The prophet Micah came from the village of Moresheth (Micah 1:14), which was located approximately 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem in the foothills on the edge of the plain of Philistia. His father would have been a farmer in the fertile valley in which the village was located. The simplicity of the countryside is reflected in his prophecy. His name, Micah, means “Who is like unto Yahweh.” By giving him this name, his parents testified to their faith in Yahweh at a time when many were turning to idols. He describes his own ministry in 3:8. He lived through the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. In the northern kingdom, Hosea was prophesying and Isaiah was his contemporary in Jerusalem. The historical background to this little book can be found in II Kings 15-20, II Chronicles 27-32 and Isaiah 36-39. At the beginning of the period, Assyria was greedily eyeing Israel and Judah. Pekah of Israel made an anti-Assyrian coalition and tried to bring Judah into it. Despite the advice of Isaiah (Isaiah 7), Ahaz appealed to Assyria for help (II Kings 16:7). The coalition was crushed and Pekah was assassinated by Hoshea, who submitted to Assyria. Judah had escaped, but at the awful cost of becoming a vassal of Assyria. This meant paying a heavy tax to Assyria, and worse, the gods of Assyria accepted! As a result, idolatry and immorality, which went with the worship of these gods, swept across the land, trampling God’s covenant underfoot. Idolatry was expressed in greed and injustice and by the rich oppressing the poor. It was to this loveless society, worshipping foreign idols, that Micah spoke. Finally, Assyria took Israel into captivity, destroying Samaria. The southern kingdom of Judah was spared that time, due in part, to the words of Micah. He spoke to King Hezekiah, and it resulted in a turning aside from idolatry. This was remembered many years later in the days of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:17-19). Obviously, Micah said much more than is contained in this short book. He reduced his message to the people into three distinct messages that speak of coming judgment and a call to repent. Beyond the judgment, he saw the days of restoration and the coming of Christ.
OUTLINE OF MICAH
I. INTRODUCTION, 1:1
II. THE FIRST MESSAGE: JUDGMENT AND FUTURE RESTORATION, 1:2 – 2:13
THE COMING JUDGMENT, 1:2-7 THE PROPHET’S REACTION 1:8-9 Even though Micah knew the people deserved the judgment that was coming, he feels compassion for them and expresses it in these words that vividly describe his sorrow and despair. THE PEOPLE WARNED, 1:9-16 These verses describe the path of the invading army as it would march upon Jerusalem. The fulfillment of this is seen in II Kings 18. THE OPPRESSION OF THE POOR, 2:1-11 Note how all of the prophets continually show that love one to another is the fulfilling of the whole law. Compare Matthew 22:37-40 HOPE OF RESTORATION, 2:12-13 He looks beyond the coming judgment to the New Israel, which is the kingdom of God in the Holy Spirit made of Jew and Gentile under the Messiah, King Jesus.
III. THE SECOND MESSAGE: AGAINST THE LEADERS, 3:1 – 5:15
AGAINST THE RULERS, 3:1-4 AGAINST THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS, 3:5-8 THE FRUIT OF CORRUPT LEADERSHIP, 3:9-12 THE FUTURE EXALTATION OF ZION, 4:1 – 5:15 The prophet is again speaking of the New Israel, the Church, which centers around the Ruler from Bethlehem. He describes the times as the “last days.” This must not be understood as the last days of the world, but, rather, the last days of the Old Covenant. Hebrews 1:1,2 describes the coming of Jesus, the beginning of the New Covenant as the last days. Micah describes the New Israel as living in the midst of a warring world while having a miraculous love for one another. They turn weapons of war into farm implements — a picture of the miracle of hate, bitterness and anger being replaced by the peace and love that is in Christ. The expression, Mount Zion, should be understood over against Hebrews 12:22. In the days of David, it was the place where the Glory of God was manifested and men worshipped day and night. It became a shorthand the prophets used to describe the believing, worshipping people. In coming to Christ and entering into the Spirit, we have come to the reality toward which Mount Zion always pointed. The remarkable prophecy of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem has many echoes of the Davidic covenant. David was born in Bethlehem, and the One is said to be the king who shepherds his covenant flock. David was the shepherd who became kind and shepherded God’s covenant people. Furthermore, the first announcement of Messiah’s birth was to shepherds in the hills around Bethlehem.
IV. THE THIRD MESSAGE: GOD’S COVENANT LAWSUIT, 6:1 – 7:20
GOD’S ACCUSATION AGAINST HIS PEOPLE, 6:1-8 THE SENTENCE OF JUDGMENT, 6:9-16 THE PROPHET ALONE IN A CORRUPT SOCIETY, 7:3-6 HIS ATTITUDE IN DISCOURAGEMENT, 7:7-10 THE ASSURANCE OF RESTORATION, 7:11-20