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Reading Micah
Reading Micah
Micah's time was between 740, the accession of Jotham, and 686, the death of Hezekiah. Such time would be at the ending of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 and the days following that judgment. He speaks also of the coming Babylonian captivity of Judah (4:10).
He was a contemporary with Isaiah, and followed closely behind Amos, and Hosea. Like Isaiah, Micah alternates between pronouncements of judgment and promises of future glory for God's people.
Like Isaiah, we begin by seeing God's reasons for bringing such harsh judgment upon the northern Kingdom. While they were at the peak of their military power and monetary wealth, they were also at the peak of their unfaithfulness to God. God had warned them time and again, but has now come to the end of His patience and longsuffering. Gordon Fee wrote: "note especially the reasons for judgment on Judah. As it is with Isaiah and Amos, the issues are two: idolatry (1:7; 5:12–14) and social injustice (2:1–2, 8–11; 3:1–3, 8–11; 6:10–12; 7:2–3)" (HRBBB, Fee).
Micah looks forward to the coming Messiah and his great kingdom, but alternates such hope with the realization of the present judgment upon Israel. Hence, he goes back and forth from present judgment to future hope. [By 'present', I mean in Micah's day, NOT ours! Likewise, future means future to Micah, not us].
Judgment - 1:1 - 2:11
God will yet gather the remnant - 2:12-13
Judgment - 3:1-12
4:1-8 - Last Days and the Messiah bring peace
Judgment - 4:9-10
Judgment upon the nations and rescue for Judah 4:11-13
Coming Messiah - 5:1-15 (esp. vs. 2 / Matt. 2:6)
Judgment - 6:1- 7:6
Lord is my Salvation - 7:7-20
These things are written that we might learn not to transgress against God as they did (1 Cor. 10:6-9). They also give us hope as God offered salvation in the Messiah (Rom.15:4). Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off (Rom. 11:22)
Hugh DeLong
