Micah was a contemporary prophet to Isaiah, Amos, and Hosea.  His ministry was to Judah (the Southern Kingdom) during he reign of Hezekiah and other lesser known kings in the 700’s BC.  Jerusalem was the capital of Judah.  Micah uttered many passages of scripture which I think will be familiar to you.  Those are the passages I wish to point out to you in this study.

Micah 2:1,2  Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds!  At morning light they carry it out because it is their power to do so.  He continues his warning against those who want to take land that was not a part of their inheritance.  This deals with the Old Testament laws regarding the laws of property which demands that land stay in the tribes/families to whom it was given.  Numbers 15 and Leviticus 4:1 shows that God deals differently with sin that is committed ignorantly and those that are planned.

There is a current saying that I thought was funny when I first heard it, but now I’m afraid many think it is much too true. That is not funny at all.  “It is easier to be forgiven than to get permission.”  That saying did not come from God..

Micah 2:7b  “Do not my words do good to him whose ways are upright?”  I hear people blame parents for “dragging them to church” so they say that’s the reason they do not go.  This verse supports my  contention that Junior or Sis have already made up their minds they do not want to go to church or they would not have seen it as “dragging.”  Parental advice and instruction do not appear “controlling” unless one’s mind is already in rebellion.  The same application can be made for sinners who do not want to submit to the Lord as their Master. 

Micah 3:2-4, 9, 11 denounces leaders “should you not know justice, you who hate good and love evil, who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones…” Perhaps it is my biases but I believe one finds much more “victimizing” in socialist countries than in the USA.  For that I am thankful.  Almost all third world countries have an elite class who governs, making victims of the common people.  There is no middle class in societies like that. 

Micah 3:5-7 denounces prophets “if one feeds them, they proclaim peace. If he does not, they prepare to wage war against him.”  Experience shows me a lot of this today.  Which pastors, preachers, evangelists get rich?  Those who proclaim everything good is going to happen to God’s people.  If one preaches anything close to a God who disciplines harshly, he can go stand on the street corner with his message.  In my churches we have honored the calling of prophets who sometimes prophesy in church services.  It has been many years since I heard one prophesy correction, repentance, and doom; all they have prophesied for years has been prosperity and health—good stuff.  That is a far cry from what they did years ago. 

Micah 4 relates to the millennial age.  One well known verse here: verse 3 “they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.”   Hey, I thought we were only going to go fishing during that thousand years.  Looks like we still have to work those fields and tend those gardens!  But our King will be Jesus.  Gotta be good.

Micah 5:2  Prophesy of Ruler coming from Bethlehem.  That must be Jesus the Messiah/Ruler!

Micah 6:5-8  A beloved passage that will feed your heart.  Easy read.  Please do so.  What does Jesus require of you?  “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  The New Testament teaches us that that comes after salvation it is not the way to salvation. 

Micah 6:12-16  as God withholds his favor, men try all sorts of things but are never satisfied.  How many people do you see who are satisfied?  No, I need more shopping.  No, I need roses and wine.  No, I need a new house.  No, I need a size 2 body.  No, I’m empty, lonely, and depressed.  I refer to the scripture where Paul says that we prosper as our soul prospers.  Check the soul.  When it is prospering, the discontent goes away.

Micah7:7 and 10  Verses of hope.  “Though I have fallen, I will rise, Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light…”  “He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.  Then my enemy will see it and will be covered with shame.”

Micah 7:18, 19  “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives transgressions of the remnant of his inheritance?  You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.  You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”

Micah ends with these beautiful words as an encouragement to Jacob, son of Abraham.  We are assured that we also share in the blessings of Abraham: 

So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith. – Galatians 3:9