Resources:
Note on the chapters and the video:
- Overview:
- Micah consists of seven chapters that can be organized in three major sections:
- The first section (Micah 1—2) focuses on God’s judgment on Samaria, Judah, and false prophets. He first speaks of Samaria and Judah’s judgment (Micah 1:2–16), followed by additional judgment concerning those who oppressed them (Micah 2:1–5). In Micah 2:6–11 the focus shifts to condemning the false teachers of Micah’s time, who were leading people astray. The final two verses of this section (Micah 2:12–13) briefly note future deliverance.
- The second section (Micah 3—5) judges the leaders of the people and notes God’s future deliverance as the ultimate leader. The current leaders will be found guilty of various sins against the Lord. Rather than relying on them, God will personally one day come to rescue and redeem His people (Micah 4:1—5:15).
- The third section speaks of God’s ultimate deliverance (Micah 6—7). What begins as a message of gloom and lament (Micah 6:1—7:6) transitions to a celebration of future victory. Micah notes, “But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me” (Micah 7:7).
- The final three verses end on a note of confidence. They emphasize God’s forgiveness, steadfast love, compassion, and faithfulness to His people (Micah 7:18–20).
- Micah consists of seven chapters that can be organized in three major sections:
- Video notes
- The name Micah means “who is like the Lord”.
- Micah 5:4 describes Jesus “And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth.” (NASB)
- Micah was in Moresheth which is in the southern region.
- v1: The word of the Lord that came to Micah the Moreshite —what he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
- The northern kingdom was about to fall to Assyria. Micah’s message was initially addressed to the people of the north but he remained focused on the southern kingdom.
- Things had been going well but were beginning to slip.
- 2 Chronicles 32:21: and the Lord sent an angel who annihilated every valiant warrior, leader, and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria returned in disgrace to his land. He went to the temple of his god, and there some of his own children struck him down with the sword.
- The worship of Baal became integrated into everything they did. As Amos spoke into Israel Micah began to speak into Judah. Micah began to proclaim a message of judgement to people that were persistently pursuing evil.
- There are three warnings throughout the Book of Micah. These three “dooms” are discussed before the book moves into talking about hope.
- The book of Micah is structured as follows: 1/3 focuses on sin, 1/3 focuses on punishment, 1/3 focuses on hope.
- v3: Look, the Lord is leaving his place and coming down to trample the heights of the earth.
- The Assyrians will be used as the instrument to judge Sumaria.
- v4: The mountains will melt beneath him,and the valleys will split apart,like wax near a fire,like water cascading down a mountainside.
- Many people believe this is the way after. This shows that the valley will split. This implies the return of Christ and coming judgement.
- v5: All this will happen because of Jacob’s rebellion and the sins of the house of Israel.What is the rebellion of Jacob?Isn’t it Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah?Isn’t it Jerusalem?
- v6: Therefore, I will make Samaria heap of ruins in the countryside,a planting area for a vineyard.I will roll her stones into the valleyand expose her foundations.
- v8-16 discusses the lamentations for the Lord’s judgement.
- v10-14 address the lamenting of the punsihments
- Micah 2 starts discussing the woes that are to come to rich people because of how they were behaving:
- Micah explains that God’s word will be revealed to those who obey Him
- Micah also calls out the rich and the oppression of the poor
- Micah explains that despite the punishment there will be hope for those who obey God’s laws:
- v12: I will indeed gather all of you, Jacob;I will collect the remnant of Israel.I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,like a flock in the middle of its pasture.It will be noisy with people.
- v13: One who breaks open the way will advance before them;they will break out, pass through the city gate,and leave by it. Their King will pass through before them,the Lord as their leader.
- This is the shepherd leading His people to peace.
- Micah 4 continues to talk about hope for those that obey the Lord:
- v7: I will make the lame into a remnant,those far removed into a strong nation.Then the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time on and forever.
- v8: And you, watchtower for the flock,fortified hill of Daughter Zion,the former rule will come to you;sovereignty will come to Daughter Jerusalem.
- This hope continues to be discussed into Micah 7:
Group Discussion:
- God is very good at those who continue to follow his laws despite the pressures of modern society. We are the remnants that will be gathered by Him.
- Brief chat about the attack on the church in Michigan. Some people think tragedies like this sometimes make it feel like we are living in the last days.
- We are starting a new devotional on Micah in the Bible app.
Praise and Prayer Requests:
- Jim gave us great news about a member of Shizod’s bible study group in Pakistan. Shizod’s cousin had been injured in an attack and it looked like he might die. We prayed for his recovery and today we learned his cousin woke up and seems to be headed for a full recovery!
- I gave praise (thanks) for:
- my health and other blessings I take for granted
- my wife, my children, and my church, the Bible Study Group, Jim’s leadership and his daily messages of inspiration
- I prayed for:
- my wife and kids
- my marriage and all of our marriages and relationships
- to heal divisions within our countries and the relations between them
- for our leaders to govern well according to God’s will
- for peace around the world, especially in the middle east right now (given the war between Iran, Israel, and the US)
- a possible job or self-employment opportunity to better provide for my wife, my children, my church, and my community
