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Micah Overall

 
Micah - Judgment Now, Blessings Later (1:1-2:13)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. The eighth century (800-700 B.C.) was filled with prophetic 
 activity...
 a. Starting with Jonah, who prophesied to the city of Nineveh (790
 B.C.)
 b. Continuing with prophets sent primarily to the northern kingdom 
 of Israel
 1) Amos (755 B.C.)
 2) Hosea (750-725 B.C.)
 c. The southern kingdom of Judah was also the recipient of God's 
 prophets
 1) Isaiah (740-700 B.C.)
 2) Micah (735-700 B.C.)
 
2. In our study of "The Minor Prophets"...
 a. We have looked at the works of Jonah, Amos, and Hosea
 b. We now come to the works of Micah, the last prophet of the eighth
 century B.C.
 
[Before we take a look at the messages of Micah as recorded in his 
book, it may be helpful to first look at some...]
 
I. BACKGROUND MATERIAL
 
 A. MICAH - THE MAN...
 1. His name means "Who is like Jehovah?" - cf. Mic 7:18
 2. His home was Moresheth-Gath - Mic 1:1,14
 a. In the lowlands of Judah, near Philistia
 b. About 20-25 miles southwest of Jerusalem
 3. Nothing is known of his occupation prior to becoming God's 
 prophet
 4. Characterization
 a. "He was the prophet of the poor and downtrodden." (Homer
 Hailey)
 b. "He had Amos' passion for justice and Hosea's heart for 
 love." (J.M.P. Smith)
 c. Comparing Micah to his contemporary Isaiah (as suggested by
 Hailey)
  1) Micah was a man of the fields, Isaiah was of the city
 2) Micah took little interest in politics, giving himself
 to the concern over spiritual and moral problems; Isaiah
 was in close contact with world affairs, the associate 
 of kings and princes
 3) Both Micah and Isaiah...
 a) Saw God as the infinite Ruler of nations and men
 b) Recognized the absolute holiness and majesty of God
 c) Stressed that violating principles of God's divine 
 sovereignty and holiness would bring judgment and 
 doom
 
 B. MICAH - THE BOOK...
 1. The date: 735-700 B.C.
 a. During the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of 
 Judah - Mic 1:1
 b. Just as the northern kingdom of Israel was falling under 
 Assyria's attack
 2. The message: "Present Judgment, Future Blessings"
 a. Judgment is coming because of Israel's unfaithfulness to
 God
 b. Blessings will come because of God's faithfulness to Israel
 1) Cf. the promise God made to Abraham - Gen 22:18
 2) God would fulfill in the person of Jesus Christ - cf.
 Ac 3:24-26
 3. A brief outline: The book appears to contain three messages
 or oracles, all beginning with the word "Hear"; therefore the
 book can be divided as follows:
 a. The coming judgment, with a promise of restoration - Mic 1:
 1-2:13
 b. God's condemnation of Israel, with a glimpse of the future
 hope - Mic 3:1-5:15
 c. God's indictment of Israel, with a plea for repentance and
 promise of forgiveness - Mic 6:1-7:20
 
[In the remaining part of this lesson, let's take look at Micah's first
message...]
 
II. THE COMING JUDGMENT AND PROMISED RESTORATION (1:1-2:13)
 
 A. JUDGMENT PRONOUNCED ON ISRAEL AND JUDAH...
 1. Micah's message is for both Samaria (Israel) and Jerusalem 
 (Judah) - Mic 1:1
 2. The Lord announces His coming judgment - Mic 1:2-5
 3. The destruction of Samaria (representing the northern kingdom
 of Israel) - Mic 1:6-7
 4. Micah's mourning - Mic 1:8-16
 a. For the judgment has reached even Judah and Jerusalem
 b. His lament involves making a play on words involving the 
 names of cities; for example...
 1) "Tell it not in Gath" (Gath is similar to the Hebrew 
 word for "tell")
 2) "Weep not at all in Beth Aphrah, Roll yourself in the 
 dust" (Beth Aphrah means "house of dust")
 3) "Pass by in naked shame, you inhabitant of Shaphir"
 (Shaphir means "fair, beautiful, pleasant")
  4) "The inhabitant of Zaanan does not go out" (Zaanan means
 "come out")
 5) "Beth Ezel mourns; its place to stand is taken away 
 from you" (Beth Ezel can be paraphrased as "nearby 
 house")
  c. As revealed in verse 16, their judgment will involve 
 captivity
 
 B. REASONS FOR THE INEVITABLE JUDGMENT...
 1. The arrogance and violence of the nobles - Mic 2:1-5
 a. For coveting fields and taking them by violence
  b. So it will happen to them
 2. For rejecting true prophets, and accepting false ones - Mic
 2:6-11
 a. They tell the prophets of God not to speak of God's words
 b. They abuse the people of God
 c. Destruction is coming, because they are defiled and accept
 false prophets
 
 C. RESTORATION PROMISED...
 1. It will involve God assembling a remnant - Mic 2:12
 2. God will lead them like a flock of sheep, with a king at their
 head - Mic 2:12-13
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Later, Micah will tell us more about the ultimate fulfillment of 
 that restoration, and from where that "king" shall arise who shall
 lead God's flock! - cf. Mic 5:2-5
 
2. But for now we have seen that Micah certainly follows the pattern of
 God's prophets at that time...
 a. Proclaiming the coming judgment, which would involve captivity
 b. Providing the basis for such judgment, describing the nature of
 their sins and departure from God
 c. Promising that God would one day restore the good fortunes of 
 Israel, but requiring repentance and involving a "remnant"
 
3. How sad that many in Israel and Judah did not heed the words of such
 men like Micah, Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah...
 a. But are we heeding God's spokesmen for today?
 b. Such as His apostles Peter and Paul, and of course, His Son Jesus
 Christ?
 
We would do well to remember the preaching of Micah as we read in the 
New Testament...
 
 "For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we 
 have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the word spoken
 through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and
 disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if
 we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first 
 spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who 
 heard, God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and 
 wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit
 according to His own will. (He 2:1-4)
 
Israel as a nation failed to heed the message sent to them; are we 
heeding the message for us today?

－－《Executable Outlines》

 
Micah - Judgment Now, Blessings Later (3:1-5:15)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In our previous lesson on the book of Micah...
 a. We briefly considered some background material
 1) Concerning Micah, the man
 a) His name means "Who is like Jehovah?"
 b) He was from Moresheth-Gath, 20-25 miles SW of Jerusalem
 c) A contemporary of Isaiah
 d) A prophet of the poor and downtrodden
 2) Concerning Micah, the book
 a) The prophecies occurred around 735-700 B.C.
 b) They were directed toward both Israel and Judah
 c) The general theme appears to be "Present Judgment, Future
 Blessings"
 b. We briefly considered the first of three messages in the book
 1) Each message begins with "Hear..." - Mic 1:2; 3:1; 6:1
 2) The first message proclaimed "The Coming Judgment And Promised
 Restoration", as it described:
 a) The judgment pronounced upon Israel and Judah - Mic 1:2-16
  b) The reasons for the coming judgment - Mic 2:1-11
 c) The promise of the restoration of a remnant - Mic 2:12-13
 
2. In this lesson, we shall consider Micah's second message...
 a. As presented in Mic 3:1-5:15
 b. Which follows a similar theme as in the previous message:
 1) God's condemnation of Israel
 2) With a glimpse of the future hope
 
[This second message has much more to say about the future hope, 
especially regarding the Messiah. But it begins with...]
 
I. GOD'S CONDEMNATION OF ISRAEL'S LEADERS
 
 A. INDICTMENT OF ISRAEL'S CIVIL LEADERS...
 1. The outrageous conduct of the rulers - Mic 3:1-3
 a. They hate good and love evil
 b. They consume the people (i.e., oppress them)
 2. The judgment to come upon them - Mic 3:4
 a. They will cry to the Lord, but He will not hear them
 b. He will hide His face from them
 
 B. INDICTMENT OF ISRAEL'S RELIGIOUS LEADERS...
 1. The judgment to come upon the false prophets - Mic 3:5-7
  a. Because they lead God's people astray
 b. They shall have no vision, they shall be made ashamed
 2. Micah's own ministry, in contrast to that of the false 
 prophets - Mic 3:8
 a. He is full of the power of the Spirit, and of justice and 
 might
 b. He declares the transgression and sin of Israel
 
 C. INDICTMENT OF ISRAEL'S LEADERS RENEWED...
 1. Addressing once again the rulers of Israel, their sins are
 categorized - Mic 3:9-11
  a. They abhor justice and pervert equity (fairness)
 b. They build up Jerusalem with bloodshed and iniquity
 c. Whether judges, priests, or prophets, they do it only for
 the money, belying their claim to trust in the Lord
  2. The judgment to come upon Israel because of them - Mic 3:12
 a. Zion shall be plowed like a field
 b. Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins
 
[This prophecy of Micah was fulfilled when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem
in 586 B. C. (cf. 2 Chr 36:17-21). But his message is not finished; as
ominous as it was in proclaiming the coming judgment, he now continues
with a glimpse into the future...]
 
II. THE FUTURE EXALTATION OF ZION AND MESSIANIC HOPE
 
 A. THE GLORY TO COME IN "THE LATTER DAYS"...
 1. What will happen "in the latter days"
 a. The "mountain of the Lord's house" will be established, and
 many people will want to go it - Mic 4:1-2
 b. They will want to learn of God's ways, and the word of the
  Lord will go forth from Jerusalem - Mic 4:2
 c. The Lord will judge the nations, and there will be peace 
 - Mic 4:3
 d. Everyone will be content, walking in the name of the Lord
 forever - Mic 4:4-5
 -- Isaiah had a similar prophecy - Isa 2:1-4
 2. What is the fulfillment of this prophecy?
 a. Some believe it is all yet to come (e.g., premillenialists)
 b. Some believe it is all past (e.g., some amillenialists)
 c. I am inclined to believe there are past, present, and
 future elements
 1) It began in Jerusalem with the preaching of the gospel
 on Pentecost
 a) For Peter identifies the events of that day as 
 beginning the fulfillment of what would occur in the
 "last days" - cf. Joel 2:28-32; Ac 2:16-17
 b) For Jesus said the gospel would go forth from 
 Jerusalem as prophesied - Lk 24:46-47; cf. Mic 4:2;
  Isa 2:3
 2) It continues as people respond to the gospel that 
 originated from Jerusalem
 a) Such people "have come to Mount Zion" - He 12:22-24;
 cf. Mic 4:2
 b) They learn the ways of the Lord - Ep 4:20-24; cf. 
 Mic 4:2
 3) The "judging among many people" may be both present and
 future
 a) The book of Revelation reveals the Lord as judging 
 both in the present and in the future - cf. Re 1:5;
 2:26-27; 17:14; 20:11-15
 b) Peter viewed some of Isaiah's prophecies as yet to be
 fulfilled - 2 Pe 3:13; cf. Isa 65:17-19; 66:22
 c) Therefore Mic 4:3-5 may find some of its fulfillment
 in the eternal destiny of the redeemed, as part of 
 the "New Jerusalem" of the "new heaven and new earth"
 described in Re 21-22
 3. As Micah continues, he describes what will occur "in that day"
 - Mic 4:6-8
 a. The Lord will assemble a remnant of those whom He afflicted
 - cf. Ro 11:5
 b. He will reign over them forever - cf. Lk 1:30-33
 -- I understand that the fulfillment of this prophecy began 
 with the first coming of Christ, and that the church is a
 spiritual kingdom in which the "former dominion" of Israel
 has been restored and given to Jesus who reigns from heaven
 - cf. Mt 28:18; Ac 1:6-8; 2:30-36; Re 1:5; 2:26-27; 3:21
 
 B. THE DISTRESS AND CAPTIVITY BEFORE RESTORATION...
 1. The "Now" of Mic 4:9 suggests that Micah has returned from his
 glimpse of the future hope to what will occur in the immediate
  present
 2. Their judgment will involve distress like a woman in labor, as
 they will be delivered to Babylon, from which they will also 
 be redeemed - Mic 4:9-10
 3. Even "now", many nations (e.g., Assyria) have come up against
 them - Mic 4:11-5:1
 a. Who seek to defile Zion, whom God will use to break them
 into many pieces
 b. Yet the daughter of Zion (Israel) shall be humbled also 
 - cf. Mic 5:1
 
 C. THE COMING MESSIAH...
  1. Here we find the prophecy of the Messiah's birthplace - Mic
 5:2; cf. Mt 2:1-6
 a. The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah
 b. He would become the ruler of Israel - cf. Isa 9:6-7; Lk 
 1:30-33
 c. His "goings forth have been from old, from everlasting" 
 - cf. Jn 1:1-3
 2. The Messiah will lead His people in peace - Mic 5:3-5a
 a. Though first they must be given up for a short time 
 (Babylonian captivity)
 b. Then a remnant shall return, whom the Ruler shall feed in
 the strength of the Lord
 
 D. FURTHER JUDGMENT ON ISRAEL AND HER ENEMIES...
 1. Some take this section to be Messianic
 2. I tend to take it as pertaining to Micah's day and those that
 followed shortly after...
 a. The Assyrian threat would prove to be no real threat (for 
 Judah - Mic 5:5b-6; cf. Isa 36-37
 b. When the remnant is dispersed (as a result of Babylonian
 captivity), they shall be a lion among flocks of sheep 
 - Mic 5:7-9 (e.g., Daniel, Esther?)
 c. God would cut off her false strengths (such as horses and
 chariots, cf. Isa 31:1) and her idolatry - Mic 5:10-15
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. With the recurrent theme in his messages ("Present Judgment, Future
 Blessings"), Micah's purpose appears to be two-fold...
 a. To warn the people, that they may repent as necessary
 b. To encourage the people, that their hope for the future might 
  help them to endure the hard times to come
 
2. A similar two-fold message is found in the New Testament as well...
 a. Warnings to persevere, lest we fall away - e.g., He 4:1,11
 b. Promises to encourage us for whatever lies ahead - e.g., 2 Pe 3:
  13-14
 
3. Today, we have an advantage over the Israelites of Micah's day...
 a. We have already seen much of his prophecy fulfilled with the 
 first coming of the Messiah
 b. As Peter wrote, "we also have the prophetic word made more sure"
  - 2 Pe 1:19
 c. Made more sure by virtue of its fulfillment, it can serve to 
 comfort us and strengthen our hope regarding any future promise 
 of God - cf. Ro 15:4
 -- If God kept His promise concerning the first coming of His 
 Messiah, we can have confidence He will keep His promise 
 concerning His return!
 
Perhaps that is why Peter went on to say concerning "the prophetic 
word" (e.g., The Minor Prophets)...
 
 "which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place,
 until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts"
 (2 Pe 1:19)
 
By careful study and consideration of the prophets, both in the Old
Testament and New Testament, our hope for the future is strengthened!

－－《Executable Outlines》

 
Micah - Judgment Now, Blessings Later (6:1-7:20)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. This is the third of three lessons in our survey of the book of 
 Micah...
 a. Micah was a prophet of God, a contemporary of Isaiah (ca. 735-700
 B.C.)
 b. His prophecies were directed to both Israel and Judah, though 
 mostly to the latter
 c. His general theme: "Present Judgment, Future Blessings"
 
2. In his first message...
 a. He proclaimed "The Coming Judgment And Promised Restoration"
 b. In which he described:
 1) The judgment pronounced upon Israel and Judah - Mic 1:2-16
 2) The reasons for the coming judgment - Mic 2:1-11
 3) The promise of the restoration of a remnant - Mic 2:12-13
 
3. In his second message...
 a. He proclaimed "God's Condemnation of Israel, And The Future Hope"
 b. In which he described:
 1) God's condemnation of Israel's civil and religious leaders 
 - Mic 3:1-12
 2) The future exaltation of Zion and Messianic hope - Mic 4:1-5:15
 
4. In his third and final message, Micah's message is "God's Indictment
 of Israel, With A Promise Of Forgiveness And Restoration" - Mic 6:1-7:20
 
[Similar to what we saw in Hosea, the prophet Micah presents the Lord's
complaint as though He were taking Israel to court...]
 
I. THE LORD'S CONTROVERSY WITH ISRAEL
 
 A. GOD'S COMPLAINT...
 1. The people called to present their case against God, as He has
 a complaint against them - Mic 6:1-2
 2. How has the Lord wearied them? Testify against Him! - Mic 6:3
 3. Did He not redeem them from Egyptian bondage with the aid of
 His servants Moses, Aaron, and Miriam? - Mic 6:4
 4. Remember how He even had Balaam counter the counsel of Balak 
 - Mic 6:5
 
 B. WHAT THE LORD REQUIRED OF THEM...
 1. What must they offer for their sins? - Mic 6:6-7
 2. What God wanted was for them to do justly, love mercy, and 
 walk humbly before Him - Mic 6:8
 
 C. THE PUNISHMENT FOR ISRAEL'S INJUSTICE...
 1. Justified, for they were full of dishonesty and violence - Mic
 6:9-12
 2. Judgment is coming in the form of desolation, for they hold on
 to the idolatry of Omri and works of Ahab - Mic 6:13-16
 
[Once again, for the third time, Micah has foretold of the judgment to
come. As before, he does not close without offering a hope for 
blessings in the future...]
 
II. A LAMENT FOLLOWED BY A PROMISE OF RESTORATION
 
 A. PERHAPS SPEAKING FOR THE FAITHFUL REMNANT, MICAH LAMENTS...
 1. His sorrow because the faithful man had perished - Mic 7:1-4
 2. Things are so bad, only the Lord can be trusted - Mic 7:5-7
 
 B. A CONFESSION OF SIN, WITH COMFORT IN WHAT THE LORD WILL BRING...
 1. His enemy is not to rejoice over him - Mic 7:8-10a
  a. For though he may fall, he will arise; the Lord will be a
 light to him
 b. He is willing to bear the indignation of the Lord, for he
 has sinned; he knows also that the Lord will eventually
 plead his case and execute justice for him
 2. He takes comfort in the future restoration of Zion - Mic 7:
 10b-13
 a. Though first to be trampled down like mire in the streets
 b. When restored, all will come to her (a messianic reference
  akin to Mic 4:1-2?)
 c. But first there will be desolation (cf. the destruction of
 the city by Babylon)
 
 C. A CLOSING PRAYER, WITH PRAISE TO GOD...
 1. A prayer for God's protection, to shepherd them as in days 
  gone by - Mic 7:14
 2. God answer: "I will show them marvelous things" - Mic 7:15
 3. Micah's song of praise - Mic 7:16-20
 a. The nations shall be made afraid when they see what the 
 Lord has done
 b. Who is a God like Jehovah?
 1) Who pardons iniquity
 2) Who passes over the transgressions of the remnant of His
 heritage
 3) Who does not retain anger forever, for He delights in 
 mercy
 4) Who will again have compassion, subdue their sins, and 
 cast their sins away
 5) Who will give truth and mercy to Jacob and Abraham 
 (i.e., their descendants) as He has sworn from days of 
 old (cf. Gen 12:2-3)
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Thus Micah ends his book like he ended each of his three messages:
 offering hope concerning the future for the people of Israel
 
2. In our previous lesson we noted how these promises concerning a 
 glorious future to a great extent were fulfilled "in the latter 
 days", beginning with the coming of our Lord
 a. Certainly the restoration and rebuilding of temple following
 Babylonian captivity was a partial fulfillment
 b. But even that was just a glimpse of what Jesus Christ would offer
 in His spiritual kingdom, which we now enjoy by being in Him
 
3. From Micah, we can learn a lot about...
 a. The nature of God - cf. Mic 7:18-20
 b. How God would have us live - cf. Mic 6:6-8
 
4. We also can have our faith strengthened by observing those 
 prophecies which have been fulfilled...
 a. Such as the birthplace of the Messiah - Mic 5:2
 b. Such as the establishment of the Lord's house - Mic 4:1-2
 
So while Micah may have been sent first to the nation of Israel, let's
not forget what Peter said concerning the Old Testament prophets...
 
 "To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they
 were ministering the things which now have been reported to you
 through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy 
 Spirit sent from heaven; things which angels desire to look into."
 
 (1 Pe 1:12)
 
Yes, when the prophets like Micah foretold of the "the glories that
would follow", they were serving us who would be later be in the 
kingdom of God. Do we appreciate how blessed we are? If so, then let's
also do what God requires of us, as expressed in Micah's own words:
 
 "to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God"
 
  (Mic 6:8)

－－《Executable Outlines》