Micah - Judgment Now, Blessing (1:1 - 2:13) Part 1 Of 3 Series

"STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"

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