A Brief Look at the Prophet Micah

“Attention! Let all the people of the world listen! Let the earth and everything in it hear. The Sovereign Lord is making accusations against you; the Lord speaks from his holy Temple.” – Micah 1:2

            Micah is a book that speaks of God’s wrath and his love. God was angry at both the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. His anger burned against Israel, for their rebellious spirit and Judah, for their multitude of sins. Micah lists the sins: fraud, theft, greed, extreme indulgences, oppression, hypocrisy, heresy, injustice, extortion, lying, murder and other offenses. God’s patience was being tested. His judgment will more specifically include the false prophets, dishonest leaders and selfish priests in both Israel and Judah. When the people mixed their own selfish motives into their religion the result an empty display of religiosity thus perverting true faith.  

            The thing that we today seem to lose sight of, just at the Jews back then, is that God hates all sin. Sin in its simplest form is disobedience to the standard of God. His hatred burns against it with an all-consuming fire that destroys. If you doubt the reality of his hatred for sin look at what happened to Nineveh in 612 BC. The Babylonians and the Medes completely leveled the city so that it exists no more. God arranged that as judgment for their falling back into sin. 

            Micah speaks in chapter 4 of the Lord’s future reign. At this time according to Micah 4:4, “Everyone will live in peace and prosperity …”.  This is speaking of the Millennial Reign of Jesus on the earth. The Lord promises 1000 years of peace and prosperity. He also promises judgment and punishment for those who will not follow him. Both are certainties that share transpire at their appointed times. 

            Some simply cannot believe in a God who would wipe out all who do not obey him. They see him as tyrannical … a dictator of sorts; a ‘do what I say or die’ type of ruler. There’s a little more that goes into it then that. God set up standards that were universally fair and just. Man, in their ignorance and arrogance, felt he knew better than the God who created them and he still does today. Man wants to be autonomous, relying on no one but himself or herself. It’s a faith issue. Facts and associated proof are not forthcoming for that negates the need for faith. We may consider all the warnings of the Minor Prophets to Israel and Judah to apply to us today as well. “God wants us to change our present behavior because of what we know about the future. Forever begins now; and a glimpse of God’s plan for his followers should motivate us to serve him, no matter what the rest of the world may do.”^[1]

                  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

^[1] Taken from the note for Micah 4:12 from p.1905 of The Life Application Study Bible.