Micah: Prophet And Explainer Of God’s Merciful Nature. Series

Micah: Prophet and explainer of God’s merciful nature.

The book of Micah is prophetic, Micah, whose name incidentally means ‘Who is like Yahweh?’ was one of the twelve minor prophets. These blokes weren’t minor from the perspective of being of less importance, but said what they said in less words, at least less was recorded of what they said than the other major prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekial and Daniel, Lamentations is also tagged on to the major prophet's for good measure as it was written by Jeremiah. As messengers of God, what the Minor Prophets had to say was important. God often used men to deliver his messages.

Micah was alive and his ministry took place during the second half of the 8th century BC, roughly during the same era as Isaiah, Amos, and Hosea. Micah ministered primarily in Judah, but his words addressed both Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and Judah (the Southern Kingdom).

Micah prophecies the fall of Samaria as the Assyrian Empire expands into that area, he points out that what is coming upon his listeners, a time of disaster, an invading conqueror and their children being taken into exile. All this due to their idolatry and immorality, land seizures and fraudulent property deals. Chapter two starts with a bit, actually a fair bit of a smack in the chops to Micah’s listeners; This was a time of evil men doing evil things against their fellow citizens, We read it in chapter 2, in my Bible under a section entitled, “Man’s plans, and God’s we read:

2 Woe to those who plan iniquity,

to those who plot evil on their beds!

At morning’s light they carry it out

because it is in their power to do it.

2 They covet fields and seize them,

and houses, and take them.

They defraud people of their homes,

they rob them of their inheritance.

3 Therefore, the LORD says:

“I am planning disaster against this people,

from which you cannot save yourselves.

You will no longer walk proudly,

for it will be a time of calamity.

4 In that day people will ridicule you;

they will taunt you with this mournful song:

‘We are utterly ruined;

my people’s possession is divided up.

He takes it from me!

He assigns our fields to traitors.’”

5 Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the LORD

to divide the land by lot.

However, the chapter like the entire book which emphasizes that God’s judgment is not a haphazard thing but is rooted in the nations and individuals ongoing covenant violation, injustice, idolatry, and oppression. As we look at history we see this pattern repeated time and time again, it is current happening in the world not just in the scriptural narrative. However chapter 2 finishes with a promise of God’s deliverance that shows the love God has for humanity that is relational and deep, as it was when he walked in the cool of the evening with Adam prior to the fall. God desires what is best for his people. So much so as Micah says; that ‘he will Shepard them, he will lead them as a shepherd and King.’ (Chapter 2:12-13)

“I will surely gather all of you, Jacob;

I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.

I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,

like a flock in its pasture;

the place will throng with people.

13 The One who breaks open the way will go up before them;

they will break through the gate and go out.

Their King will pass through before them,

the LORD at their head.”

What a stunning promise, what a message for God’s people. The King the Lord will lead them.

A thing to remember here is that God was prior to King Saul, the king of his people and wanted to remain in that place, but the people wanted a human King like other nations. (Refer 1 Samuel 8).

Chapter four is a reminder to the people of Israel of their transgression and sin. Micah declares this and says he can be the person who reminds God’s people of their being commanded by God to live by those commands because he is “filled with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might”… to do so. There was no mincing of words, no sugar coating, with Micah, he heard it from the Lord, he declared it as is was heard. The Commandments are commandments not the suggestions. Also, that at that time Micah was pointing out the reason things weren’t going well, was because people were ignoring the direction God had put in place for their lives, why on earth would they do that?

While Micah might start out with a message that is a doom and gloom due to the need of the people of Jacob, the nations of Israel and Judah to repent of their sins. There is a change to the story of the future of the people spoken out by Micah, there is hope and that hope comes with a message about, The establishment of The Lords Temple, and that place being the chief among mountains, the first few verses of chapter 4 declare this; people of all the nations will “Come [and say,] let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” He then goes onto say that the law will go out from Zion, God’s word from Jerusalem, God will be their judge, settling disputes, there will be a time of peace, swords being beaten into ploughshares, Not war but abundance of harvest, Men will sit content in their vineyards, it will be a fine old time for all, as people walk in the name of God forever and ever.