Micah - Judgment Now, Blessing (6:1-7:20) Part 3 Of 3 Series

"STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"

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