We are about to begin a study of the Book of Micah. Many times, we look around us and are convinced that we are living in a time when evil appears to be overwhelming; however, corruption, social upheaval, and wars have been occurring as long as the human race has existed.
The prophet Micah found himself in one such time. Coming from the rural area of Moresheth – Gath in southwest Judah. Micah was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah, Amos, and Hosea, and prophesied during the reigns of kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, from 737-696 B.C. Micah lived during a time of relative prosperity; however, corruption and idolatry were steadily eating away at the moral and spiritual fabric of Judah. No thanks to the continuing and pervasive influence of King Ahab, Queen Jezebel, and their
descendants, the nation of Israel was already on the brink of destruction.
Micah witnessed the fall of the nation of Israel to the Assyrians in 722 B.C. and was tasked with warning Judah that she too would be destroyed unless her citizens repented of their idolatry. Sadly, the Judeans failed to listen and the Babylonians under Sennacherib devastated Judah in 701 B.C. but did not completely conquer it. Some Judeans repented but then returned to “business as usual” as soon as the threat of invasion was lifted.
MICAH’S PROPHECIES
Micah’s messages combined a mixture of denunciation of corruption along with prophecies of imminent destruction with eventual restoration. According to Wikipedia, Micah was the first prophet to predict the downfall of Jerusalem.
“His messages were directed mainly towards Jerusalem, and were a mixture of denunciations and prophecies. In his early prophecies, he predicted the destruction of both Samaria and Jerusalem for their respective sins. The people of Samaria were rebuked for worshipping idols which were bought with the income earned by prostitutes Micah was the first prophet to predict the downfall of Jerusalem. According to him, the city was doomed because its beautification was financed by dishonest business practices, which impoverished the city’s citizens. He also called to account the prophets of his day, whom he accused of accepting money for their oracles
Micah also anticipated the destruction of the Judean state and promised its restoration more glorious than before. He prophesied an era
of universal peace over which the Governor will rule from Jerusalem. Micah also declared that when the glory of Zion and Jacob is restored that the LORD will force the Gentiles to abandon idolatry.
Micah also rebuked Israel because of dishonesty in the marketplace and corruption in government. He warned the people, on behalf of God, of pending destruction if ways and hearts were not changed. He told them what the LORD requires of them: He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? — Micah 6:8
Another prophecy given by Micah details the future destruction of Jerusalem and the plowing of Zion (a part of Jerusalem). This passage (Micah 3:11–12), is stated again in Jeremiah 26:18, Micah’s only prophecy repeated in the Old Testament. Since then Jerusalem has been destroyed three times, the first one being the fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy. The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, about 150
years after Micah gave this prophecy. (Wikipedia: Micah)
Micah was called to a daunting task, one for which he may have had little initial passion. After all, do YOU want to be the one who has to tell all your neighbors that God hates what they are doing? Throughout the Book of Micah, we never hear any mention of Micah having a wife and family. We also have no idea what the people of Moresheth-Gath, Micah’s home town, thought about Micah’s prophesies. Perhaps Micah’s townspeople were quite happy as long as Micah was denouncing the sins of the citizens of Jerusalem but not nearly so
pleased when Micah attempted to have them take his prophecies to heart for themselves.
The Book of Micah is not a long one, and Micah is considered one of the minor prophets by many Christian and Jewish scholars. But God chose Micah to give important messages to the citizens of Judah for 41 years. In those days, 41 years was a lifetime for many people, and Micah ministered faithfully throughout all that time.
Why is the Book of Micah so short if Micah prophesied for such a long time? Several possibilities present themselves:
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- Micah may have repeated the same prophecies multiple times.
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- There may have been many prophecies Micah gave that were never written down.
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- Micah may have had other businesses in which he was engaged, only issuing prophecies at intervals.
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- Perhaps Micah taught in a school for young prophets.
- The Book of Micah might represent a compilation of the most important of Micah’s messages.
Whether or not men consider Micah to be a minor prophet, God has allowed Micah’s name and his prophecies to be preserved
as part of His Word. God has honored Micah for centuries. As we study this book, let’s remember that in God’s eyes, there are no little people and no minor prophets. To be allowed to give even a single word from the Lord is a precious gift with a value beyond rubies. Such a thought should comfort all of us who know ourselves to labor in mundane and obscure situations. No matter where we are, God sees and God knows all our struggles.
I am certain that when Micah died, he heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Master!” May we all labor to please our Heavenly Father, so that we too will hear those words, “Well done!”
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, thank You that in Your sight there are no little people, but only faithful ones. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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