon.