Micah: Right Conduct Out Of A Right Heart For God Series

Psalm of Praise (Opening)

Psalm 84:1-4 (NKJV)

1 To the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts!

2 My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

3 Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young -- Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah

-- Praising God for His Creation and Amazing Presence --

Message

Background: Conduct of Judah during the time of Micah

Notes about the Kings of the Time

(1) Jotham – Good king – Uzziah’s son who helped reign while Uzziah had leprosy; Political & militaristic victories, but no religious reforms mentioned

(2) Ahaz – One of the worst; tried to seek help from Assyria against its other military foes. He also offered one of his sons as a pagan sacrifice.

(At the same time…) - Hoshea (Israel) – Also tried to make allies with terrible nations – sought help from Egypt against the Assyrians. Oops. Israel (the Northern Kingdom) is completely carried into exile.

(3) Hezekiah – One of the best; restored worship of YHVH; the Assyrians were removed from Judah, and the people were not taken into exile.

Note that at the purification of the nation by Hezekiah, the Southern Kingdom was spared from Assyrian exile!

The Northern Kingdom of Israel was carried off into exile by the Assyrian Empire in 722 BC. Micah's ministry surrounded this time, ~740-~700 BC.

*Lowlights of Micah*

The Sins of the People

(1) Idolatry (1:7)

(2) Premeditated iniquity (2:1)

(3) Covetousness (2:2)

(4) Injustice (3:1-2) – people hate good and love evil

Romans 12:9 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Proverbs 8:13 13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Amos 5:15 15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.

(5) Corrupt prophets (3:5) – they are bribable!

(6) Corrupt leaders and priests (3:9-11)

(7) Theft & deceit (6:10-12)

*Highlights of Micah*

Micah 5: Predicts that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Who was born 740 years later? (Jesus)

Cause and Effect

(1) Micah 2:7-8 7 Should it be said, O house of Jacob: "Is the Spirit of the LORD angry? Does he do such things?" "Do not my words do good to him whose ways are upright? 8 Lately my people have risen up like an enemy. You strip off the rich robe from those who pass by without a care, like men returning from battle.

Upright ways -> the LORD blesses

(2) Micah 3:4 4 Then they will cry out to the LORD, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done.

Evil done -> the LORD is hard to find

(3) Micah 7:9 9 Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the LORD's wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.

Sin -> the LORD’s wrath…

(e.g. what are we “saved from”?)

Romans 5:9-10

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!

10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

(Note use of ‘Therefore’ in various passages – these are often causal clauses – ‘because you did this…’)

Text: Micah 6:1-8

1 Hear now what the LORD says: "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear your voice.

2 Hear, O you mountains, the LORD's complaint, And you strong foundations of the earth; For the LORD has a complaint against His people, And He will contend with Israel.

3 "O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.

4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage; And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

5 O My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab counseled, And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, From Acacia Grove to Gilgal, That you may know the righteousness of the LORD."

6 With what shall I come before the LORD, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old?