Micah: Do What is Right

The Message of Micah: Primarily, Micah proclaimed a message of judgment to a people persistently pursuing evil. He is clear: God judges sin and calls for justice.

For peasants and villagers, these were day of harassment from enemy armies, of hardship because of exploitation by the wealthy, and of oppression b y the rulers and false prophets. Micah, as Amos, cried for social justice.

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 (NASB)

Available Lessons

Content Outline

Setting and Timeline

“One-third of the book targets the sin of his people; another one-third looks at the punishment of God to come; and another one-third promises hope for the faithful after the judgment.

Thus, the theme of the inevitability of divine judgment for sin is coupled with God’s immutable commitment to His covenant promises.”
Dr. John MacArthur

“Micah saw the coming judgment of Israel under Assyria (722 BC) as well as the fall of Jerusalem and Judah under the Babylonians (606-596).

He sought to call the the Jews back to faithful worship of Jehovah and sincere obedience to His covenant, but they refused to listen.

He pled for social justice and a concern for the helpless, the people would not repent.”
Dr. Warren Wiersbe

“No, the encouraging part is not that some other message has replaced judgment. It is rather that in Micah’s case the message of judgment was heeded, repentance followed, and the disaster was postponed for a century.

Hosea and Amos were ignored. Jeremiah was imprisoned. But here was one prophet who was listened to and whose preaching therefore changed history.

In coming to Micah we should be encouraged to learn that one man did make a difference.”
Dr. James Montgomery Boice

“Micah preached about both judgment and hope. Israel’s sins could not be overlooked, but neither could the promises of God– including the prophecy involving the little town of Bethlehem, where a Messiah would be born, a ruler whose going forth were from old, even from everlasting.

Sometimes we make the Christian life into something it’s not– placing ourselves under arbitrary, self-imposed rules, long lists of do’s and don’ts, restrictive disciplines, and complicated objectives.

The prophet Micah, however, boils it all down by asking, ‘What does the Lord require?’ He requires us to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.”
Dr. David Jeremiah

About the Author

References

The Minor Prophets Volume 2 (Micah – Malachi): An Expositional Commentary by James Montgomery Boice
Be Concerned: an OT Commentary on the Minor Prophets by Warren W. Wiersbe
The MacArthur Bible Commentary: by John MacArthur
The Bible Project: Micah