There is a short introduction available for the book of Micah. You can read it here.
Key Themes
The book of Micah is a prophetic work in the Old Testament attributed to the prophet Micah, who ministered during a time of social injustice and moral decay in both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Micah’s message combines sharp warnings of impending judgment with promises of hope and restoration. The key themes include:
- Social Justice and Injustice: A central theme in Micah is the call for social justice. Micah condemns the exploitation of the poor, the corruption of leaders, and the greed of the wealthy, who oppress the vulnerable and pervert justice for personal gain. This theme emphasizes the importance of justice, fairness, and compassion in society, highlighting that true worship of God must be reflected in ethical treatment of others.
- Divine Judgment: Micah warns of the coming judgment on both Israel and Judah for their sins, particularly their idolatry, corruption, and social injustices. He prophesies that God will bring destruction upon the cities, including Samaria and Jerusalem, as a consequence of their rebellion. This theme underscores the inevitability of divine judgment when God’s people turn away from His commandments and engage in wickedness.
- Hope and Restoration: Despite the severe warnings of judgment, Micah also offers a message of hope. He prophesies that after the period of judgment, God will restore a remnant of His people. This restoration will include the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the reestablishment of peace, and the coming of a future ruler from Bethlehem, who will shepherd God’s people in righteousness. This theme highlights God’s faithfulness and the promise of renewal for those who repent and turn back to Him.
- The Coming Messiah: Micah contains one of the most famous messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, foretelling the birth of a ruler from Bethlehem who will lead Israel and bring peace. This theme points to the future hope of a Savior who will establish God’s kingdom and bring justice and peace to the world, a prophecy that Christians believe is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
- True Worship and Righteous Living: Micah challenges the people’s superficial religious practices, emphasizing that God desires not just ritual observance but a life characterized by justice, mercy, and humility. The famous verse, Micah 6:8, encapsulates this theme: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” This theme highlights that true devotion to God is expressed in righteous living and ethical behavior.
- God’s Sovereignty and Universal Rule: Micah affirms God’s sovereignty over all nations and His ultimate plan to establish His rule over the entire earth. The prophet envisions a time when all nations will come to worship the Lord in Jerusalem, and God’s peace will prevail. This theme reflects the belief in God’s universal reign and the hope that His justice and righteousness will one day be recognized by all people.
The book of Micah delivers a powerful message of both judgment and hope, calling for social justice, true worship, and faithfulness to God. It challenges the people to reflect on their lives, repent from their sins, and embrace the promise of restoration and peace. Through its themes of justice, hope, and the coming Messiah, Micah offers timeless insights into God’s expectations for His people and His ultimate plan for redemption.
What I Noticed Today (Micah)
Micah 1-2
Micah 1-2 is the first of three messages Micah delivered. It focused on the judgment coming to the people of Israel and Judah.
Micah 1
In verse 1, the word of the Lord came to Micah in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (three kings in Judah) but the prophecy was directed to Samaria (the capital of Israel, the northern kingdom) and Jerusalem (the capital of Judah, the southern kingdom).
In verses 2-7, Micah calls on all the people to hear the charges the Lord is bringing against them. The Lord is bringing His judgment against the people of Judah and Israel because of their sins.
In verses 8-16, Micah laments the judgment is coming to Samaria but lists a number of towns in Judah as a warning that the judgment would also reach them because they had transgressed in the same way as Israel (v. 13). They would mourn (shave their heads) because even their children would be sent into exile.
Micah 2
In verses 1-5, Micah pronounces a woe on those who stay awake thinking up evil things and then do them the next day. They covet others property and steal their homes and inheritances. Because of this, the Lord will bring disaster, and they will no longer walk haughtily but will be ruined with no one to help them.
In verses 6-11, Micah continues by calling out the false prophets who enrich themselves with their lies. He warns that God judges and will bless those who walk uprightly. Because of this, he warns them to leave because of the uncleanness. But they would rather believe the lies of the false prophet.
In verses 12-13, Micah assures them that in the future a remnant will be brought together, their king will pass before them, and the Lord will be their head (this prophecy will be fulfilled in Christ’s Millennial reign).
Micah 3-5
Micah 3-5 is the second of three messages Micah delivered. It focuses on the shortcomings of the leaders, priests, and prophets, and the blessings that will follow the judgment.
Micah 3
In verses 1-4, Micah calls on the leaders of Israel and Judah to hear the message from the Lord. They should know justice, but they oppress the people. They hated good and loved evil. They will cry out to God, but He will not answer them (this speaks of the time when they are in exile).
In verses 5-8, Micah calls out the prophets once again for leading the people astray, making them think there was peace when, in fact, judgment was coming. The prophets, the seers, and the diviners would all be disgraced and humiliated because God would hide His face from them. But, says Micah, he is filled with the power of the Spirit of the Lord to pronounce justice and declare the sins of Israel.
In verses 9-12, Micah calls on the leaders and rulers to hear him and listen to his warning. They take bribes, they preach for a price, and the prophets prophesy for money. The leaders, priests, and prophets were all more concerned about earthly gain than following God. Because of this, Zion (Jerusalem) would be overturned in the coming judgment.
Micah 4
In verses 1-5, Micah describes the latter days (the Millennial reign of Christ) when the temple will be established, and people will come to worship the Lord and learn His ways. God will judge between the nations, and there will be peace. Every man will sit under his own vine and fig tree without fear. The nation of Israel will walk in the name of the Lord forever.
In verses 6-7, in that day (the beginning of the Millennium), the Lord will gather the remnant from all over the world, and He will reign over them Jerusalem forever. The strong were carried away into exile, but the lame will be returned, and the Lord will reign over them forever
In verses 8-10, continuing from verse 7, Micah says the people of God will watch over the flock and Jerusalem will have dominion.
In verses 9-13, Micah announces four prophecies that would occur before the Millennial kingdom and the fifth prophecy in Micah 5:1:
- Israel will be exiled to Babylon (vv. 9-10a).
- Israel will be rescued from Babylon (v. 10b).
- Israel will have many nations assembled against her (vv. 11-12)
- Israel will rise up and conquer her oppressors (v. 13).
Micah 5
In verse 1, Micah announces a fifth prophecy that would occur before the Millennial kingdom: a siege will be laid against Jerusalem, and the ruler will be struck on the cheek with a rod (probably Zedekiah. 2 Kings 25:1-7).
In verses 2-6, Micah provides a Messianic prophecy describing the birth of Jesus. He says the ruler of Israel will come from Bethlehem Ephrathah (an older name for Bethlehem).
Micah 6-7
Micah 6-7 is the third of three messages Micah delivered. The focus is a summary of their sins and blessings.
Micah 6
In verses 1-5, a courtroom is in view as the Lord delivers an indictment against the Israelites and calls on them to make their case before witnesses. The Lord asks what have I done to you. He answers: I saved you from Egypt and from Balak king of Moab. I gave you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. I helped throughout the land from Shittim to Gilgal. All this so that they would know He is the Lord.
In verses 6-8, Micah answers the Lord on behalf of the people of Israel. Micah asks how he can come before the Lord. Is it with burnt offerings? With calves to be sacrificed? How about thousands of rams and rivers of oil? How about my first-born son? No, says Micah to the nation of Israel. What the Lord requires is that we do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.
Note: Micah is not making light of the sacrificial system that God had established. Rather, he is pointing out that no matter how many sacrifices you make in outward appearances of worship, what really matters is the condition of one’s heart toward God.
In verses 9-12, Micah warns the people of Judah to listen to the voice of the Lord and heed the rod (instrument of punishment). The people have sinned in their wickedness by using dishonest scales and deceitful weights; they were violent, and they lie and are deceitful.
In verses 13-16, because of these sins (verses 10-12) God’s judgment would come and have already begun: they will not have enough to eat, what you put away will not preserve, you will sow but not reap, tread olives but have none to anoint yourselves, and you will tread grapes but have no wine to drink. All this because they had worshiped Baal during Omri and Ahab’s reign.
Note: Micah is trying to get the attention of the people of Judah and especially those in Jerusalem to realize that what had happened to Israel in the north would also happen to them if they did not repent. The people of Jerusalem thought they were safe in their walled city on a hill because they also had the temple of God. But they were not following God’s Law, had followed other foreign gods, and rejected the warning that came from God’s messengers, the prophets.
Micah 7
In verses 1-6, Micah announces a woe. He feels his ministry is no longer bearing fruit; the Godly have perished, and there are no righteous men left. The people are focused on doing evil. The princes and judges ask for bribes. The best and most upright are like a briar or thorn hedge (a thorn hedge would injure and entangle anyone who tried to pass through). The warnings of the watchmen (God’s true prophets) would come true, and judgment would come. People had become so wicked they could trust no one; not neighbors, or even family members. In fact, the members of one’s own family had become each other’s enemies.
In verses 7-10, Micah speaks in the first person as a representative of the nation of Israel. Micah expressed his confidence in the Lord. He will wait for God who saves because he knows God will hear him. The enemy should not gloat over Israel’s defeat. Continuing to speak on behalf of Israel he said: He would rise after he falls. The Lord will be his light in the darkness. He will bear the punishment because he had sinned until the Lord brings him forth. Then, the enemy will know that the Lord is God.
In verses 11-13, in that day (the Millennium), Jerusalem will rebuild her walls and expand her boundaries. People who were enemies as well as countries around the world (from seas to sea and mountain to mountain) will come to Jerusalem to worship. Before this happens, the earth will be judged because of the sins of the people; the earth will be a desolate place.
In verses 14-17, Micah prays to the Lord to shepherd His flocks, to restore them to their land like when He brought them out of Egypt and blessed them with prosperity. When other nations see this, they will be ashamed of all their power. They will tremble before the Lord and His power.
In verses 18-20, Micah praises God, expressing confidence that God will bring about what He has promised. God will pardon the iniquities of His remnant. He will show his faithfulness and love just as He promised to their forefathers.
