A True Prophet for Our Times
Micah 1:1
Intro
Harry Emerson Fosdick titled his autobiography The Living of These Days. He asserted that he was who he was because of specific experiences in his life coupled with his particular, inherent personality. Fosdick’s life and ministry grew out of his social, political, and religious surroundings.
We can come to understand Micah in that way too. He lived in the eight century BC. The superscription (Micah 1:1 Tell us something about his times. It follows the pattern of the other prophets’ introductory verses: (1) “the word of the Lord that came to”; (2) “in the days of”; (3) “concerning.”
Micah’s message does not belong to only the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Micah is a prophet for our times. Our age needs to hear the words of a prophet of the Lord. Let us study Micah’s superscription closely and see the qualities of a true prophet of the Lord.
READ TEXT
I. A true prophet has a unique concept of God’s Word.
Notice two expressions in Micah’s superscription: “The word of the Lord which came to Micah” and “which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.” These expressions describe the prophet’s unique concept of God’s Word.
a. The true prophet speaks the word of the Lord.
i. The Hebrews had a high concept o God’s spokesperson.
ii. Micah did not relate any of his experiences of faith, but he did indicate that God’s hand was heavy on him when he spoke: “thus saith the Lord.”
iii. Micah’s message originated from the Lord.
1. How does this apply to preachers today?
2. When preachers remain true to the Bible, they speak the Word of the Lord, not opinion.
b. The true prophet has an inward perception through the influence of God’s Spirit: “which he saw.”
i. Micah’s words were not his personal opinions.
ii. He disclosed what the Lord showed him.
1. No prophet arrives at inward perception without intimate fellowship with God.
2. When a person lives close to the Lord, he or she begins to see what God wants.
II. A true prophet has great respect for the Lord
Micah’s great respect for God may be seen in the superscription and through out the book as well.
a. A true prophet respects the holy character of God.
i. Micah respected the majestic nature of God
ii. He used the name Elohim to describe the power of God.
iii. He used the name Yahweh to describe the transcendental God.
1. No true prophet makes God a “buddy.”
2. Micah helps us to see the otherness of God.
3. The proper response to a holy God is reverence and awe.
b. A true prophet respects the judgment of God.
i. Micah did not view God as a raging tyrant, but neither did he see him as an easy going grandfather.
ii. He knew that God was a God of righteous judgment.
1. Being conscious of God’s judgment gives one a profound respect for the Lord and his laws.
III. A true prophet has the ability to be himself as he is used by God.
The superscription has some pertinent facts about the personal life of the prophet. From the first verse we learn his name, his hometown, the times in which he lived and his work.
a. God works with all kinds of people.
i. Micah belongs to the illustrious group of eighth century prophets.
ii. Each one of the prophets was different:
1. Isaiah was a statesman, a city dweller who prophesied to kings
2. Hosea learned his message from a domestic tragedy
3. Amos was a herdsman from the south who prophesied to Israel
4. Micah was a prophet from a small southern Judean village who prophesied to Jerusalem and Judah.
5. god used each one of these unique prophets
iii. About all we know of Micah is his name and his hometown.
1. His name means “Who is like Yahweh?”
2. This obviously indicates his relationship to the Lord.
3. Micah was from Moresheth, a small southern village in Judah near Gath.
a. God does not choose one kind of person to be his spokesperson.
b. He works through all kinds of people
b. The prophet needs to learn about his or her true self.
i. Micah did not imitate the life and ministry of another prophet.
ii. He accepted his background and his personality and used them for the glory of the Lord.
1. No one can be an effective servant of the Lord while trying to be someone else.
2. Find out who you are, then minister for the Lord out of your true being.
IV. A true prophet has an amazing relevancy to the times.
Two expressions in the superscription tell us about Micah’s relevancy to his times. Look at these expressions: “in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah”; and “which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.” Micah spoke to the needs of his age.
a. A true prophet relates to the times.
i. Micah’s ministry took place during the reign of three Judah’s kings – Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
ii. If we are to understand Micah’s message, we need to know about the historical events during the reigns of these three kings.
iii. It was a time of international crisis.
iv. Israel had fallen in 722 BC to the Assyrians
v. During Micah’s time the Assyrians under Sennacherib threatened Judah.
vi. Micah gave hope to the people during this crisis.
b. A true prophet needs to commend a people’s way of living.
i. Micah spoke “concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.”
ii. These were the capitals of the northern and southern kingdom.
iii. Micah spoke against all the evils he observed.
iv. And although he condemned sin, he encouraged the people.
v. That is what a true prophet does.
Closing
Micah was a true prophet. He spoke to his day, and he still speaks to us today. His authenticity relays a message for us to be genuine before the Lord. His authenticity also demands that we listen to his message.
