MICAH: DANGERS OF EVIL
Historical Background of the Book of Micah
A Short Summary of Micah
Background of the Book of Micah
Book Overview of Micah 1-7
Themes in Micah
Historical Background of the Book of Micah
Along with a great influx of wealth into the Israelite society during Micah’s time, came an increasing number of social evils. A quasi–peace pervaded over the smaller regional nations, which in some respects is much like post–war America. Accompanying the loss of morals came a warped view of God and a corrupt religious community.
At this point the Northern and Southern Kingdoms (Israel and Judah) were happy with class oppression, decadent religious observances (6:7), and smug contentment before their God. In light of their rejection of Him, God was raising up a nation (Assyria) that would in the near future (722-721 BC) swallow up their wickedness.
A Short Summary of Micah
God in His grace interrupted this decadent society. He destroyed what was left and chose to raise up a remnant of faithful who would be loyal to His cause and person. Those refusing to join the remnant are cast into the great pot of judgment with the rest of the nations. God was doing something new. He was going to build His promised kingdom and nothing would thrwart His purpose.
Background of the Book of Micah
- Micah means ‘Who is like Jehovah’ or ‘Who is like Jehovah?’
- Key word is ‘hear.’(1:2)
- Micah is a contemporary with Isaiah. Can’t tell if one copied or collaborated together.
- Time of Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah - 758-698 B.C.
- Message to both Northern and Southern Kingdoms (Israel and Judah).
- Theme: Book of Righteousness of God
- Micah had a simple life while Isaiah of nobility.
- Micah's key verse: He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8).
- New Testament key verse: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33).
Book Overview of Micah 1-7
The following diagram shows how many times and where in Micah words of comfort and hope are used compared to words of warning and judgment. Remember the chapter divisions are artificial but even still the diagram enables us to get a good overview of the book and God's purpose. For example one can see God's faithful words even to a recalitrant society.
God's faithfulness to preserve God’s people
The obvious is not so obvious. Many have taken God’s anger against His people as a sign that He has “dropped” His people and His plan. If we went back just several hundred years, we would have met David and his family. But now the society has degenerated in a society marked by the characteristics of nations around them rather than God. The nations are ready to gobble up the north and south kingdoms (4:11), but they do not understand His remaking a kingdom by a remnant (4:6-7; 5:7).
Themes in Micah
1. Breaking Through Sin’s Power SOURCES OF HOPE (ch. 1-4)
(also 3 sections of hope through book)
A. God speaks through man (1:1)
B. God speaks through judgment (4:9-10)
C. God speaks to encourage
1) 2:12-13
2) 4:1-5
3) 4:6-8
D. Hope is in forgiveness (7:19-20)
2. Called by God
- A. Hear O peoples (ch. 1-2)
- B. Hear now, heads of Jacob (ch. 3-5)
- C. Hear now (ch. 6-7)
- B. Hear now, heads of Jacob (ch. 3-5)
3. Absence of Righteousness: Growth of Evil
Evil grows: Noah in Genesis 8.
Evil can be restrained: God divides mankind by different languages at the tower of Babel in Genesis 11.
Our heart, emotions, body and will all make up part of our sin nature which separate us from God (Is 59:2. Letﾕs see how these evils make up part of our society (Stott wrote a book on Ephesians ﾒNew Societyﾓ).
1. 1:6-7,9 Good is more easily affected by evil than evil by good.
2. 2: 6-7 Pressure is put on good men to silence them.
3. 2:11 People choose leaders not higher than themselves, but like themselves.
4. 3:1-4 Government leaders treat people like animals.
5. 3:2 Confusion of morals.
6. 3:6-7 Religious leaders get less inspiring to do good.
What dangers of evil do we face today?
4. Injustice (Ps 10:1; Ps 2:1-2)
- Trust in God to work it out
- Correction of evil
- Place of prophet Cause of judgment
- Promise - security of justice
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5. God’s plans and purposes
- With Samaria a) Heathen (ch. 1-2)
- With Jerusalem b) Hardened (ch. 3-5)
- Life after judgment c) Hearers (ch. 6-7)
Other Micah Files
Micah Themes & Background
Micah Outline_Summary
Micah 4:1-5 Mountain of the Lord Questions
Micah 4:11-5:5 Commentary
Other Old Testament prophetic studes: Isaiah Haggai Zephaniah
Paul J. Bucknell
NASB used