Week 29c--Micah

The third post this week is on the writings of the minor prophet Micah, who prophesied in the days of Jotham, Ahaz and (my new hero) Hezekiah. 

There is a lot of pain and anguish in the book of Micah, with a great deal of focus on the specific sins of the people. God promises the people will be judged for their rebellion. He also pronounces specific pain and anguish on evildoers in chapter 2. We find list of wrongs committed. Yet, as in all the prophets we have read, there is hope. The remnant will be gathered like a shepherd gathers his flock; He will lead them as their king.

In chapter 3 we find words specifically against false prophets. God has other harsh words in this chapter, too. Jerusalem is soon to become a heap of ruins.

Hope is found in chapter 4, however. “In the last days...” things will be better. This will be a peaceful, fruitful time; some say that this chapter points to the Second Coming of Christ. Micah echoes the “swords into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks” imagery that we read last week in Isaiah. God also tells the people that they will go to Babylon, but that they will be rescued.

Micah 5 contains prophecies concerning Jesus. “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. And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth.” (5:2, 4).

By the time we get to chapter 6, God is finished with His charges against His people.  He asks, “How have I exhausted you? Do you not remember what I have done?” The people want to know how best, then, to honor God. Micah tells them in 6:8: “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?”

Chapter 7 begins with the words “Woe is me!” Here again there is a list of the unrighteous doings of the Israelites. Fortunately, prophets always deliver the bad news first. Micah 7:7-8 gives us these words: “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me.” 

Despite the wretchedness of this present world, hope, promise, life, forgiveness and restoration wait for God’s people.