Micah

Book Introduction

Micah means “who is like Jehovah.”  He lived from 750-680 B.C. at the same time as Isaiah.   Isaiah’s messages were spoken to the royalty, while Micah ministered to the average person.  

Micah was quoted in Jeremiah 26:18.

Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah all ruled while Micah prophesied. 

• Jotham – Micah began his ministry about the time Jotham became king.  His father, Uzza, was a great king in Judah; however, he became prideful and attempted to burn incense before the Lord.  He was leprous from that day forward.  Jotham began a co-regency with his father.  Jotham’s reign was characterized as good.  He reigned from 750-731 _BC.
• Ahaz -Ahaz began to reign after the death of his father (possibly with some overlap), approximately 735-715 _BC.  The reign of Ahaz was characterized by not doing what was right in the eyes of God.  He promoted idolatry across the land.  How amazing that Ahaz received one of the most important prophecies in the Bible.  He was hard-hearted and about as far from God as any king in Judah was.  Yet, the Lord told Ahaz to ask for a sign for himself as authentication of the prophecy Isaiah delivered to him (Isaiah 7:7-9).  This was a golden opportunity for Ahaz to repent and trust the Lord.  Instead, Ahaz rejected the opportunity with a false sense of piety.  Therefore, the Lord said he would give him a sign:  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
  • Micah will add his own messianic prophecy in chapter 5.
• Hezekiah – One of the best kings, known for his reform of the nation, and for teaching and encouraging people to trust in the Lord.  Yet, Hezekiah was far from perfect.  He lived through some dark days as the Assyrians were conquering strongholds and eventually stood at the gate of Jerusalem.

Micah is written around three messages beginning in chapters 1, 3, & 6 with the word “Hear,” a command to listen to the Lord’s word.  The first three chapters describe the failure of both Judah and Israel, and predict the judgment that would fall upon each. It is a vivid description of the lack of godliness in both nations. This is followed by a section in chapters 4 and 5 that describes the coming messiah, who is like God in every way.  The last three chapters record God's pleading with the nation to grasp the one thing that could change their lives: the secret of godliness.

Where do you see signs that we in the church have become so much a part of, and comfortable with, the secular society that we cannot hear or see what God requires?  The culmination of the book is summed up in Micah 6:8:

He has shown you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justly,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?