The Written Prophecy of Micah

Quote:
By H. A. (Buster) Dobbs
I. Introduction.
A. The man.
1. Micah was a "Morashtite," that is, from the village of
Moresheth-Gath, a small village near the Philistine border
twenty miles from Jerusalem.
a. Micah was therefore a country man and may have looked
with suspicion on city dwellers.
b. The country preacher knew the conditions in Judah and
Israel because he was "full of power by the Spirit of
Jehovah" (Micah 3:8) .
2. His name signifies "who is like Jehovah?"
a. He was opposed and persecuted by false prophets.
b. He prophesied mainly in Jerusalem during the "days of
Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah."
c. He was contemporary with Isaiah; Amos and Hosea were
prophets in Israel.
B. The background.
1. Assyria became a world power, destroyed Syria and Israel,
and fought unsuccessfully against Judah.
2. Babylon was developing her army and preparing for world
conquest.
II. The Book.
A. Israel and Judah warned and punishment threatened, with a
promise of future restoration (1:1 to 2:13).
1. The word of Jehovah came to Micah -- he "saw" the word
(1:1).
2. Micah calls on all the earth to listen to Jehovah as he speaks
from his holy temple (1:2-4).
3. Israel is condemned and a sentence of destruction is
declared (1:5-7).
a. Samaria and Jerusalem were infested with idolatry (1:5).
b. Samaria to be destroyed (1:6).
c. Samaria acquired wealth by "the wages of prostitution,"
or spiritual fornication (1:7).
d. Assyria, another idolatrous nation, would be given the
riches of Samaria (1:7).
4. Micah mourns for Jerusalem and Judah (1:8-9).
5. Cities already destroyed forecast destruction to come; the
enemies of Judah rejoice; Judah rolls in dust, naked, ashamed
and bald (1:10-16).
6. The powerful in Jerusalem plunder the inheritance of their
fellow man and make the destruction sure (2:15).
7. False prophets oppose Micah (2:6-11).
8. A future liberator will allow return and restoration for both
Israel and Judah (2:12-13).
B. The sins of Judah's princes condemned, Zion's glory to be
restored, birth of Messiah, exaltation of the people (3:1 to
5:15).
1. Sins and punishment of the rulers of Israel (3:1-4).
a. There is no justice in the land (3:1).
b. The powerful abuse the people -- flay the skin from off
them and eat their flesh (3:2-3).
c. The pitiful of the rulers of Israel, in time of invasion by a
foreign power, will not be heard by Jehovah (3:4).
2. False prophets made the people sin and lose confidence in
Jehovah, but Micah spoke the truth (3:5-8) .
3. Rulers of Israel and Jerusalem rebuked for their wickedness,
and the utter destruction of Jerusalem and the temple
foretold (3:9-12).
4. The exiles will be restored to the land (4:1-10).
a. Babylon to capture Judah (4:10-11).
b. Restoration again promised (4:12-13).
5. The birth of Messiah, his rule of peace and the destruction
of Idolatry (5:1-15).
C. Jehovah's controversy with his people; injustice and sin
rebuked; the tender mercies of Jehovah to be renewed (6:1 -
7:20).
1. God's argument against the people because of their
ingratitude (6:1-5).
2. The people ask how to please Jehovah (6:6-7).
3. The prophet tells them what is needed and rebukes their
greed and wickedness (6:8-12).
4. Punishment again foretold (6:9-16).
5. The nation confesses its corruption (7:1-6).
6. The prophet expresses faith in God and in fulfillment of the
promised restoration (7:7-13).
7. The people long for their lost glory and for their former
power (7:14-17).
8. Confidence that Jehovah will restore the nation and redeem
the people (7:18-20).
Shain1611

"SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH: THY WORD IS TRUTH
(John 17:17)

And Jesus Speaking; " He that rejecteth me, receiveth not my words, hath one that, judgeth him:the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in
( John12:48 KJV)