MICAH

Micah does not describe himself other than giving his village’s name, Moresheth, probably a rural area in the western Judean lowlands.
He dates his prophecies to King Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah of Judah. He is therefore placing himself in the time range from 739-686 BC, spanning some fifty years. At the very beginning his prophecies address both Israel in the North and Judah in the South. Then in 722 BC the Assyrian empire conquers and exiles Israel according to the Word of God by Micah, and many prophets before him.
Micah turns to Judah, which survived the Assyrian threat. But he sees no reason for complacency or self-congratulation: “For this I will lament and wail… for her wound is incurable. It has come to Judah; it has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem” (Mic 1:8-9). He sees that the same sin that infected and eventually destroyed Israel is already at work in Judah.
In very clear language Micah convicts people of their sin, especially of greed and unjust gain: “Alas for those who devise wickedness and evil deeds on their beds!… They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and take them away; they oppress householder and house, people and their inheritance … you strip the robe from the peaceful, form those pass by trustingly with no thought of war” (Micah 2:1-2,8).
Micah especially addresses both political and spiritual leaders: “Listen you … rulers of the house of Israel! Should you not know justice? – you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin off my people and the flesh of their bones… rulers give judgment for a bribe, its priests teach for a price, its prophets give oracles for money… Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray… the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame’ (Mic 2:1-2, 3:11,5-7). He also addresses the rich: “Can I tolerate wicked scales and a bag of dishonest weights? Your wealthy are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies” (Mic 6:11-12). Those with power or leadership will doubly be held accountable for their actions, but this does not mean that the normal people are not guilty: “The faithful have disappeared from the land, and there is no one left who is upright; they all lie in wait for blood, and they hunt each other with nets. Their hands are skilled to do evil” (Mic 7:2-3).
But Micah not only accuses, he also shows his hearers God’s heart and the way to please him: “With what shall I come before the LORD? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings? Will God be pleased with thousands of rams? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humble with your God?” (Mic 6:6-8).
Only a few years after Israel’s doom Micah predicts that Judah will also be destroyed (Mic 3:12). He is the first prophet to predict that, though many will follow him with the same message.
But Micah also sees a restoration beyond that destruction, not only a re-establishing of Judah as it had been before, but a totally new age: ”In days to come the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains… people shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD… that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk I his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Mic 4:1-2).
This is a stunning messianic prophecy, predicting that what God will do in Jerusalem (Jesus and the cross) will become the focal point of attraction to the nations. And from Jerusalem the Word of God (the gospel) will go out and God’s instruction and ways will be taught among the nations. Micah leaves his readers with this powerful metaphorical description of the Messiah and his message, giving them a hope that will sustain them and motivate them to live in obedience now.

The author

Micah does not describe himself other than giving his village’s name, Moresheth, probably located in a rural area in the western Judean lowlands, near the Philistine city of Gath. Rural villages in the lowlands like Moresheth were very vulnerable. In Israel’s history they were regularly overrun by enemies, recovered, and lost again (example: 2 Chr 28:18). With the Assyrian threat looming large it is likely that Moresheth is currently held by the enemy.
The name of Micah in Hebrew means ‘Who is like Yahweh?’ and it is interesting to note that he ends his book by a similar phrase “Who is a God like you?” (Mic 7:18).
Nothing is known about Micah’s life other than what can be gleaned from the book itself. People oppose his preaching (Mic 2:6): “Do not preach” – thus they preach – “one should not preach of such things; disgrace will not overtake us”. But Micah doesn’t bow to the pressure but rather asserts: “Do not my words do good to one who walks uprightly?” (Mic 2:7). He clearly cares about social injustice (Mic 2:1-11) and fearlessly attacks the powerful (Mic 3:1-4). He also finds himself in conflict with other prophets, asserting that he does speak from God: “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might” (Mic 3:6-8). That Micah with his unpopular message was often in danger can be gleaned from Jer 26:18, where Micah’s example is quoted when Jeremiah is tried for pronouncing judgment on Jerusalem.

The historical situation

Micah dates his prophecies to king Jotham (739-731 BC), Ahaz (731-715 BC) and Hezekiah (715-686 BC) of Judah (Mic 1:1). This places him into the time range of 739-686 BC, spanning almost fifty years.
Jotham King Jotham is a godly king, who becomes “strong for he ordered his ways before the LORD his God” (2 Chr 27:6). Micah starts prophesying.
Ahaz Jotham’s son Ahaz is an evil king. He makes a Baal shrine, makes his sons pass through the fire, sacrifices on high places and under every green tree (2 Chr 28:1-4). King Pekah of Israel (740-732 BC), who newly allied himself with the old arch-enemy King Rezin of Syria (Aram), attacks and sorely defeats Ahaz. One hundred twenty thousand warriors of Judah are killed, and another two hundred thousand civilians are taken captive (2 Chr 28:5-8). Through the intervention of a godly man, Oded, some captives are returned (2 Chr 18:8-15). Rather than humbling himself and trusting God for his protection as Isaiah challenges him to do (Isa 7:7-9), Ahaz tries to buy an alliance with Assyria, which ultimately backfires (2 Chr 28:16-28). In his distress “he became yet more faithless to the LORD” and imports Assyrian idolatry, shuts the temple of God and makes idolatrous altars at every corner of Jerusalem (2 Chr 28:22-27). Micah prophesies the total destruction of Samaria (Mic 1:6-7).
Pekah and Rezin’s victory and alliance is short lived. King Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria invades from the North and conquers, destroys and exiles Syria in 732 BC. Assyria makes Hoshea king of Israel under Assyrian over-lordship (732-722 BC). When Hoshea rebels, king Shalmaneser and later king Sargon II of Assyria besiege Samaria and conquer and destroy Israel in 722 BC, as had been predicted by the prophets Hosea, Amos and Micah. The remaining Israelite population is exiled, mixed with other nations and lost from history as a separate nation or people.
With Israel gone, Micah now turns his attention to Judah, which survived the Assyrian threat. But he sees no reason for complacency or self-congratulation: ”For this I will lament and wail… for her wound is incurable. It has come to Judah; it has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem” (Mic 1:8-9). He sees that the same sin that infected and eventually destroyed Israel is already at work within Judah as well. Addressing that sin is what his messages and writings are all about.
Hezekiah Ahaz’ son Hezekiah is a godly king, who tries to undo the damage his father has done: He removes idols, pillars, sacred poles, shrines and high places. He re-opens, cleanses and repairs the temple of God, reorganizes the Levites and priests and celebrates a great Passover feast. In 715 BC king Sennacherib of Assyria attacks and conquers most of Judah, including forty-six walled cities. He then threatens siege to Jerusalem. In this greatest challenge of his reign, Hezekiah manages to trust God and obey his word through the prophet Isaiah (Isa 37) to see God supernaturally defeat the Assyrian army (2 Chr 32:1-23).

Whom does Micah address?

Micah first addresses “Samaria and Jerusalem”, meaning Israel and Judah (Mic 1:1). He addresses Israel’s idolatry and prostitution, spiritually and physically (Mic 1:2-7) but then switches the weight to Judah “What is the transgression of Jacob? Is in not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?” (Mic 1:5).
From then on he addresses Judah alone “For her would is incurable. It has come to Judah; it has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem” (Mic 1:9). He sees that the same sin that infected and eventually destroyed Israel is already at work in Judah.
Throughout his ministry Micah specifically addresses many people or groups: “those who devise wickedness” (Mic 2:1), the remnant (Mic 2:12, 4:8, 4:13, 7:8, 7:11), the heads, chiefs and rulers (Mic 3:1-4, 3:9), false prophets (Mic 3:5), Bethlehem (Mic 5:2) and all people (Mic 1:5-7, 1:8-16, 4:9, 5:1, 5:10, 6:1, 6:5, 6:9). Sometimes he also asks reflective questions (Mic 6:6, 6:8, 7:1, 7:7) or addresses God himself (Mic 7:14, 7:18).

Micah’s message

In very clear language, not to say bluntly, Micah convicts people of their sin. He especially addresses the following issues:

Greed and unjust gain
In words very similar to those of Amos he accuses: “Alas for those who devise wickedness and evil deeds on their beds!… They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and take them away; they oppress householder and house, people and their inheritance… you strip the robe from the peaceful, form those pass by trustingly with no thought of war” (Mic 2:1-2,8). “Can I forget the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed? Can I tolerate wicked scales and a bag of dishonest weights? Your wealthy are full of violence…” (Mic 6:10-12). “Its rulers give judgment for a bribe, its priests teach for a price, its prophets give oracles for money” (Mic 3:11). All of this a severe breach of the Law of Moses (Deu 25:13-16,18:19 etc). As always, with godlessness comes lawlessness, which means that the poor and weak in a society and increasingly vulnerable.

Leaders abusing power and injustice
Micah especially addresses the leaders, both political and spiritual: “Listen you… rulers of the house of Israel! Should you not know justice? – you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin off my people and the flesh of their bones; who eat the flesh of my people, flay their skin off them, break their bones in pieces, and chop them up like meat in a kettle, like flesh in a caldron” (Mic 3:1-3). “Rulers give judgment for a bribe, its priests teach for a price, its prophets give oracles for money” (Mic 3:11). “Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray… the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame” (Mic 3:5-7). He also addresses the rich: “Can I tolerate wicked scales and a bag of dishonest weights? Your wealthy are full of violence” (Mic 6:11-12). Those with power or leadership will doubly be held accountable for their actions. The lack of fear of God and the selfish use of given leadership roles makes lawlessness increase and society deteriorate further.
But Micah also finds the normal people guilty: “The faithful have disappeared from the land, and there is no one left who is upright; they all lie in wait for blood, and they hunt each other with nets. Their hands are skilled to do evil” (Mic 7:2-3). Godliness is needed at all levels for a society to work.

God’s people are no different from heathen empires
In one passage Micah bites the pride of Judah especially. He says to the rulers “Should you not know justice?… you tear the skin off my people, and the flesh of their bones” (Mic 3:1-3). Proverbially cruel Assyria was known to – when victorious in warfare – to skin defeated peoples. There are Assyrian wall reliefs displaying the skinning of victims (see picture right). But here Micah says this off Judah’s rulers, proving to them that they are no longer any different from the most heathen of empires.

False religiosity and deception
Micah finds the lack of commitment to truth particularly distressing: “If someone were to go about uttering empty falsehoods, saying, “I will preach to your of wine and strong drink, “ such a one would be the preacher for this people!” (Mic 2:11). “Prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat but declare war against those who put nothing into their mouths. Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, without revelation. The sun shall go down upon the prophets… the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame… for there is no answer from God” (Mic 3:5-7). “Its priests teach for a price, its prophets give oracles for money; yet they lean upon the LORD and say, “Surely the LORD is with us! No harm shall come upon us” (Mic 3:11). “Your inhabitants speak lies, with tongues of deceit in their mouths” (Mic 6:12). To one committed to speaking truth, this is appalling indeed.

Micah’s vivid language

Micah uses language in many different ways to catch the attention of his hearers and engage their thinking. He uses emphatic statements: “We are utterly ruined, he alters the inheritance… how he removes it from me!” (Mic 2:5). “Hear this, you rulers, chiefs… who abhor justice and pervert all equity, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong!” (Mic 3:9-10).
He also uses many rhetorical questions, convicting or desperately tugging at the heart of his hearers: “What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?” (Mic 1:5). “Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Is the Lord’s patience exhausted? Are these his doings? Do not my words do good to one who walks uprightly?” (Mic 2:7). “Heads, rulers… Should you not know justice?” (Mic 3:1). “Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counsellor perished?” (Mic 4:9). “O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me!” (Mic 6:3). “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” (Mic 6:6-7). “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic 6:8). “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession?” (Mic 7:18).
Micah also uses plays on words. When naming the towns or villages in Mic 1:10-13 (these are small Judean villages, in the vicinity of Micah’s Moresheth) he uses the natural meaning of the location’s name to dramatize the coming judgment:
Gath (Bochem, weeping)          > weep not
Beth-leaphrah (house of dust) > roll yourselves in the dust
Shaphir (stripped)                      > nakedness and shame
Zaanan (stir)                                > do not come forth
Beth-ezel (house of ?)                > wailing, support removed
He also uses a so-called courtroom oracle in Mic 6:1-16: “Rise, plead your case before the mountains”. God is the plaintiff, Israel is the defendant. The plaintiff brings the charge (Mic 6:3), then evidence is laid down to prove the charge (Mic 6:4-16), then a verdict is pronounced (Mic 6:16b). God is Judge, Jury and Executioner in one. God finds Judah guilty. Court room oracles are a very vivid picture, not least in a time where the courts were corrupt.

Micah showing the way

But Micah not only accuses, he also shows his hearers God’s heart and the way to please him. With these famous, heart-rending words he motivate his hearers: ”With what shall I come before the LORD? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings? Will God be pleased with thousands of rams? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humble with your God?” (Mic 6:6-8).
The expression ”shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul” is not only a metaphor. Already king Ahaz was involved in the Molech cult, where children were ‘passed through the fire’ (2 Chr 28:3) or sacrificed by fire in the valley of Hinnom. Later with the evil kings Manasseh and Amon this horrendous cult will resurface and Jeremiah again denounces it in Jer 19:5. Even in modern days forms of child sacrifice persist.

Micah’s prediction of judgment

First Micah predicted Israel’s doom (Mic 1:6-7), which within a few years became a reality in 722 BC. Then Micah shockingly and unpopularly predicts that Judah also will be destroyed for its many sins: “Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height” (Mic 3:12). “Writhe and groan, … for now you shall go forth from the city and camp in the open country; you shall go to Babylon” (Mic 4:10).
He is the first prophet to predict that, though many will follow him with the same message. This fulfills in 586 BC when Babylon besieges, conquers and completely destroys Jerusalem and its temple. The remaining population is exiled to Babylon.
In Micah there is an uncomfortable repeated theme of God judging Judah exactly parallel to their sin:
Mic 2:2 “they covet fields, seize them; houses and take them away, oppress”
> Mic 2:4 “the Lord alters the inheritance; how he removed it from me! Among our captors he parcels out our fields”
Mic 2:8 “you strip the robe from the peaceful”
> Mic 1:11 “pass on your way, inhabitants of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame”
Mic 3:1 Seven times in this book God or Micah call for their attention: “hear! Listen!” (Mic 1:2, 1:2, 3:1, 3:4, 3:9, 6:1, 6:2, 6:9, 7:7) but they ignore it.
> Mic 3:4 “then they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have acted wickedly”
Mic 2:6, 2:11 “Do not preach! If empty falsehoods, would be a preacher for this people!”
> Mic 3:6-7 “Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision… there is no answer from God”
Mic 3:5 “prophets who lead my people astray”
> Mic 7:4-5 “the day of punishment…now their confusion is at hand. Put no trust in a friend”

Micah’s prediction of judgment

But Micah also sees a restoration beyond that destruction. He predicts several things:

1 God will re-establish Judah again beyond the exile in Babylon
Unlike for Israel, God promises a re-gathering, a restoration for the survivors, for those who went into exile “I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob, I will gather the survivors of Israel; I will set them together… like a flock in its pasture… The one who breaks out will go up before them; they will break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king will pass on before them, the LORD at their head” (Mic 2:12-13). This remnant will be brought back to Mount Zion and established there (Mic 4:6-8). Those nations who rejoiced at the downfall of Judah will be put to shame (Mic 3:11-13, 7:8-10).
This is roughly fulfilled in 536 BC, when after seventy years in the Babylonian exile the Jews are allowed to return to Judah under Zerubbabel, who is of the line of David (Ezr 1).

In this context Micah often uses the term ‘remnant’ (H7611), meaning remainder, residual, surviving, those left from a bigger group. He uses this of the willing and obedient among God’s people, those who – even when the nation is deteriorating – stay faithful to God.
Micah says that God’s promises of restoration are not to entire Israel, they are to the remnant: “I will surely gather all of you, o Jacob, I will gather the survivors of Israel” (Mic 2:12), “The lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation” (Mic 4:7). God will forgive the remnant “Who is a God like you… passing over the transgression of the remnant of your heritage?” (Mic 7:18). This remnant will be strong “the remnant… shall be like a lion” (Mic 5:8) and will be a blessing to many peoples “Then the remnant of Jacob, surrounded by many peoples, shall be like dew” (Mic 5:7). How is the remnant to be a blessing to all nations?

2 God will do something greater, bringing about a totally new age
Micah also sees something beyond a mere restoration of the remnant of Judah to a state similar to before the exile. He sees God addressing the problem of sin and evil on an unprecedented level: “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in showing clemency. He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Mic 7:18-20).
How will this happen? “In days to come the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains… people shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD… that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk I his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Mic 4:1-2).
These are stunning Messianic prophecies, predicting that what God will do in Jerusalem, – what Jesus will do on the cross -, will deal with the sin problem once and for all. Also this deliverance will become the focal point of attraction to all the nations. And from Jerusalem the Word of God (the gospel) will go out and God’s instruction and ways will be taught among the nations.

Micah has much to say about the nations anyway: He knows that the nations are bound in idolatry “For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god” (Mic 4:5) and that many have opposed God’s nation “Now many nations are assembled against you” (Mic 4:11). But the nations will be addressed by God “hear, you peoples, all of you; listen, O earth, and all that is in it” (Mic 1:2) and God will make sure that they get revelation, teaching and an opportunity to come to God: “many nations shall come and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk I his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Mic 4:1-2). In the end God will judge the nations and ensure peace “He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;… nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Mic 4:3).

Micah leaves his readers with this powerful metaphorical description of the Messiah, his message and what he will bring about, giving them a hope that will sustain them and motivate them to live in obedience now.

Appendix: Parallels between Micah and Isaiah

Since the two prophets are roughly contemporaries and both address Judah, it is not surprising to find many parallels in their writing. Sometimes Micah is called ‘the little Isaiah’ or ‘short hand Isaiah’:
Both speak of the doom of Israel and the problems of Judah
Both speak of God no longer answering (the leaders) Mic 3:4-7 Is 1:15
Both speak of the sins of Judah: injustice Mic 5:9-1,7:2 Is 2:6-8, 57:1
Both speak against false prophets Mic 3:10-11 Is 28:7
Both stress that salvation is from God only Mic 7:18-20 Is 43:25
Both speak about Judah’s coming exile and a restoration Mic 4:10 Is 40-55, 56-66 etc.
Both speak of the coming reign of the Messiah Mic 4:1-10 Is 2:1-4
Both paint the Messiah different than ‘military deliverer’ Mic 4:2 Is 53
Both speak about the birth of Jesus Mic 5:1 Is 9:5
Both describe God as a shepherd Mic 5:4 Is 40:11
Both speak proclaim restoration and hope to the remnant.

Color Coding Suggestions

• Who (groups, leaders, nations), When, Where
• Emphatic Statements, Emotion, Questions,
• Repeated Themes
  • judgement, war, conquest, destruction, death
  • reasons for judgement idolatry, social injustice, violence to poor, unjust gain, …
  • restoration, salvation, forgiveness, hope
  • revelation, wisdom, God’s work, light , truth, teaching vs falsehood, lies, no vision, no answer, …

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Who wrote?

• Mic 1:1 “Micah of Moresheth” in the days of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah …
• Mic 1:14 Therefore you shall give parting gifts to Moresheth-gath …
• Micah’s name means ‘Who is like Yahweh?’ Mic 7:18 ends his book by saying: “Who is a God like you?”
• No father or genealogy given, nothing known about family or personal history, except that he is opposed (Mic 2:6)
• Village given: Moresheth or Moresheth-Gath … which means ‘parting gifts (of the wine press)’
• Moresheth: probably a village of the Shephelah (Judah), near Gath? > rural > Micah as country person, not educated
• Shephelah villages like Moreseth were regularly overrun, lost, recovered, lost again > currently overrun by Assyria? That the Negev and Shephelah was raided by the Philistines in the time of Ahaz is mentioned in 2 Chr 28:18.

Micah’s Life

• Mic 1:2 addresses not kings, but peoples, those oppressing others, corrupt judges, officials, priests, prophets, rulers, chiefs, normal people also presumably. Though from the village addresses city or capital type people
• Mic 2:6 is told to shut up by others
• Mic 2:7 Does not bow before opposition, others’ opinion, strong, witty, involved, questioning them, defends himself
• Mic 2:1-11 caring about injustice / aware of the vulnerable, weak, poor, widows, passionately addressing, courageous
• Mic 3:1-4 fearlessly attacking the powerful, searing pictures, blunt, direct, powerful, intense
• Mic 3:6-8 in opposition to other prophets / seers, especially corrupt ones, blunt, direct, powerful, intense
• Mic 3:8 describes himself as filled with power, filled with the spirit of the Lord, filled with justice and might to declare to Jacob his sin > courageous, blunt, straight forward
• Mic 6:6-8, 7:18-20 very aware of God’s character, in touch with God’s heart
• The following quote by Jeremiah also shows that Micah was courageous and probably often in danger: Jer 26:18 “Micah of Moresheth, who prophesied during the days of King Hezekiah of Judah, said to all the people in Judah: ‘thus says the Lord of hosts, Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.’ 19 Did King Hezekiah of Judah and all Judah actually put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and did not the LORD change his mind about the disaster that he had pronounced.”

Written to whom?

• Mic 1:1 He basically addresses “Samaria and Jerusalem”, meaning Israel and Judah. He mentions only Judah’s kings as time references.
• Mic 1:9 he calls Judah “my people”, so Micah is likely from Judah.
• Jer 26:18 mentions him addressing all Judah, and also king Hezekiah. And elders reminding the priests and prophets of the then current generation about Micah’s words earlier > elders of Jerusalem at Jeremiah’s time must have heard or read Micah.
• Mic 1:1-7 Israel: Idolatry, prostitution … spiritually, physically, possibly political alliances with ungodly nations
• Mic 1:5 Switching weight to Judah: “What is the transgression of Jacob? Is in not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?”
• Mic 1:8 cities of Judah doomed
• Mic 3:1-4 “heads of Jacob, rulers of the house of Israel” …but Mic 3:9 “rulers of house of Jacob, chiefs of house of Israel … who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong”
• Mic 3:1, 3:9, 5:1 It seems that after chapter 1 he is referring to Judah only, though the metaphor ‘Israel’ is mentioned. Maybe he first spoke to Israel, sees it destroyed, then is shocked to see the state of remaining Judah.
• Others addressed in the text are:
  • All peoples. Example: Mic 1:2.
  • Israel = Jacob = Judah = daughter Zion. Example: Mic 1:5-7, 1:8-16, 4:9, 5:1, 5:10, 6:1, 6:5, 6:9.
  • Evil people. Example: Mic 2:1.
  • Remnant = survivors = returnees = believers. Example: Mic 2:12, 4:8, 4:13, 7:8, 7:11.
  • Heads = chiefs = rulers. Example: Mic 3:1, 3:9.
  • False prophets. Example: Mic 3:5.
  • Bethlehem. Occurrence: Mic 5:2.
  • Reflective Example: Mic 6:6, 6:8, 7:1, 7:7.
  • Responses to God. Example: Mic 7:14, 7:18.

When written?

• Mic 1:1 “the word that came to Micah in the days of kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah”
  • Jotham      739-731 BC      16 y
  • Ahaz           731-715 BC      16 y
  • Hezekiah   715-686 BC      29 y
• This gives a range of 750 BC to 686 BC, which would span 65 years. Moody puts it at 735 – 700 BC.
• If Hezekiah’s repentance mentioned in Jer 26:18 is the one 15 years before his death, then that puts it at 700 BC.
• Since Jotham is mentioned, Micah starts prophesying prior to the wars of Rezin of Aram deporting Judah or the great slaughter of Pekah on Judah (2 Chr 28:5-7) or the intervention of Oded (2 Chr 28:8-15).
• Jotham being mentioned means that Micah starts prophesying before the downfall of Israel. Micah starts off speaking to Israel, or both, then only Judah is left.

Where from?

• He is from Morsheth Gath (a village of the Shephelah), which may or may not still exist by the time of his death.
• Presumably he is at least partially in Jerusalem, since he is addressing Judah’s kings.

Historical Setting? Ruling kings?

• Jotham      739-731 BC      16 y                    Israel: Pekah
• Ahaz           731-715 BC       16 y                    Israel: Hoseah
• Hezekiah   715-686 BC      29 y

                          Kings                                                                                              Chronicles

Surrounding nations

Israel, Syria, Assyria

• Assyria is the expanding super power, famous for extreme cruelty, deportation & resettlement of conquered nations
• 735 BC Jotham’s time (God displeased with Judah, though king godly): Alliance between Rezin of Aram and Pekah of Israel, Philistia joins alliance against Assyria, Judah doesn’t join > Rezin & Pekah attack Judah.
• 735 BC Ahaz’ time: Syria & Israel attack & conquer parts of Judah, who is evil and brings Judah very low.
• ??? BC Ahaz of Judah sends money to Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria for an alliance
• 732 BC Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria attacks and conquers Damascus and Aram
• 722 BC Shalmaneser > Sargon II of Assyria attacks, conquers, destroys and exiles Israel
• 722 BC Assyria (Sargon II) conquers Judah, captures Ahaz, deports him to Damascus > sees altar
• ??? BC Sargon marching down to battle Egypt by the coast way, Micah maybe watched them, fearing their return
• 705 BC Hezekiah pays tribute to Assyria, then rebels
• 701 BC Assyria (Sennacherib), conquers Judah and 46 cities, threatens Jerusalem, mocks God. Hezekiah prays > Isaiah’s prophecy that they will not even besiege Jerusalem, far less take it, God killing 185’000 soldiers by an angel over night > Sennacherib returning to Assyria in disgrace
• 682 BC Sennacherib killed by own sons (Adrammelech, Sharezer) in the temple of his god. Sons escape, Esar-Haddon succeeds father.
  Philistines Sitting on the coast way > continual invasions, conquests, rebellions against Assyria
  Edom Uses weakness of Judah under Ahaz to recover and resettle Elath and driving out the Judeans

Spiritual state

• Israel deep idolatry Mic 2:9 (about Israel) ‘her wound is incurable’
• Judah social evil Mic 2:9 (about Judah) it has come to Judah; it has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem

Literary Category

• Poetry > figurative interpretation Prose > literal interpretation in Mic 1:1, the introductory sentence

Structure

• Prophecy
• Courtroom oracle Mic 1:2 and Mic 6:1-16. Prophet sets scene. God is plaintiff, Israel is the defendant. Plaintiff brings charge, evidence is laid down to prove charge, then a verdict is pronounced. God is also judge, jury and executioner. No quibble, not small print, no cheating: they are guilty. Vivid picture. Not least in a time where the courts were corrupt.
• Woe oracle Mic 2:1-5, Mic 7:1-7. Woe, Alas. Jesus also used this. Meaning: Solemn, sombre proclamation. It’s not yet here, but it’s coming and you should fear it, it’s death invading, it’s war, siege, destruction. Woe oracles gravely are calling attention. A woe oracle announces distress coming, why it is coming, and predicting the resulting doom.
• Hope oracle Mic 2:12-13, 4:1-8, 5:2-5, 5:7-9, 7:8-20. Prophet announcing a day coming, beyond the immanent disaster, a promise, a reason for hope, a coming salvation, a radical change, new society, new relationship with God, a reason to hold on. The judgment is not the end, there is yet a future!

Composition

• Many rhetorical questions, emphatic statements (alas Mic 2:1, woe Mic 7:1), metaphors (mostly nature / agriculture ones), similes
• word plays (see villages Mic 1:10-13) … These are small Judean villages, in the vicinity of Micah’s Moresheth … in Gath (Bochem, weeping) > weep not … in Beth-leaphrah (house of dust) > roll yourselves in the dust … Shaphir (stripped) > nakedness and shame … Zaanan (stir) > do not come forth … Beth-ezel (house of ?) > wailing, support removed … Maroth (?) > wait anxiously for good, but disaster comes down … Lachish (?) > harness steeds to chariots
• Personifications and apostrophes (Mic 4:8 tower of the flock, Mic 6:2 mountains)
• Dramatic speech, addressing oneself (Mic 6:6-8) … interjections (Mic 6:9), dramatic use of extended metaphors (see court room scene Mic 6:1-5)
• Constant interchange of God speaking (thus says God…) and Micah speaking (Hear this …)
• Constant interchange of who is addressed (see chart below)
• Abrupt switching between judgement and restoration
• Reflections on things, Micah himself, or for an interested hearer (Mic 2:6 “do not preach” … Mic 2:11 “such a preacher for this people” … Mic 6:6-8 “with what shall I come?” … Mic 7:1 “woe is me! For I have become” …)
• Quotes Micah 4:1-3 = Isaiah 2:2-4, were contemporary prophets. How this? Who copied from whom? Or twice?
• Isaiah to king, Micah to normal people > what is worth saying to king or court is also worth saying to the normal people.
• Messianic prophecies
  • Micah 5:2 Messiah from Bethlehem versus
  • Isaiah 9:1-2, 6 Messiah from Galilee
• Contradicting about the Messiah? Both fulfilled. They are independent enough to not adjust to one another!
• Parallels to contemporary Isaiah Micah is sometimes called ‘shorthand or little Isaiah’
  • Both speak of the doom of Israel and the problems of Judah
  • Both speak of God no longer answering (the leaders)             Mic 3:4-7            Is 1:15
  • Both speak of the sins of Judah: injustice                                  Mic 5:9-1, 7:2     Is 2:6-8, 57:1
  • Both speak against false prophets                                               Mic 3:10-11         Is 28:7
  • Both stress that salvation is from God only                                Mic 7:18-20       Is 43:25
  • Both speak about the coming exile of Judah and a restoration after Mic 4:10 Is 40-55, 56-66 and many more
  • Both speak of the coming reign of the Messiah                        Mic 4:1-10           Is 2:1-4
  • Both paint the Messiah in a light different from the ‘military deliverer’ Mic 4:2    Is 53
  • Both speak about the birth of Jesus                                            Mic 5:1                  Is 9:5
  • Both speak about the remnant and proclaim restoration and hope to the remnant
  • Both describe God as a shepherd                                                Mic 5:4                  Is 40:11
  • Isaiah is from the city Micah is from the country
  • deals with the aristocracy deals with commoners and leaders
  • denounces idolatry and politics denounces social Injustice
  • Prophecy: Messiah born of a virgin Messiah born in Bethlehem

• Rhetorical questions “?”
  • Mic 1:5 “What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?” > sin awareness
  • Mic 2:7 “Should this be said, O house of Jacob?” > sin awareness. “Is the Lord’s patience exhausted?” > God’s heart
  • “Are these his doings?” > Fruit awareness
  • “Do not my words do good to one who walks uprightly?” Sin awareness
  • Mic 3:1 Heads, rulers: “Should you not know justice?” > Sin awareness
  • Mic 4:9 “Now why do you cry aloud?” Fruit awareness
  • “Is there no king in you?” Fruit awareness
  • “Has your counsellor perished?” Fruit awareness
  • Mic 6:3 “O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me!” Response
  • Mic 6:6 “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?” Response
  • Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? God’s heart
  • Mic 6:7 “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?” > God’s heart
  • “Shall I give my first born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” > God’s heart
  • Mic 6:8 “what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” > God’s heart
  • Mic 6:10 “Can I forget the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed?” > sin awareness
  • Mic 6:11 “Can I tolerate wicked scales and a bag of dishonest weights?” > Sin awareness
  • Mic 7:10 “Enemy: Where is the Lord your God?”
  • Mic 7:18 “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity & passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession?” > God’s heart
• Micah use many powerful, gripping rhetorical questions. Grabbing the audience, cutting past callouses, forcing to think, revealing God’s heart.
  • Mic 6:6-7 2 liner (come before God, bow before God)
  • 2 liner (burnt offerings, calves)
  • 2 liner (1000 rams, 10’000 rivers of oil) … all building up to:
  • final 2 liner (first born for transgression, fruit of body for sin of soul) … 4 climaxing parallels
• Emphatic statements “!”
  • Mic 2:5 “We are utterly ruined, the Lord alters the inheritance of my people … how he removes it from me!”
  • Mic 3:1 “Listen, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel!”
  • Mic 3:9-10 “Hear this, you rulers, chiefs … who abhor justice and pervert all equity, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong!”
  • Mic 6:3 God to people: “Answer me!”
  • Mic 7:11 “A day for the building of your walls!”
• Direct Speech: Who speaking to whom about who?

• Quite confusing mixture, sometimes the subject and object changes within one sentence!
  • slipping into direct speech.                  Example Mic 3:5 Micah introducing, then God speaking
  • back and forth between addressing God and others. Example Mic 7:18-20 Remnant addressing God and indirect
  • from direct to indirect speech.            Example Mic 3:3-4
  • from singular to plural.                        Example Mic 2:4

Main topics / ideas

• God judges Israel by Assyria and Judah by Babylon for their singular
• God hates injustice (political & economic) – unrighteous gain, taking advantage of the weak, bribes, violence
• God especially hold the political (heads, rulers) and spiritual leaders (priests, prophets) accountable
• After judgement God promised a restoration of return, but beyond a messianic kingdom of justice, peace, knowledge of God

Main reasons / goals

• so that Israel (final call) and Judah (sore warning) would repent of their idolatry and sin
• so that Israel and Judah would understand the justice, mercy and truth of God, so that they would understand that he can never be pleased by religiosity combined with injustice, pride and self-reliance
• so that Israel and Judah would know of a future hope and restoration and therefore do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with their God now

REPEATED THEMES IN MICAH

1 Hear! Addressing people. Getting attention. Emphatic statements

• Mic 1:2   “Hear, you people, all of you”
• Mic 1:2   “Listen, O earth, and all that is in it”
• Mic 3:1   “And I said: Listen, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel!”
• Mic 3:4   “then they will cry to the LORD, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them … because they acted wickedly.”
• Mic 3:9   “hear this, you rulers of the house of Jacob and chiefs of the house of Israel, who abhor justice”
• Mic 6:1   “hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, …”
• Mic 6:2   “Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord”
• Mic 6:9   “Hear, O tribe and assembly of the city!”
• Mic 7:7   “I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.”
• 7 of these 9 are a description of God / Micah calling attention / addressing various people or even things.
• Mic 3:4    God is in turn not hearing them, for they didn’t listen.
• Mic 7:7    Micah is expressing his trust a God who will hear. Again showing God’s heart to reach out (still!), to take back (still!) … the love and patience of God, the humility of God

2 See, behold, gaze, show

• Mic 1:1    “The word of the Lord that came to Micah … which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem”
• Mic 4:11  “Now many nations … “let our eyes gaze on Zion”
• Mic 6:9    “the man of wisdom shall see your name / it is sound wisdom to fear your name”
• Mic 7:9    “I must bear the indignation of the Lord … he will bring me out to the light; I shall see his vindication / righteousness”
• Mic 7:10  “Then my enemy will see, and shame will cover her”
• Mic 7:15  “As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, show us / I will show him marvellous things.”
• Mic 7:16  “The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might”
• Seeing, finally, with one’s own eyes what must be the law’s consequence, what God predicted, as finally fulfilled, both judgement and blessing. Cause & Effect … God fulfilling his word, finally it will be obvious / visible.

3 Sin that deserved punishment – what will God not tolerate?

Israel

• Mic 1:1-7    Images, idols, prostitution … spiritually, physically, possibly also political alliances with ungodly nations

Judah

• deception religiosity violence / injustice unjust gain / bribe
• Mic 2:1-2     devise wickedness, perform it, covet fields, houses, seize them, oppress house inheritance
• Mic 2:6, 2:11, 3:6-7 refuse to listen to prophets, accumulate false prophets
• Mic 2:8        enemy to own people, strip the robe from peaceful / trusting, women driven out, take my glory from young children, uncleanness
• Mic 3:1-4    heads / rulers: don’t know justice, hate good, love evil, tear skin off people, flesh of their bones, chop them up, acted wickedly, cruelty, injustice against own people / weak
• Mic 3:5-7     prophets: prophesy what pleases money / food giver
• Mic 3:9-10   rulers, chiefs: abhor justice, pervert all equity, build Zion with blood / wrong, judgment for bribe
• Mic 3:11      Priests: teach for money, false security in God, “surely God with us, no harm will come”
• Mic 3:11       Prophets: give oracles for money, false security in God, “surely God with us, no harm will come”
• Mic 4:9        “Now why do you cry aloud? No king in you? Counsellor perished?”
• Mic 5:10-11 horses, chariots, strongholds … trust in military equipment
• Mic 5:12-14 sorceries, soothsayers, images, pillars, idols, sacred poles
• Mic 6:3        “o my people, what have I done to you?”
• Mic 6:6-7     “tons of burnt offerings? First born for my transgression? Fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
• Mic 6:10-11 City: “treasures of wickedness, scant measure, wicked scales, dishonest weights”
• Mic 6:12       “wealthy full of violence, inhabitants speak lies, deceit”
• Mic 6:16       “kept statutes / works of Omri / Ahab, followed their counsel”
• Mic 6:2-4     “lie in wait for blood, hunt each other with nets, skilled to do evil, official and judge ask for bribe justice, powerful dictate their desire, thus pervert justice, best of them brier, thorn hedge”
• Mic 7:5-6     breakdown of trustworthiness even within marriage / family, loyalty, honesty, covenant
• The main offenders are chiefs, rulers, powerful, wealthy … but also prophets, priests
• The main sufferers are women, children, vulnerable ex-middle class owners, powerless, lame, exiled
• Lawlessness has let the rich-poor / powerful – normal gap widen dramatically … what once was the normal-doing- okay-middle-class now is pushed down and becomes poor and vulnerable
• Mic 3:9        “pervert all equity … people are not the same before the law any more” … people are less equal > opening gap
• God’s complaint is also about idolatry, about covenant breaking with him, but much heavier on social injustice, oppression of the vulnerable, corrupt courts, unjust trade, lies, covenant breaking among each other.
• Humans do not keep covenant with each other if they break covenant with God. Link between idolatry and injustice.
• Why is Micah strong on social injustice than idolatry?
  • because he comes from and lives among the poor? Personal agenda?
  • Or is this God and Micah showing the true indicators of their spirituality? Possibly the people thought themselves quite religious and main-stream, though far from it and the showing of other symptoms is to make them conclude that their religion is also rotten and perverted?
  • Or maybe since worship of God = law keeping = societal justice and idolatry = law breaking = societal injustice, really you can start and end and focus wherever.

Sin’s pathway

• Mic 1:5           “What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?”
• Mic 1:13          Lachish; “it was the beginning of sin to daughter Zion, for in you were found the transgressions of Israel”
• Mic 2:10         “arise and go; for this is no place to rest, because of uncleanness that destroys with a grievous destruction”
• Sin’s pathway seems to be:
  • Israel > Judah
  • City > villages
  • Lachish > Jerusalem (how?)

4 First time to pronounce irreversible final judgement on Israel, Judah

• Mic 1:8-9    “For this I will lament and wail; I will go barefoot and naked … For her wound is incurable; It has come to Judah; it has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem.”
• Mic 3:4      “Then they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have acted wickedly.”
• Mic 3:7     “the seers shall be disgraced … for there is no answer from God”
• Mic 3:12   “Therefore because of you Zion shall be ploughed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, … mountain of the house a wooded height”
• Mic 4:10   “Writhe and groan, … for now you shall go forth from the city and camp in the open country; you shall go to Babylon.”

Israel’s judgment          fulfilled 722 BC

• Mic 1:1-7     Announcement of judgement on Samaria addressed to Pekah or Hosea, most likely
• Parallel Kings of Judah are Jotham, later Ahaz, who will see downfall of Israel
• Samaria is judged mostly for idolatry Mic 1:7. It says that Israel collected the idols as wages of a prostitute, maybe referring to Israel’s accepting of idols of other nations (Ahab) as prostitution, possibly also referring to her alliances with ungodly nations (currently Aram) as prostitution, possibly the alliances did involve idolatry also.
• Since Jotham is mentioned, Micah starts prophesying prior to the wars of Rezin of Aram deporting Judah or the great slaughter of Pekah on Judah (2 Chr 28:5-7) or the intervention of Oded (2 Chr 28:8-15). Not denounced by Micah? Maybe this triggers the prophecy.

Judah’s judgment        fulfilled 586 BC

• Mic 1:5 > 1:9 Yet already at that time Micah sees the corruption of Judah (not defending his own nation blindly against evil intruder Israel) in. …“it has come to Judah, it has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem.”
• Mic 3:12       Micah pronounces for the first time and as 1st prophet the complete destruction of Jerusalem
• Mic 4:10       Micah announces for the first time and as 1st prophet that Babylon will be the conqueror & place of exile.
• This follows (in the book, which may or may not be chronological) detailed denunciation of social injustice, violence, bad leadership and chosen deception in chapters 2 and 3. Idolatry will also be mentioned in Mic 5:10-14 but does not seem to be the first thrust of Micah, or else he may denounce social evil also to show just how far they have fallen from God and his law.
• The description of Ahaz’ reign (2 Chr 28, 2 Ki 16) gives ample reason for all these denunciations
• Later (I think) Isaiah will announce the same thing to Hezekiah in 2 Kin 20:16 “Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: 17 Days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your ancestors have stored up until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left, says the Lord. 18 Some of your own sons who are born to you shall be taken away; the shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

5 Prophecy predicted and fulfilled

• fulfilled 722 BC, Assyria conquering and exiling Israel
• fulfilled 586 BC, Babylon conquering and exiling Judah
• partially fulfilled with return from Babylon
• fulfilled NT with Jesus’ first coming
• partially fulfilled with Jesus’ first coming
• yet to be fulfilled, Jesus’ second coming

Judgment

• Mic 1:3-4    Lord coming down, mountains melting, valley bursting open
• Mic 1:6      Samaria: heap in open country, place for vineyards, stones poured into valley, foundations uncovered, images, idols, ‘prostitution’ destroyed
• Mic 1:8-9   Samaria’s wound has come to Judah / Jerusalem, it is incurable
• Mic 1:15    again a conqueror to Mareshah
• Mic 1:16   children exiled
• Mic 2:3-5   inescapable evil will come, humiliation, evil time, taunt songs, lamentation, inheritance parcelled out to captors, God’s lot for land ended
• Mic 2:10    will have to go, no rest, uncleanness, destruction
• Mic 3:4    God will not answer, will hide his face
• Mic 3:6    night, darkness, blackness, no vision / revelation / answer, shame / disgrace for false prophets
• Mic 3:12    Zion plowed as field, Jerusalem a heap of ruins, mountain of the house a wooded height
• Mic 5:1     Now walled in, siege laid, ruler stricken
• Mic 5:3      Israel given up till Jesus
• Mic 5:10-14 God cuts off horses, chariots, cities, strongholds, sorceries, soothsayers, images, pillars, sacred poles
• Mic 5:15      God takes vengeance on nations that did not obey > any nation that did not obey, Israel or otherwise
• Mic 6:13-16  God begins to strike down, makes desolate, frustrates their effort / agriculture, will be made desolation, object of hissing / scorn

Restoration

• Mic 2:12   gather all of you / survivors, set them together like flock, again numerous
• Mic 2:13   breaking out of exile, return, king before them, God at their head
• Mic 4:1-2  mountain of temple raised / highest, peoples streaming to it, seeking his teaching / ways / instruction / word in order to obey, will be granted
• Mic 4:3-5  God will judge between nations, swords > plough shares, spears > pruning hooks, no war / learning of war, prosperity, safety, walk with God
• Mic 4:6-8   lame, exiled, afflicted > remnant > strong nation, dominion again to Zion
• Mic 4:11-13 Zion again powerful, vengeance on other nations, devoting their wealth to God
• Mic 5:2-5a  Bethlehem > ruler from of old, shepherd in strength, majesty, shall be great, one of peace. Israel living in safety.
• Mic 5:5b-6 If Assyrians attack > 7/8 shepherds raised / installed > shall rule Assyria, rescue Israel
• Mic 5:7-9   remnant like dew, lion, powerful, victory against enemies
• Mic 5:15   God takes vengeance on nations that did not obey
• Mic 7:8-10  after fall / bearing indignation / taunts: rising again, God takes my side, executes judgment for me, enemy frustrated
• Mic 7:11-13  building walls, boundary extended, people coming to Israel, earth desolate
• Mic 7:14-17 shepherd your people, feed, do marvels as at Exodus, nations ashamed, come out of fortresses, turn in dread to God, stand in fear of you.
• Mic 7:18-20 God forgiving sin, not retaining anger, delighting in showing mercy / compassion / faithfulness / unswerving loyalty

6 Like you did God does / deception

• Mic 1:7            “for as the wages of a prostitute she gathered them, as the wages of a prostitute they shall again be used.”
• Mic 2:2 > 2:4 “They covet fields, and seize them; houses and take them away; they oppress householder and house, people and their inheritance … > the Lord alters the inheritance of my people; how he removed it from me! Among our captors he parcels out our fields.”
• Mic 2:8 > 1:11  “You strip the rove from the peaceful..> pass on your way, inhabitants of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame”
• Mic 3:1 > 3:4     Seven times God / Micah are calling for their attention: “hear! Listen!” But they ignore it … > “then they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have acted wickedly.”
• Mic 2:6, 2:11 > 3:6-7 “Do not preach! If empty falsehoods, would be a preacher for this people! … > Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without revelation. The sun shall go down upon the prophets … for there is no answer from God.”
• Mic 3:5 > 3:6-7  “prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace!” when they have something to eat … therefore it shall be night to you without vision, and darkness to you, without revelation. The sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.”
• Mic 3:5 > 7:4-5  “prophets who lead my people astray … > the day of punishment has come, now their confusion is at hand. Put no trust in a friend.”
• Mic 2:8 > 3:12    “But you rise up against my people as an enemy … > therefore bc of you Zion shall be plowed as a field.”

7 You already have become like your captors

• Mic 3:1-3        “Heads, rulers: Should you not know justice? – you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin off my people, and the flesh of their bones; who eat the flesh of my people, flay their skin off them, break their bones in pieces, and chop them up like meat in a kettle, like flesh in a cauldron.”
  
  • Metaphorical > by injustice, corrupt courts, stealing land, cheating in trade they have pushed the majority of people to the brink of poverty, vulnerable, weak, powerless
  • Flesh from bones > lack, poverty, starvation
  • Eat flesh > getting rich on other’s poverty, stealing from vulnerable, becoming powerful / rich / fat by injustice to others
  • Break bones in pieces > force down, break self-determination, break in the court, force into slavery
  • Tear skin off people > what Assyria used to actually do to conquered cities: hand skins of conquered unto city walls, besides looting, killing, burning, beheading, heaping corpses etc.
• These metaphors also mean: Judah has already become as wicked as the conquering proverbially cruel Assyria.
• Judah has become evil like the nations around it > existence and land right cancelled (Lev 18:24-30).
• Really, for the poor and weak, whether Judah remains of a conqueror comes makes little difference. And if it makes a too little difference for too many people, God may well do it.

8 Who is meant with ‘my people’? Who is speaking?

• Mic 1:9     “For her wound is incurable. It has come to Judah; it has reached to the gate of my people”           God or Micah > Israel
• Mic 2:4     “We are utterly ruined; the Lord alters the inheritance of my people; how he removes it from me!”   Israel, Micah
• Mic 2:8    “But you (evil Israel) rise up against my people as an enemy”                   Micah > Israel
• Mic 2:9    “The women of my people you (evil people) drive out”                         Micah > Israel
• Mic 3:3    “you (evil people) … who eat the flesh of my people”                  Micah > Israel
• Mic 3:5    “Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray”          God, Micah > prophets
• Mic 6:3    “O my people, what have I done to you?”    God > Israel
• Mic 6:5    “O my people, remember now”                    God > Israel
• Mic 6:16   “statutes of Omri … > I will make you a desolation … you shall bear scorn of my people” God > Israel

CON     scriptures where ‘my people’ is used of the faithful, the oppressed in contrast to actual sinful Israel
NOR     scriptures where Israel is called according to its breaking should-be-covenant relationship with God

• Mic 5:3   “Therefore he shall give them (Israel) up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred (Gentiles?)
  shall return to the people of Israel (returned remnant).”

9 Repeated Theme – Remnant

# 7611 meaning remainder, residual, surviving, final portion, escaped, those left

• Mic 2:12  “I will surely gather all of you, o Jacob, I will gather the survivors of Israel”
• Mic 4:7    “The lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation”
• Mic 5:3    “Therefore he shall give them up… then the rest of his kindred / the remnant of his brethren shall return to the people / children of Israel”
• Mic 5:7    “Then the remnant of Jacob, surrounded by many peoples, shall be like dew”
• Mic 5:8    “And among the nations the remnant of Jacob, surrounded by many peoples, shall be like a lion”
• Mic 7:18   “Who is a God like you …passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession / heritage?”
• At a time when all seems to be falling apart (Israel) or is so rotten it will fall apart (Judah) God gives the sure promise that in spite of Israel feeling like a ball kicked between super-powers, he is indeed in control, all things happen by his will, and he will surely bring back the willing against all odds. Remnant assured.
• Out of the many unfaithful descendants of Jacob, both on Israel and Judah’s side, God will call the willing back and create the chance for a new start > 539 BC public edict of King Cyrus of Persia … this is the remnant.
• The remnant comes back in 3 plus waves, a total of around 42’000 are mentioned, if only men counted > maybe. 150’000 people. All in all only a small group (7%) compared to the 600’000 male at the Exodus, not even to think of an intended general increase.
• The promises, hope, purpose of God are now on the remnant, not on the entire bloodline Israel. Out of the remnant the Messiah will come.
• Most of bloodline Israel has long been exiled, disappeared, assimilated into other nations…
• The remnant are those with faith and commitment enough to take risk and hardship on them to be part of the promise.
• Colin Sinclair: Israel / Judah went into captivity as a nation, returned from exile as a church. I don’t agree, but the point of ‘the club of the willing’ is right.
• The remnant’s strength is neither in numbers, nor power of those involved etc. … Mic 4:7 “God will make from the lame and exiled, from the minority … a remnant, strong as a lion”. History after return does not sound so glorious.

10 Repeated Theme – Micah addressing all nations

• Mic 1:2     “hear, you peoples, all of you; listen, o earth, and all that is in it” > all shall see, understand, receive revelation
• Mic 4:1-2  “Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob … for out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” > all shall come, be welcome, receive revelation
• Mic 4:3     “He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; … nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” > all under God’s reign, justice and peace.
• Mic 4:5     “For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god” > idolatrous nations
• Mic 4:11    “Now many nations are assembled against you … let our eyes gaze upon Zion” > sinful nations
• Mic 4:13   “arise and thresh, O daughter Zion, … you shall beat in pieces many peoples, and shall devote their gain to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth” > sinful nations
• Mic 5:3    “Therefore he shall give them up… then the rest of his kindred / the remnant of his brethren shall return to the people / children of Israel” > at Jesus’ time many join
• Mic 5:7    “Remnant of Jacob, surrounded by many peoples, be like dew” > nations blessed by the remnant of Israel
• Mic 5:8    “And among the nations the remnant of Jacob, surrounded by many peoples, shall be like a lion” > nations governed by remnant
• Mic 5:4    “And he shall stand and feed … and they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth” > Jesus: leadership / wellbeing / peace for all
• Mic 7:16-17 “The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might … they come trembling out of their fortresses; they shall turn in dread to the Lord & stand in fear of you” > nations understand, repent, fear God.
• Clearly Micah brings in God’s forever-focus on all nations, especially in connection with the remnant. Micah is harking back to Exo 19:4-6 where God offers covenant to Israel to be his chosen nation and to be a priestly kingdom to the nations around.
• Since Israel as a nation failed in this calling, in loving God, in keeping his commandments, in being and example to others, God re-establishes that purpose for the remnant: now they are to be a blessing, the new Zion is to be focal point, attractive, drawing nations, accepting nations, teaching nations, discipling them to walk in God’s ways, bringing more and more under the reign and kingdom of God and his Messiah.
• As for Israel there is more and more a distinction between the whole people versus remnant, there is a similar distinction with the nations, the sinful, idolatrous nations in opposition to God’s will versus the open, repentant ones. Even with Jerusalem, that is Zion: it’s the old Jerusalem of the idolatrous Jews versus the new Jerusalem of the remnant and drawn nations.
• More and more the focus is not bloodline, descent or ethnicity but worship, humility and obedience, irrespective of nation, which is leading onto the NT, where this is main focus.

11 Jerusalem, temple, Zion, mountain of the Lord

Old Jerusalem of the Jews

• Mic 1:2   “hear, you peoples, all of you … and let the Lord be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple”
• Mic 1:5   “And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?” referring to idolatry
• Mic 1:9    “For her wound is incurable; It has come to Judah; it has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem.”
• Mic 1:13   “Lachish … is the beginning of the sin of the daughter of Zion.”
• Mic 3:10   “who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong”
• Mic 3:12  “Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.”
• Mic 4:10  “Writhe and groan, o daughter Zion … for now you shall go to Babylon.”
• Mic 4:11   “Now many nations are assembled against you … let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”
• Mic 6:9     “The voice of the Lord cries to the city … hear, O tribe and assembly of the city!”

New Jerusalem of the remnant and drawn nations

• Mic 4:1    “In the days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains … peoples shall stream to it.”
• Mic 4:2    “and many nations shall come and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob … for out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
• Mic 4:7    “and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion now and forever more.”
• Mic 4:8   “And you, O tower of the flock, hill of daughter Zion, to you it shall come, the dominion … the sovereignty of daughter Jerusalem.”
• Mic 4:13  “Arise and thresh, O daughter Zion, for I will make your horn iron.”

12 Fulfilment of Micah’s prophecy, NT quotes, Jesus revelation

What is prophesied about Jesus?

• Mic 4:1  “In the days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains … peoples shall stream to it.”
  
  • God will descend on the earth, live in the land, and be killed for all sin in Calvary, a hill next to Jerusalem. Calvary becomes the hinge of history, the focal point of salvation, the highest thing that ever happened, the exalted sacrifice
  • people of the Jews and all nations and ethnicity have indeed streamed to Calvary 1st coming of Jesus
• Mic 4:2   “and many nations shall come and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
  
  • people of the Jews and all nations have sought Christ, called on him and been saved
  • Jesus and Calvary is the ultimate teaching and revelation of the ways of God: conquering by humility, saving by dying, forgiving by giving up power, love by sacrifice, maintaining freedom, justice and mercy satisfied
  • Jesus taught through all he was and did and said, through relationships, through daily life …
  • Jesus and the Spirit have indeed made it possible that we can actually be holy, obey, please God
  • the salvation and teaching of Jesus has indeed gone out to all the earth 1st coming of Jesus
• Mic 4:7    “and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion now and forever more.”
• Mic 4:8   “And you, tower of the flock, hill of daughter Zion, to you it shall come, the former dominion shall come, the sovereignty of daughter Jerusalem.”
  
  • the kingdom of God has come, started, is here with Jesus first coming … it is meant to gradually increase, as far as the word spreads, as far as people from all nations make him Lord and obey him, his kingdom grows. Former dominion = example to all? 1st coming of Jesus
  • complete reign of Christ is still in the future, see Psa 2:8-9 and Revelation 2nd coming of Jesus
• Mic 4:13    “Arise and thresh, o daughter Zion, for I will make your horn iron and your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many people, and shall devote their gain to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.”
• Mic 5:8-9  “And among the nations the remnant of Jacob, surrounded by many peoples, shall be like a lion, which … treads down, tears to pieces … Your hand shall be lifted up over adversaries, enemies cut off.”
  • the kingdom / reign / dominion of God has come / started / is here with Jesus first coming … it is meant to ‘conquer’ the world, as far as obedience and godliness spreads. Christianity will transform nations, hold governments accountable, bring the finances of the world under godly use … Former dominion = example to all? 1st coming of Jesus.
  • complete reign of Christ is still in the future, see Psa 2:8-9 and Revelation 2nd coming of Jesus
• Mic 5:3 Therefore he shall give them up… then the rest of his kindred / the remnant of his brethren shall return to the people / children of Israel
  
  • many ‘brethren’ will at Jesus’ time join the faithful remnant of the Jews 1st coming of Jesus
• Mic 5:7 Then the remnant of Jacob, surrounded by many peoples, shall be like dew
  
  • remnant / believers / church is meant to be a blessing on all wherever it goes 1st coming of Jesus
• Mic 5:4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace
  
  • Jesus as shepherd, caring for, feeding and dying for his flock. His believers are for ever secure, in peace and in a
    kingdom that expands to the ends of the earth. 1st coming of Jesus
  • complete reign and exaltation of Christ is still in the future, see Ps 2:8-9, Rev 2nd coming of Jesus
• Mic 7:16-17 The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might … they come trembling out of their fortresses; they shall turn in dread to the Lord our God and they shall stand in fear of you
  
  • nations will realize / understand their weakness, submit to God’s strength, turn to him, fear him 1st coming of Jesus
  • complete reign of Christ is still in the future, see Ps 2:8-9, Rev 2nd coming of Jesus

13 Small thoughts / Remarks

Mic 2:1 Alas for those who devise wickedness … they perform it, because it is in their power
• Breakdown of law creates that: people doing whatever is doable for them, regardless whether it is right, wise, good,…
• Also an echo of pushing government power up, of wanting kings, etc.

14 Reflection – what should we do now? How then shall we live?

Mic 6:6-8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
• This is part of a powerful 3 verse climaxing reflection … Micah reflecting himself … Micah sharing with those who are truly listening to him … Micah boiling everything down to the essence of what God is saying … simple, profound, memorable
• He has told you, no mystery, no hide & seek game, the law is clear, history speaks of nothing else, God has not left himself un-revealed, he is not asking an impossible thing, only for the initiated, not complicated, simple for all
• Colin Sinclair: triple: to do justice (Amos) … to love mercy (Hosea) … to walk humbly with your God (Isaiah)
• Micah holds both justice requiring judgement and mercy wanting redemption, fulfilled ultimately by Jesus on the cross
• Do justice … be fair, keep law, do not hurt / oppress, do stand up for those oppressed, act / work / spend yourself
• Love kindness, mercy … feel deeply, identify, do things wholeheartedly, keep right attitude, be relational, care
• Walk humbly … know your limitations, stick close to God, refill, go to source, acknowledge source / inspiration, cast cares on him
• Micah holds in tension social action and attitude and godliness … what if one without the other? Bitter activist? Spineless tolerant? Unreal Christian?
• Micah holds together doing – thinking – believing