THE BOOK OF MICAH. Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity? And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?

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1 THE BOOK OF MICAH Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity? And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. Micah 7:18

2 Micah: Study Aids Compiled by Dan McClung Micah: Introduction Have you ever read someone else's letter? Did you know the people and events in it? Could you understand the basic ideas & messages? Was Micah written to us? (Ref. Micah 1:2) Who was it written to? What do you anticipate we can learn about the nature of God and man from this book? How can this knowledge help us today? Micah: Study Objectives A basic understanding of the book by survey. To better understand the nature of God & our relationship with Him. 1 Cor. 14:3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. 1 Peter 1:10-12 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven things into which angels long to look. Search for Key Texts & Key Truths. Understand the book's historical context. Micah: Study Methods Reading of the scripture (personal/class). Preparation by using question/answer sheets for each chapter. Class discussion of message and context. Discussion questions in class. Identification of Key Verses and Key Truths in each chapter. Personal internet study with reliable scholars.

3 Micah: Book Synopsis Micah was a prophet sent by God to the tribes of Israel and Judah. Micah warned the people in Israel and Judah (Micah 1). God would punish them for their evil deeds. The people had cruel schemes. They were thieves. And they listened to false prophets (false holy men) whose words were lies (Micah 2). God did not want terrible things to happen. God wants to teach people. And he wants the nations to be at peace (chapter 4). God promised to send a leader for Israel. This leader would be from Bethlehem. We now know that this leader was Jesus (Micah 5:1-5). So, God accused the people (Micah 6). God did not want their gifts (Micah 6:6). God wanted them to be humble and to do the right things (Micah 6:8). But they refused to obey God. They were proud, and they did many evil deeds. This is why God would punish them (Micah 6:9-16). But afterwards, when the people served God, Israel would become a great nation again (Micah 7:7-20). Micah's message alternates between oracles of doom and oracles of hope. Micah: Another Summary The book of Micah is a Prophetic Oracle. The prophet Micah wrote it B.C. shortly before the Northern Kingdom s fall in 722 B.C. Key personalities are all the people of Samaria and Jerusalem. The purpose of the book of Micah was to proclaim warning and judgment to both the Northern and the Southern Kingdoms. His message was similar to that of Isaiah and was written at about the same. Micah described the impending judgment that would eventually exile the nation. Chapters 1-5 specifically explain the judgment for the wicked nations, For I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the open country, planting places for a vineyard. I will pour her stones down into the valley and will lay bare her foundations (1:6). Then chapter five Micah miraculously predicts the birthplace of the Messiah in Bethlehem. Also in verse 2, he teaches that the Messiah is an infinite Savior, from everlasting, But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity (5:2). In chapters 6-7, Micah declares what God requires of men, 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? (6:8). Micah then God proclaims restoration and salvation to His people, Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love (7:18). Courtesy of the Bible Book Summaries by Jay Smith

4 Micah: Summary & Outline The Prophet. His name means "who is the Lord?" and he was Moresheth, a small town of Gath. He was a younger contemporary of Isaiah and prophesied to both Israel and Judah during the time of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah; and of Pekah and Hoshea, the last two kings of Israel. He sympathized deeply with the common people, being moved by the social wrongs of his time (Ch. 2-3), and became the people's advocate and defender as well as their accuser. He clearly sets forth the wickedness of Judah and Israel, their punishment, their restoration and the coming Christ. As compared with Isaiah, he was a simple countryman, born of obscure parentage and recognized as one of the peasant classes, while Isaiah was a city prophet of high social standing and a counselor of kings. The Great Truths of the Prophecy Are: (1) The destruction of Israel (1:6-7) (2) The desolation of Jerusalem and the temple (3:12 and 7:13). (3) The carrying off of the Jews to Babylon (4:10). (4) The return from captivity with peace and prosperity and with spiritual blessing (4:1-8 and 7:11-17). (5) The ruler in Zion (Messiah) (4:8). (6) Where and when he should be born (5:2). This is his great prophecy and is accepted as final in the announcement to Herod. I. The Impending Calamity, Ch. 1. II. The Sins That Have Brought on This Calamity. Chs In their wickedness they refuse to hear the prophets and are led into captivity, 2: The promised restoration, 2: The sins of the rich and of those in authority. Ch. 3. III. The Promised Restoration and Glory, Chs The promised restoration of the city Zion, 4: The restoration and glory of Israel, 4:6-13 (end). 3. The mighty messianic king to be given, Ch. 5. IV. God's Controversy With Israel. Chs God's charge and threat against them, Ch In lamentation and patience the righteous must wait for a better time, 7: God will have mercy and restore, 7: For Study and discussion. (1) The several accusations and threatenings against Israel and Judah. (2) The different things mentioned to describe the coming prosperity of Israel and of the Messianic period. (3) The false authority of civil rulers, of moral leaders, of spiritual teachers.

5 Micah: His Time Micah prophesied sometime between 750 and 686 b.c. during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (1:1; Jer. 26:18). He was therefore a contemporary of Isaiah (see Isa 1:1) and Hosea (see Hos 1:1). Micah predicted the fall of Samaria (1:6), which took place in This would place his early ministry in the reigns of Jotham ( ) and Ahaz ( ). (The reigns of Jotham and Ahaz overlapped.) Micah's message reflects social conditions prior to the religious reforms under Hezekiah ( ). Micah's ministry most likely fell within the period If Micah himself wrote out his messages, the date for the earliest written form of his work would be c If one of his disciples arranged his messages in their present form, the date would be the early seventh century b.c. If a later editor collected and arranged his messages, the date would still need to be early enough in the seventh century to allow time for his prophecy of Jerusalem's fall (3:12) to become familiar enough to be quoted in Jer. 26:18 c Micah: Some Key Texts Micah 1:2, "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." Micah 5:2, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Micah 6:8, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 7:18-19, "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression 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. Key Word: Hear as in Micah 1:2, 3:1, & 6:1

6 Micah Study Aids Useful Links for online study: (includes many links) or commentary/micah- lbw.htm mes_background.html old- testament- micah.htm Note: I cannot account for the biblical accuracy of all the material in these websites. They are simply provided as tools for your own personal study. Be careful to always consider the bible text against any and all opinions & commentary of men.

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