Micah - The Neo-Assyrian Prophet

Micah is a minor prophet who preached to the southern tribe of Judah and warned them about the destruction that would come to Samaria and Jerusalem. He emphasized the importance of justice and the dangers of idolatry. The book is divided into three sections of judgment and three sections of restoration. Micah predicts the exile of Israel and the destruction of Jerusalem. He also prophesies about a future ruler from Bethlehem, who is believed to be Jesus. The book teaches us that even in chaotic times, God is in control and we can trust him. I am Julie Callio, your host, and thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to tune in with me today. If by chance you want to contact me, you can do that at zab.bc.pc at gmail.com. Today we are covering the Minor Prophet of Micah. As I have said many times before, the word minor means it is a small book, not that it is insignificant. Last year I covered Micah on August 8, 2023, and at that time we went through the Old Testament in book order. I recommend if you want more detail about Micah that you take the time and listen to that lesson too. This year we are covering the books around the time that they were written, so I will focus more on the context of the book as we look at it today. The thing about prophets is they were around a long time. Moses was the main one in the Pentateuch, and Micah also included Aaron and their sister Miriam as people the Lord raised up to lead the Jews. Once the Jews entered the promised land, Joshua led them, and the Lord raised up judges to lead the people, and some of those judges were also prophets, like Deborah in Judges chapters 4 and 5. Sometimes that era is considered the dark ages of Israel, and the people cried out for a king, and then the next main prophet of the Lord was Samuel, who anointed the first king of Israel, Saul, and then the second and most godly, King David. In Acts chapter 2 verse 30, King David is also known as a prophet. Nathan the prophet addressed King David about his affair with Bathsheba and his killing of her husband Uriah. The next king was King Solomon, who built the temple, and in First Chronicles chapter 25 verse 1, some of the musicians in the temple were considered prophets. Once Solomon died, the people were tired of the burden of keeping up that great kingdom, and Solomon's son Rehoboam said it would be worse under his reign, so the nation of Israel split, and the northern ten tribes became Israel, and the southern two tribes of Judah and Benjamin became Judah in 931 BC. King Jeroboam of Israel did not want his people to go to Jerusalem to worship at the temple, so he made two golden calves, one in the north at Dan, and one in the south at Bethel, for his people to go and worship. Israel began and ended in idolatry. Since Judah had the temple, they did better at worshiping the Lord, but their third king, King Solomon, loved many wives from other nations, and in First Kings chapter 11 verse 3 it says that his wives led him astray, and Judah also was intermingled with other religions and worshiped at high places. As the kings became less godly, God would raise up prophets to address the king and the people. The two main ones in Israel were Elijah, and then Elisha was his replacement during the 800s BC, now we are in the 700s BC, keep in mind that before Jesus the calendar is a countdown, and after Jesus it is counting up to his return. This is the time of the classical prophets, where the words of the prophets were written down, and ladies, so many of the New Testament writers quote from these amazing books, because not only were they prophesying about the events that were happening in their time, but also they prophesied about Jesus and beyond. Paul the apostle wrote in Romans chapter 15 verse 4, for everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the scriptures, and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope. Ladies Paul is talking about the books of the Old Testament, and they are just as relevant to our lives today. So far this year we started with the minor prophet of Jonah, which Dr. Betts explained was during the time that Israel was growing again. He is mentioned in 2 Kings chapter 14 verse 25, even though he was called to preach to Nineveh a major city of Assyria, the written message was still for all Israel. Assyria was not yet a world power, but it was beginning to be. Jesus mentioned Jonah in Matthew chapter 12 verses 39-41, and he says that one greater than Jonah was there, meaning Jesus. Then the next minor prophet was Amos, who proclaimed to Israel during their golden years, and he preached about their social injustice, and proclaimed, but let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream. The two main emphases of the prophets were how they treated people, and their idolatry. The third prophet we covered was Hosea, who married a harlot, because Israel had become a harlot by worshipping other gods. This book called the people to acknowledge the Lord, and it reminded them of the Lord's has said love, his faithful covenantal love. Matthew in the New Testament referenced chapter 11 verse 1, when Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. To show that Jesus fulfilled this prophecy, when Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus came back from Egypt to Israel, after King Herod had died in Matthew chapter 2 verse 15, Hosea declared that Assyria was coming, and that they would be taken into exile, but the Lord would bring Israel back some day. Now with Micah, he is preaching mainly to the southern tribe of Judah, about what he saw concerning Samaria, the capital of the northern tribes of Israel, and Jerusalem. Historically, what happened was Assyria came and wiped out all of the northern kingdom of Israel. They tried to do the same to Judah, but the Lord spared them this time, because of the faithfulness of King Hezekiah, but Micah was warning them. I learned in Old Testament class with Dr. Betts, that the basis of a prophet's authority is direct revelation from God. Chapter 1 verse 1 of Micah says, The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah kings of Judah, the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. The function of the prophet was to relay messages from God to the people. In this book Micah used the phrase my people quite a bit, and in this passage only the kings of Judah, the southern tribe is mentioned, plus his home is in Judah, and added to that are his many references to Jerusalem, the temple, and so his intended audience is mainly Judah, but again because it is a written book, it is also for all who read it, including Israel. At the time of this writing, this book's scope was for national attention. He actually focused on the leadership of Judah, and his objective was to call God's people back to the covenant relationship with Yahweh. There is debate as to when the book was written, but it was before Assyria demolished Israel in 722 BC. Micah chapter 1 verse 2 says, Hear O peoples, all of you, listen, O earth, and all who are in it, that the sovereign Lord may witness against you the Lord from His holy temple. In this declaration we do see that His message is for all who will hear. He described the Lord as sovereign, which means that the Lord rules over all events of the earth. He is the chief power and authority, and He places the kings in power, and raises them up and lets them fall. In the major prophet of Daniel chapter 2 verse 21 it says of the Lord, He changes times and seasons. He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to the discerning. Ladies, this reminds us that when our world, and even our election seems chaotic, the Lord has His hand on it, and we can trust Him to know what He is doing. The Lord also knows what is going on, and He is not fooled. He witnesses from His holy temple, His heavenly kingdom. Now the book of Micah is set up with three oracles of judgment, and each begin with hear or listen, and they are found in chapter 1 verse 2, chapter 3 verse 1, and chapter 6 verse 1. And in between these three judgments there are three oracles of restoration found in chapter 2, 4 and 5, and starting in chapter 7 verse 8 to the end of the book. Let me just point out a few verses in this book. The Lord clearly declared that Samaria, the capital of Israel, will be a heap of trouble, chapter 1 verse 6, and they and their children will go into exile, chapter 1 verse 16. Chapter 2 covers the sins of Judah, and how they plan iniquity against their own people, and they too will experience disaster. Their prophets declare that life is good, but it is not. Chapter 2 verses 12 and 13, the Lord reminds them, He always has a remnant of people who are faithful to Him, and He will bring them back. With chapter 3, it is the corrupt leaders of Jacob and the rulers of Israel that are to listen. And verse 4 says, Then they will cry out to the Lord, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them, because of the evil they have done. Ladies, there is a danger of living in known sin. There is a chance that someday we may cry out to the Lord, but He may not answer us anymore. In chapter 3 verse 8, Micah tells us about his calling, But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin. Ladies, when we are right with the Lord, there is power in our lives to stand up for truth and righteousness and justice, because the Lord fights for us. The end of chapter 3 predicts that Jerusalem will also become a heap of rubble, and the temple will be torn down. Chapter 4 begins, In the last days, and the Lord's temple will be established. Verse 2 says, Many nations will come and go to the mountain of the Lord. In that last day there will be no more war, and no one will have to train for war anymore. Hallelujah! Since we know of war in the days of the New Testament, this is a reference to the final last day, when Christ comes again. In verse 10 we find that it will not be Assyria who will destroy Judah, but it will be Babylon, and there the people of Judah will be exiled. At this time Babylon is not yet a world power. In chapter 5 verse 2 we see a prophecy of a future ruler from Bethlehem. Now who do you know who was born in Bethlehem? Yep, Jesus! But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come from me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Matthew also quotes this passage in chapter 2 verse 6. The verses continue, and the verses 4-5a say, He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God, and they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth, and he will be our peace. Dr. Beth said in Old Testament class, There is no peace with lostness, there is no peace with sin. The only peace comes through the gospel of Jesus Christ. It comes through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ladies, how is your peace level today? Chapter 5 continued saying that the Lord will fight for Judah, and Assyria will not invade their land. Chapter 6 begins with legal terms that Judah is to stand up and get ready to plead their case, because the Lord has a case against them. The Lord reminded them of all the ways he protected them. They were to remember all the righteous acts of the Lord. Verse 5. Then we have verse 8, which is the key verse of the whole book. He has showed you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you, to act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. The Lord has shown us what he requires, and again it deals with how we treat others and how we treat the Lord. Israel didn't listen, and punishment and misery was coming soon. But Micah says in chapter 7 verse 7, But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord. I wait for God my Savior. My God will hear me. The book ends with chapter 7 verses 18 through 20. Who is God like you? Who pardons sin and forgives the 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. You will be true to Jacob, and show mercy to Abraham as you pledged an oath to our fathers in the days long ago. Ladies, how is your hope level? The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament. The promise he made to Abraham around 22,000 BC was honored through King David around 1010 BC, and it is still honored in Micah's time around 750 BC. Some of his prophecies were fulfilled with Jesus from 0 to 30 AD, and some are still to come, and it is 2024 AD. One of the things C. Hasselbullock said in his book, An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophetic Books, was, History held the key to the future. God was faithful in the past, even through the exile of the Jews, and he will be faithful in the future, because there is no God like him. And he sent his son Jesus, the son of David, to die on the cross for our sins, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but will have eternal life with Jesus, in a place where there will be no more war, and no one will ever have to learn to fight again. It is a place of peace. If you have heard his voice today, please don't harden your heart, instead let's be women of hope who put our trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Micah. Until next time, and thanks so very much for listening.