"STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"

                        Micah – Part 1 of 3

                    Judgment Now, Blessings Later

                        (Micah 1:1 to 2:13)
INTRODUCTION
1. The eighth century (800-700 B.C.) was filled with prophetic

   activity…

   a. Starting with Jonah, who prophesied to the city of Nineveh (790 B.C.)

   b. Continuing with prophets sent primarily to the northern kingdom

      of Israel

      1) Amos (755 B.C.)

      2) Hosea (750-725 B.C.)

   c. The southern kingdom of Judah was also the recipient of God’s

      prophets

      1) Isaiah (740-700 B.C.)

      2) Micah (735-700 B.C.)
2. In our study of "The Minor Prophets"…

   a. We have looked at the works of Jonah, Amos, and Hosea

   b. We now come to the works of Micah, the last prophet of the eighth

      century B.C.
[Before we take a look at the messages of Micah as recorded in his

book, it may be helpful to first look at some…]
I. BACKGROUND MATERIAL
   A. MICAH – THE MAN…

      1. His name means "Who is like Jehovah?" – cf. Micah 7:18 

      2. His home was Moresheth-Gath – Micah 1:1; Micah 1:14

         a. In the lowlands of Judah, near Philistia

         b. About 20-25 miles southwest of Jerusalem

      3. Nothing is known of his occupation prior to becoming God’s

         prophet

      4. Characterization

         a. "He was the prophet of the poor and downtrodden." (Homer

            Hailey)

         b. "He had Amos’ passion for justice and Hosea’s heart for

            love." (J.M.P. Smith)

         c. Comparing Micah to his contemporary Isaiah (as suggested by

            Hailey)

            1) Micah was a man of the fields, Isaiah was of the city

            2) Micah took little interest in politics, giving himself

               to the concern over spiritual and moral problems; Isaiah

               was in close contact with world affairs, the associate

               of kings and princes

            3) Both Micah and Isaiah…

               a) Saw God as the infinite Ruler of nations and men

               b) Recognized the absolute holiness and majesty of God

               c) Stressed that violating principles of God’s divine

                  sovereignty and holiness would bring judgment and

                  doom
   B. MICAH – THE BOOK…

      1. The date:  735-700 B.C.

         a. During the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of

            Judah – Micah 1:1 

         b. Just as the northern kingdom of Israel was falling under

            Assyria’s attack

      2. The message:  "Present Judgment, Future Blessings"

         a. Judgment is coming because of Israel’s unfaithfulness to

            God

         b. Blessings will come because of God’s faithfulness to Israel

            1) Cf. the promise God made to Abraham – Gen 22:18 

            2) God would fulfill in the person of Jesus Christ –

               cf. Ac 3:24-26 

      3. A brief outline:  The book appears to contain three messages

         or oracles, all beginning with the word "Hear"; therefore the

         book can be divided as follows:

         a. In the first two chapters the coming judgment is discussed,

            along with a promise of restoration

         b. God’s condemnation of Israel, with a glimpse of the future

            hope – Micah 3:1-5:15 

         c. God’s indictment of Israel, with a plea for repentance and

            promise of forgiveness – Micah 6:1-7:20 
[In the remaining part of this lesson, let’s take look at Micah’s first

message…]
II. THE COMING JUDGMENT AND PROMISED RESTORATION (Micah 1:1-2:13)
   A. JUDGMENT PRONOUNCED ON ISRAEL AND JUDAH…

      1. Micah’s message is for both Samaria (Israel) and Jerusalem

         (Judah) – Micah 1:1 

      2. The Lord announces His coming judgment – Micah 1:2-5 

      3. The destruction of Samaria (representing the northern kingdom

         of Israel) – Micah 1:6-7 

      4. Micah’s mourning – Micah 1:8-16 

         a. For the judgment has reached even Judah and Jerusalem

         b. His lament involves making a play on words involving the

            names of cities; for example…

            1) "Tell it not in Gath" (Gath is similar to the Hebrew

               word for "tell")

            2) "Weep not at all in Beth Aphrah, Roll yourself in the

               dust" (Beth Aphrah means "house of dust")

            3) "Pass by in naked shame, you inhabitant of Shaphir"

               (Shaphir means "fair, beautiful, pleasant")

            4) "The inhabitant of Zaanan does not go out" (Zaanan means

               "come out")

            5) "Beth Ezel mourns; its place to stand is taken away

               from you" (Beth Ezel can be paraphrased as "nearby

               house")

         c. As revealed in verse 16, their judgment will involve

            captivity
   B. REASONS FOR THE INEVITABLE JUDGMENT…

      1. The arrogance and violence of the nobles – Micah 2:1-5 

         a. For coveting fields and taking them by violence

         b. So it will happen to them

      2. For rejecting true prophets, and accepting false ones – Micah 2:6-11 

         a. They tell the prophets of God not to speak of God’s words

         b. They abuse the people of God

         c. Destruction is coming, because they are defiled and accept

            false prophets
   C. RESTORATION PROMISED…

      1. It will involve God assembling a remnant – Micah 2:12 

      2. God will lead them like a flock of sheep, with a king at their

         head – Micah 2:12-13 
CONCLUSION
1. Later, Micah will tell us more about the ultimate fulfillment of

   that restoration, and from where that "king" shall arise who shall

   lead God’s flock! – cf. Micah 5:2-5 
2. But for now we have seen that Micah certainly follows the pattern of

   God’s prophets at that time…

   a. Proclaiming the coming judgment, which would involve captivity

   b. Providing the basis for such judgment, describing the nature of

      their sins and departure from God

   c. Promising that God would one day restore the good fortunes of

      Israel, but requiring repentance and involving a "remnant"
3. How sad that many in Israel and Judah did not heed the words of such

   men like Micah, Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah…

   a. But are we heeding God’s spokesmen for today?

   b. Such as His apostles Peter and Paul, and of course, His Son Jesus

      Christ?
We would do well to remember the preaching of Micah as we read in the

New Testament…
   "For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we

   have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the word spoken

   through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and

   disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if

   we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first

   spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who

   heard, God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and

   wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit

   according to His own will.  (He 2:1-4)
Israel as a nation failed to heed the message sent to them; are we

heeding the message for us today?

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