(HBH) The title verse calls this book "the word of the LORD" as those of Hosea, Joel, and Jonah have done. Micah means Who is like the LORD?
Moresheth was a town in Judah. Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah ruled in Judah from 742 to 687 B.C. Between 740 and 700 the Assyrians invaded Palestine repeatedly. In 734 northern Israel and Judah lost their independence and became vassals to Assyria. In 721 northern Israel was invaded; Samaria was destroyed and made an Assyrian province with most of its population being sent into exile. In 716-15 Assyria put down a Philistine rebellion and laid a punishing fine on Hezekiah's Jerusalem. In 701 B.C. the Assyrians laid siege to Jerusalem, only relenting at the last minute by placing a heavy fine on the city rather than destroying it (II Kings 16-20). All this was going on during the time that Micah was a prophet (Mic. 1:1).
The Book of Micah is the centerpiece of the Minor Prophets (the Book of the Twelve). It contains within it the themes of the books that come before it and of those that follow it. It presents in capsule form the message of all twelve books. The Book of the Twelve uses it as a pivot in balancing the eighth century prophets before it and the seventh to fifth century prophets that follow it.
The book has three parts: chapters 1-2; 3-5; and 6-7. Each begins with the call to hear. All three maintain a balanced message to both northern Israel and Jerusalem of threats of judgment and of potential blessings in the future, both of which were part of GOD's plan (4:12).
Author: Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah in the 8th century B.C. Both carried out their ministry in the southern kingdom, Judah, although they also included Samaria (Israel) and "the nations" in the area of their prophecies. During a few years, at the beginning of his career, Micah - also a contemporary of Hosea - lived in a town situated approximately 30 km southeast of Jerusalem, and he pronounced the majority of his prophecies from there.
Micah's name means "who is like Jehovah?" (See the note for 7:18-20). Micah was so completely and sincerely consecrated to his mission, that he was even disposed to go out naked preaching the divine message in order to attract peoples' attention (1:8). Micah's prophecy had an impact that went far beyond his local ministry. Even after a century he was remembered and cited (Jer. 26:17-19), and events that occurred seven centuries later ratified his validity (Matt. 2:1-6; John 7:41-42).
Date: According to his own words (1:1), Micah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham (740-733 B.C.), Ahaz (731-716 B.C.) and Hezekiah (716-686). Since his death happened during the administration of Hezekiah and before the transition period of Manasseh (696-642), it seems a date between the years 704 and 696 B.C. can be fixed.
Background: Between the beginning of the divided kingdom (Israel to the north and Judah to the south) and the destruction of the temple, many "high places" were inaugurated in Judah due to the influence of Samaria. That put Canaanite idolatry in the position of competing with the true worship in the temple of Jehovah (1:5). Micah showed how this spiritual decline would inevitably lead to the judgment of the entire land. And, although King Hezekiah had gained a notable victory over Sennacherib and the Assyrian army, Judah was condemned to fall, unless the nation returned to GOD, repenting wholeheartedly.
Historical Setting: (IBD) The Book of Micah belongs to that turbulent period during which the Assyrians launched their drive for supremacy throughout the ancient world. Micah probably saw his prophecy of judgment against Israel fulfilled, since the Assyrians defeated this nation in 722 B.C. The fall of Israel to the north must have stunned the citizens of Judah. Would they be the next to fall before the conquering armies of this pagan nation? Still, the religious leaders retreated into a false confidence that no evil would befall them because the Temple was situated in their capital city of Jerusalem (3:11). Micah warned there was no magical saving power in their Temple or their rituals (3:12). They needed to turn back to GOD as their source of strength and power.
Style: Micah's introductory declaration (1:1) was written in prose, but the entire prophetic compilation that follows is poetry. The poetic form offered his contemporaries an advantage: his rhythm allowed them to better memorize the message. For us, the disadvantage is that it is more difficult to translate an idiom. Micah expresses himself in very short prayers (in which no words are superfluous), using abundant parallelisms and several plays on names (to which the Hebrews attributed a special importance), on top of poetic turns. He also employs numerous images. For example, instead of saying that the LORD will forgive or make our sins disappear, he declares, "He will bury our iniquities, and cast all our sins in the depths of the sea". The word "sins" can't be avoided, but he describes their interment in the depths of the ocean, from which they will never again be extracted.
Content: Micah is a prophecy about the LORD, who has no rivals forgiving sins and showing compassion on sinners. Compassionate, he maintains the old covenant given to Abraham and his descendants. Micah refers to the "greatness of Jehovah's name" (5:4; see also 4:5; 6:9), as well as the face of Jehovah (3:4), to his glory (2:9), his ways (4:2), his thoughts (4:12), his power (5:4), his righteousness (6:5; 7:9), and his justified wrath (7:9) and furor (5:15; 7:18) against all the manifestations of moral corruption.
In the first vision, the LORD descends from his holy temple in heaven to testify against his people (1:2). The most notable factor in the LORD's management of this case is the distance that he must cover to present his allegation against Israel (6:2), being disposed even to establish himself in the defender's seat and allow his people to present him with all their complaints about the treatment received from their GOD (6:3). What a defense attorney those who are truly repentant will have in the LORD (7:9)!
Although Babylon wasn't yet a power independent from Assyria, the Babylonian captivity (which occurred a century later) is predicted as GOD's judgment against those who have rebelled against Him (1:16; 2:3,10; 4:10; 7:13). But as in the case of Isaiah, Micah's colleague, the hope exists that a remnant will be saved, whether from this captivity, or as a spiritually restored people (the Church) in the days of the Messiah (2:12,13; 4:6,7; 5:3,7,8; 7:18). The LORD will deliver the remnant (2:12,13; 4:3-8.10; 5:9; 7:7).
Micah had to censure the leadership of the nation for oppressing the flock which had been entrusted to them. However, GOD's great compassion determines his attitudes and actions toward his people, represented as a wandering daughter (1:13, 4:8,10,13). Thanks to the compassion that once led him to redeem Israel from Egypt (6:4), he will redeem Judah from Babylon (4:10). His compassionate faithfulness to Abraham and the Patriarchs (7:20) is renewed with each generation. This message points to the central message of all prophecy: "Who is a GOD like you, who pardons iniquity, and forgets the sin of the remnant of his inheritance?" (7:18). Jehovah's compassion (7:18,19) is the precious attribute that no false god can equal. Compassion and faithfulness to the covenant are things that can only be attributes to GOD. The hope of the people of living under the full blessing of GOD was related to the coming of the Messiah. GOD in his love, knowing the glories of his grace that would be manifested in Jesus, always declared that the day of his coming and the future kingdom were the things in which his faithful should place their hopes.
Theological Contribution: (IBD) The mixture of judgment and promise in the Book of Micah is a striking characteristic of the Old Testament prophets. These contrasting passages give real insight into the character of GOD. In His wrath He remembers mercy; He cannot maintain His anger forever. Judgment with love is the ironic, but essential, work of the LORD. In the darkest days of impending judgment on Israel and Judah, there always was the possibility that a remnant would be spared. GOD was determined to maintain His holiness, and so He acted in judgment on those who had broken His covenant. But He was just as determined to fulfill the promises He had made to Abraham centuries earlier. This compelled Him to point to the fulfillment of the covenant in the kingdom to come.
Perhaps the greatest contribution of the Book of Micah is its clear prediction of a coming Savior. The future Messiah is referred to indirectly in some of the prophetic books of the Old Testament. But He is mentioned directly in the Book of Micah.
This prophecy of the Messiah's birth is remarkable when we think of the circumstances that were necessary to bring it to fulfillment. Although they were residents of Nazareth, Mary and Joseph happened to be in Bethlehem at the right time when the Messiah was born about 700 years after Micah's prediction. This is a valuable lesson on the providence of GOD. He always manages to work His will through a unique combination of forces and events.
Special Considerations: (IBD) Micah begins his words of judgment with calls for the people to come to court. GOD is portrayed as the prosecuting attorney, the witness for the prosecution, and the sentencing judge. GOD is a witness against His people (1:2); He demands justice (3:1); He even calls upon the elements of creation to be His witnesses, since He has a legal dispute against His people (6:1-2). This type of language is also found in the Book of Isaiah (Is. 1:2). It is likely that Isaiah and Micah drew this terminology from the Book of Deuteronomy (Deut. 31:28). The clear implication is that GOD has the right to hold His people accountable for their behavior.
GOD insists that His people keep their part of the covenant agreement. But even while making His demands, He holds out the possibility of grace and forgiveness. This leads his Covenant People to declare, "You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old" (7:19-20).
Christ Revealed: The prophecies about Christ fill the Book of Micah with encouragement and hope. It begins with a wonderful description of the coming of Jehovah (1:3-5). It corresponds with later prophecies describing the details of his entrance into history. But from the beginning GOD's willingness to descend and live among men is established.
The first Messianic prophecy takes place in a pastoral scene. After their native land has been profaned and destroyed, a remnant of the captives will be gathered as sheep to their fold. Afterward, someone will bring them out of there and will open the door that leads to freedom (2:12,13). That Someone is their "King" and "LORD". The entire episode wondrously agrees with Jesus' announcement about the liberty of the captives (Luke 4:18), while he truly frees them physically and spiritually.
Micah 5:2 is one of the most famous prophecies of the Old Testament. It confirms that biblical prophecy is "the Word of the LORD" (1:1; 2:7; 4:2). The term "Word" of Jehovah is a title applicable to Christ (John 1:1; Rev. 19:13). The prophecy of Micah 5:2 is explicitly Messianic ("LORD in Israel" and specifies the place of the Messiah's birth, when Bethlehem was a scarcely known locality. His words were pronounced many centuries before that event; he didn't have local indications (or signs) on which to base them. Another aspect of this prophecy is that it couldn't have referred to any other leader born in Bethlehem. Christ is the only one to whom it could have referred, because He is supplied as LORD forever: "And his goings are from the beginning, from the days of eternity". This prophecy sublimely declares the humanity as well as the deity of the Messiah.
The prophecy of Micah 5:4,5 affirms the Messiah's role as shepherd ("he will feed"), his anointment ("with Jehovah's power"), his deity ("in the majesty of Jehovah's name"), and his humanity ("his GOD"), his universal dominion ("he will be made great unto the ends of the earth"), and his position as leader of a peaceful kingdom ("And He will be our peace").
The culminating point of the prophecy (7:18,19), plus the final verse (7:20), although the name Messiah isn't mentioned, refers undoubtedly to Him. By expressing his divine mercy and his compassion, He is the one who "will bury our iniquities" and cast them into the depths of the ocean, so that GOD can pardon sins and replace them with the truth.
The Holy Spirit in Action: An outstanding reference to the Spirit of GOD occurs when Micah contrasts the authority that endorses his ministry with that of the false prophets of his time. While others make noise inventing stories under the guise of prophecies, the true power, strength and righteousness that sustains Micah's message comes from his anointment by the "Spirit of Jehovah" (3:8).
Personal Application: Micah has much to contribute to the understanding of our present relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ. The liberation from the very extensive moral and religious sins of avarice and idolatry of those remote days, can be obtained today following Jesus by the ways of the kingdom of GOD. Micah's prophecy should make us all wonder before the incomparable Jehovah, who revealed himself in the humanity of Jesus as the personified compassion and truth of GOD.
Micah's generation was ruled by the mercenary activity of unfaithful governments, judges and prophets (3:1). Compare these with "the great shepherd of the sheep" (Heb. 13:20), whose compassion led him to deliver himself for them, until shedding his blood. In the same way, Micah, a true prophet of GOD, was disposed to pay a high price to accomplish his ministry, even that of walking around naked proclaiming the message with which he had been entrusted.
| Home | Site Index | Bible Index |
| Kingdom Dynamics | Truth in Action | Links |
