Category: Micah

In this last chapter of Micah, the author in verse 18 poses the question, “Who is God like you?” Throughout this book, we see God using Micah to declare judgment on the people of Israel. God calls out the sinfulness of the entire nation, the leaders of land, and the false prophets. They are scattered because of the depravity that has infected their whole land.

But they are not without hope. Their sinfulness gives God an opportunity to reveal His character to them. God’s love toward His people is described using the Hebrew word hesed (v. 18, 20). Despite their unfaithfulness, God is revealed as One who remains constant in His mercy, goodness, and kindness. Although they have been scattered, God tells Israel that He will restore their relationship with Him. Israel has failed to remain faithful to God, but God’s faithfulness is not dependent on their character; God’s faithfulness is dependent on His own character. In the same way, God’s love toward us is not dependent on our faithfulness to Him.

Verse 9 sums up the story of the Israelites: “I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.” This is just as much our story as it is the story of Israel. Understanding the fullness of God’s love begins with understanding the depth of our own sinfulness. God’s character begins to come into light when we have a right understanding of our need for Him. We were once far from God, separated from Him by choosing ourselves and our own desires. But God pledged an oath to His people long ago, and He is faithful to forgive (v. 20). Who is God like Him, a God that forgives people so prone to turning away? Why does God continue to forgive His people? Why has God forgiven us? It is because of His hesed love towards us. God delights in showing us His unwavering, steadfast, covenant-keeping love.

Who is God like our God? “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” (v. 18) There is no other God like Him.

Micah 6 plays out like a conversation between God and His people, with Micah interjecting in the middle. First, God calls the people to remember that they have been redeemed from slavery in Egypt. Remember that He provided godly leaders to show them the way. Remember their journey from Shittim to Gilgal (the journey across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land). In verses 9-16, God speaks clearly about the sin of the people. He calls them wicked, dishonest, violent liars. He says that they have been observing the statutes of Omri and the practices of Ahab. According to Bible scholar Thomas L. Constable, “This group of kings constituted some of the worst in the history of the Northern Kingdom, largely because of their idolatry and unjust oppression of the weak.” Verse 13 states, “Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sin.” Wow. Let’s recognize from this that God takes sin seriously.

In the middle of the chapter, Micah interjects with one of the most quoted verses of the Old Testament. First, he gives exaggerated examples of offerings the people can bring to God to atone for their sins, including rivers of olive oil and thousands of rams. The law required bringing offerings for the atonement of sin. But they continued to live in sin, thinking that as long as they checked the box of sacrifices and offerings, they could go on living as they pleased. Micah is using hyperbole to show the people that no amount of outward religious practices will make them clean and righteous before God. Then he simply reminds the people that God has already shown them what they are to do: “To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

God is not concerned with checking boxes of religious practices. Psalm 51:16-17 reminds us what God desires from us: “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it: you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” What He’s after is a heart change, evidenced by a change in how we live. He’s already shown us what is good. He’s already told us what He requires. May we trust Him enough to turn from our sin and walk in His ways. 

After a series of oracles pronouncing judgment followed by promises of hope, Micah 4 leaves with the establishment of the “mountain of the Lord” (4:1) and the collection of a “remnant” (4:6) that will become a “strong nation” (4:7). Micah 5 brings us to the tiniest of places, Bethlehem, where a ruler will come who will shepherd the flock “in the strength of the Lord” (5:4). This new hope, and for the whole world, comes by means of a new David. The influence of the nation over other nations is described in verses 7-9. Finally, after all we have seen and read through the Old Testament, especially in Judges, the remnant will remove all of the idols that have been an affront to God.

The link between King David being born in Bethlehem, only to be followed by Jesus who is born in the same place is not just a fulfilling of prophecy, It sets the stage for the introduction of “a better David”, who will shepherd the flock and become their security and peace (5:6). Not only these things, but this king, Jesus, will be their “deliverer”. This ruler goes beyond saving the Israelis in the remnant but also the Gentiles who live among the many nations (5:8). After this time of deliverance, Micah explains how after the delivery of grace for all those who choose to follow this new ruler that “vengeance and wrath will be executed on the nations that did not obey” (5:15). The words that follow in chapter 6, tell the importance of hearing what the Lord says. The Lord wants us to listen so we can be in perfect restoration with Him.

How should we respond to this in the area of salvation? God has not only saved us for ourselves but in order to reach out to the rest of the world. The prophecies proclaimed during this time by Micah, and even Isaiah, lead us to the Messiah and the command to spread the good news of the gospel both near and far. When we are saved, God can use us to allow Him to save others in the future. When God gives us grace, He allows for a restoration of the covenant where we can demonstrate faith through our use of love, justice, and mercy for those around us.

Like the previous chapters of Micah, this chapter shares prophecy and requires us to consider the full context of Scripture. In this book, we have seen God’s judgment on Israel, accusations against leaders and prophets, and the injustices committed openly called out. Now, we see glimpses of hope and the promise of restoration for the people of God.

The opening verses of chapter four describe the Mountain of the Lord and speak of restoration for Jerusalem. This is to happen during the latter days, known as the Millennial Kingdom, when Jesus reigns for a thousand years on the earth, and we will see the fulfillment of covenants made throughout scripture. During this time, the temple will be established, and Jerusalem will be a meeting place of heaven and earth for all the nations. It will be a time when the people will turn their weapons into garden tools and sit under the shade of a fig tree–a symbol of peace and prosperity. Even still, not everyone will choose to pursue the way of the Lord. The latter verses speak of the Assyrian attack and Babylonian exile, but also of restoration and promise of a Shepherd-King. Once again, He will gather the flock and bring them back to their land. True to his nature, the Lord will redeem his people from their enemies and his sovereignty will be fully on display.

God demonstrates his covenant faithfulness to his people throughout these events. After a period of judgment and exile, there is a time of restoration. This reflects the work of salvation. Without Christ, we are like exiles and subject to judgment. Because of Christ and the power of the gospel, we have the promise of redemption. It is by the Holy Spirit drawing us that that gospel is revealed, and we can be saved. As people who follow Christ, faithfulness to Him should mark our days. When God is our King, our lives should reflect his heart. We are a people who have been redeemed from sin and can go to the mountain of God. As we draw near to him, “He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths” (verse 2). This is what we are called to now while we await the greater restoration of the things to come.

In previous chapters, Micah had been speaking to all oppressors and wrongdoers in the general public of God’s people. Micah is now speaking directly to the rulers and leaders. This is because leaders have a special responsibility to be a godly steward of those that they lead and serve. There are multiple verses in Scripture that show the seriousness with which God will hold leaders accountable like Matthew 18:6, Acts 20:28, and Proverbs 16:12.

Sometimes it may seem like we are not stewards of much, but God clearly calls us to be faithful stewards of whatever leadership and resources we have been given. This calling is not optional. God takes our stewardship very seriously. Micah goes on to explain in verse 4 that God will hide His face from them due to their evil, poor stewardship as leaders and rulers. In Numbers 6:25 it is stated that God will shine His face on His people. However, when His people cause others to be led astray, His face will turn from them.

Micah 3 also calls out the individuals who show faith and false praise when all is well in their lives but speak against God as soon as hardships and obstacles are presented. Due to poor leadership, subpar stewardship, and false prophets and teachers, confusion and darkness will come to their land and all of the people there. God is a God of light, peace, and hope. However, when we follow false teaching, lead poorly, abandon faith during hardships, or practice poor stewardship, we are thrown into dark confusion and ultimately, death (Romans 6:23).

Hope is seen in verse 8. Micah is a faithful follower of God and reveals that he is “filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might.” When we truly follow the Word of God through good times and bad, we may face earthly hardships, but we will also receive the Holy Spirit and eternal rewards greater than anything we could imagine here on earth. Due to this power from the Spirit of the Lord, Micah had the strength to call out the leaders and thus face persecution or death. However, unlike other prophets, Micah’s audience actually heeded the words spoken to them by Micah, turned from their wicked ways, and a revival followed. In the book of Jeremiah, we see that Micah’s words are still being used over 100 years later!

Micah 3 gives a strong warning to all leaders, and every single person is a leader of someone. You might be a leader of a company, a life group, a family, your children, a social club, a team, or someone else. You are called to lead those people closer to Jesus, not for your own earthly rewards, but for the eternal rewards that we will experience in heaven with Jesus. This leadership may seem lonely or unfruitful now, but the eternal benefit of your faithfulness will produce dividends that cannot be measured by mere human calculations.

Remain faithful to the calling Christ has put on your life like Micah and let God do the rest.

Take a minute to re-read through Micah 2 and this time, jot down your observations about the specific sins of the Israelites and what the LORD says in response (1-11), and then finally what He promises (12-13). We see the plotting of evil, misusing power, coveting, taking, and pride in addition to the idolatry described in Micah 1 (v. 7). The LORD’s response is a humbling judgment for sin–a time of calamity where the Israelites will lose their land to others (the Assyrians). 

Instead of repenting, the Israelites try to silence this uncomfortable message of coming disaster for sin. “Do not prophesy” their false prophets say (v. 6). They would rather hear a prophet say that plenty of wine and beer is on the way (v. 11). The Israelites simply are not listening. They do not want to hear a negative message. They are not owning their sin or taking responsibility for its consequences and ultimately, they will reap what they sow, losing their land and facing disaster after plotting the same against others.   Assyria is not to blame. The prophets with a negative message are not the ones to blame. Their own sin is to blame. The LORD reminds them in verse 7, “Do not my words do good to the one whose ways are upright?” The way to blessing is to walk uprightly, not to silence or ignore the uncomfortable truth. 

How different the Lord’s leadership is from that of the Israelite leaders! In the midst of this darkness, we see God’s faithfulness to gather a remnant of Israel like sheep in a pen (v. 12). The “One who breaks open the way will go up before them” (v. 13). Their King will lead them (v.13). God is faithful to make a way for His people, always, and we can remember His commitment to us in the darkest of times. Instead of using His power to take, our God used his power to give His life so that we could have life. As we go about our day today, reflect on the overwhelming love of God from the words in 2 Corinthians 8:9: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

The essence of the book of Micah’s first chapter is that God is pronouncing judgment on the entirety of Israel, both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, and this judgment is bad news. We could stop there, because that’s basically the point, but there has to be more here, doesn’t there?

In verses 10-15, we read a list of cities and what will happen to the inhabitants of said cities. Most of us likely skimmed over this part, noting that it doesn’t sound good but wondering what this has to do with the point. Is this section a bunch of specifics we don’t need? Could we do without this part? These are understandable questions, to be sure, but, as many of us well know, this part wouldn’t be in Scripture if it weren’t important.

Look back at where Micah is from in verse 1, where he is introduced as “Micah of Moresheth.” This is interesting because Micah is the only one of the prophets who is introduced by his city. Why? It is possible that this is to set up a key literary and rhetorical device used in the section mentioned earlier (v. 10-15). Read verse 14 again. Many believe that “Moresheth Gath” in verse 14 is the same as Moresheth in verse 1, Micah’s hometown. Why does this matter? Of the cities listed in verses 10-15, ancient maps indicate all are neighboring cities to Moresheth. Micah would’ve known these cities, and, more importantly, their names. God allows someone familiar with these places and people to explain why they face “disaster” (v. 12). 

In these verses, Micah masterfully uses the rhetorical device of wordplay, which many prophets use. For example, in verse 13, we read, “You who live in Lachish, harness fast horses to the chariot.” The city name “Lachish” sounds like the Hebrew word for “steed,” which makes it ironic that Micah is calling for them to saddle up the horses and run from the coming judgment.

Why does all of this matter? The rhetorical device of wordplay (used in both Old and New Testaments) emphasizes a point. Each word is significant and carries weight. Wordplay helps bring attention to the message. What did we already say the point of this chapter is? God is pronouncing judgment on the entirety of the Israelite people. It’s a jarring reminder of how seriously God takes sin. We can even dare to say He considers it punishable by death. 

If only there was someone who could intercede on behalf of the guilty…