MICAH---MESSENGER OF THE MILLENNIUM


INTRODUCTION

1.    All that is known of Micah must be deduced from the book itself.

A.   He was a contemporary of Isaiah. (1:1)

B.   The events of his prophecies cover the years between 736-700 B.C.

C.   His name means “Who is like Jehovah?” (cf. 7:18)

1)    A suitable index to his character

2)    To him God was everything.

3)    He had an exalted conception of the holiness, righteousness and compassion of God.

D.   Jerusalem was the center of his ministry, but he prophesied to both Jerusalem (Judah) and Samaria (Israel). (1:1)

E.   He lived in the “territory of Gath”, a rural area which overlooked the important valley thoroughfares along which approach was made to the capital city of Jerusalem.

F.    He sympathized deeply with the common people because of the social wrongs of his time and became the people’s advocate as well as their accuser.

 

2.    Condition of the land---Despite all the corruption in the moral, religious and national life of the people, the prevailing attitude was one of complacency. God was in the midst of His people, therefore they could come to no harm. Micah plainly told them otherwise.

 

3.    Quotable quotes from Micah

A.   By Jeremiah---3:12 and Jer. 26:18, 19

B.   By the Wise Men---5:2 and Matt. 2:5, 6

C.   By the Lord Jesus---7:6 and Matt. 10:35, 36

 

MICAH PREDICTS JUDGMENT

1.    The classes of sins that would bring the judgment of God down upon both Judah and Israel:

A.   Idolatry (1:7) The worship of man-made gods and the use of witchcraft (5:12-14)

B.   Injustice and covetousness (2:1, 2) They first coveted, then sought to destroy their fellow man by violence and false accusations.

C.   They had “driven out the widows from their homes, and stripped their children of every God-given right.” ---Living Bible (2:9)

 

2.    The classes of sinners that would bring the judgment of God down upon both Judah and Israel:

A.   The people (1-2). See the above list.

B.   The princes (3:1-4) because they abused their high positions to rob the very people they should be helping.

C.   The prophets (3:5-8) who became involved in sorcery and witchcraft, and who brought to the rich a comforting but false message of peace

D.   The priests (3:9-12) who corrupted themselves in their desire for money, and would not perform their duties unless they were paid

 

3.    The judgment to come:

A.   Samaria (1:6) and Jerusalem (3:12) are to be destroyed by Assyria and Babylon respectively.

B.   Judah to be taken captive by the Babylonians (4:10)

C.   The above two described judgments were fulfilled, but speak also of conditions that will prevail when God judges the nation for the last time during the tribulation period. Note the uses of the terms “last days” (4:1) and “that day” (4:6).

 

MICAH PREDICTS DELIVERANCE

1.    Beginning at ch. 4, God interposes a word of mercy and grace after He has pictured for them the chastisement then threatening the people and the land.

 

2.    Here we have a clear reference to the time of the Messiah’s reign over restored and re-gathered Israel, the Millennium.

 

3.    Characteristics of Christ’s reign as set forth by Micah:

A.   Jerusalem will be the capital of Christ’s kingdom. (4:1, 2)

B.   It will be a world-wide reign. (4:2)

C.   Peace will keynote the Kingdom Age. (4:3)

1)    No weapons of war

2)    No strife between nations

3)    No schools of military learning

D.   Safety and prosperity (4:4, 5)

1)    With Christ as Ruler there will be nothing to make men afraid.

2)    People and nations will be able to develop their lives undisturbed.

E.   Absolute righteousness will be the basis for His government. (4:2, 5) Christ will be the “judge among many people”. (4:3a)

F.    Israel is completely restored to their land from captivity. (4:6-8)

G.   Christ will rule as the Perfect Prince. (5:1, 2)

1)    Seen in His death for sinful Israel (v. 1) and the world

2)    Seen in His glorious reign (v. 2)

 

MICAH CALLS FOR REPENTANCE

1.    The last two chapters reflect God’s pleading for repentance.

 

2.    “What had He done to them and wherein had He wearied them that they had so grievously departed from Him? Had He wearied them by unusual requirements and excessive demands (Isa. 43:23) or by unfulfilled promises (Jer. 2:31)? On the contrary, instead of wearying them the Lord has heaped blessings and tokens of His favor upon them. He has repeatedly wrought wonderful acts of deliverance on their behalf.” --Feinberg

 

3.    They ought to repent because:

A.   He delivered them from Egypt. (6:4)

B.   He delivered them from the plot of Balaam and Balak to destroy the nation. (6:5)

C.   He is going to bring judgment upon them. (6:9; 7:13)

D.   He is willing to forgive their sins. (7:18, 19)

 

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK

  I.    THE PROPHECY OF RETRIBUTION (1-3)

A.   The calamity of it (1)

B.   The cause of it (2-3)

1)    The sins of the people (2:1-13)

2)    The sins of the princes (3:1-4)

3)    The sins of the prophets (3:5-10)

4)    The sins of the priests (3:11-12)

 II.    THE PROMISE OF RESTORATION (4-5)

A.   The restoration depicted (4:1-8)

B.   The restoration delayed (4:9-5:6)

1.    The times of Judah’s misery (4:9-13)

2.    The times of Judah’s Messiah (5:1-6)

C.   The restoration described (5:7-15)

 

III.   THE PLEA FOR REPENTANCE (6-7)

A.   The standards of the nation (6:1-8)

B.   The sins of the nation (6:9-12)

C.   The sorrows of the nation (7:1-6)

D.   The Savior of the nation (7:7-20)

                                                                                                       --Exploring the Scriptures;

                                                                                                                      John Phillips