Micah Lesson 1

 During the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah  Jotham: Good king who ruled Judah for 16 years, but the people continued in corruption  Ahaz: Wicked king, closed the doors to the temple, sacrificed his son in fire, etc.  Hezekiah: Honored God, followed David’s example. Opened the temple doors, repaired and restored worship. But the people, priests and prophets were corrupt

 Micah’s message was concerning Samaria and Jerusalem, but the focus was on Jerusalem  Pekah and Hoshea were the last two evil kings of Israel (Northern kingdom)  Assyria took the Northern kingdom of Israel captive during the time when Micah heard God’s word

 Micah spoke three messages:  Micah 1 -2 is the 1 st message  “Hear” directed to ALL the people  Micah 3-5 is the 2 nd message  “Hear” directed to the heads and rulers  Micah 6-7 is the 3 rd message  “Hear” directed to the mountains and the hills  “Pattern” sin – judgment – hope  Similar to the message of the Gospel!!

 Theme: Samaria: will become a heap, incurable wound  Verses 1-7: Begins with God as a witness  God: He has a permanent place in heaven  He is sovereign and almighty  Seen as the righteous Judge  He doesn’t allow sin to go unpunished forever

 Verses 5-7: Judgment was coming to ALL of Israel because of the house of Israel and the rebellion of Jacob – disobedience  Evil king Omri, Ahab’s father, introduced Baal worship, built Samaria as capital of Israel  Samaria would become a heap of ruins which happened in 722 B.C. (Assyrian captivity)  Verses 8-9 Micah: Mourned, lamented and wailed because of the destruction to come  Gave God’s message though it was unpopular

 Verses Focuses on Jerusalem  Gath: Philistine town that did not need to hear the weeping  Beth-le-aphrah: house of dust, he called them to roll in the dust  Shaphir: “Pleasantness” would experience shameful nakedness  Zaanan: going out, does NOT go out/escape  Beth-ezel: house of removal will lament  Maroth: bitterness, becomes weak waiting for good

 Verse 12 God sends calamity/disaster  Verse 9 Calamity coming to the gate of Jerusalem is an incurable wound  Lachish: beginning of the sin, rebellion in Zion. Conquered by Assyria in 701 B.C.  Sin Cross References:  James 1:13-15 Temptation is the beginning of sin, it is not sin itself, only the beginning  I Cor. 15:33 Bad company has influence

 Micah 1:13 To the daughter of Zion  2 Samuel 5:7 David captured the stronghold of Zion, city of David, Jerusalem  2 Kings 19:20-31 The “Virgin daughter of Zion” equals “The Holy One of Israel”  Psalm 9:11-14 Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion. Declare among the peoples His deeds  Zion = Jerusalem

 Verses “Therefore” Why? Because of sin, give parting gifts. They are leaving  “I will bring on you the one who TAKES possession” vs. 15  Adullam was a hiding place of safety or refuge. David fled there when running from Saul.(I Sam. 22:1, 2 Sam. 23:13, 1 Chron. 11:15 and 2 Chron. 11:5-7)  Their children, who were a blessing, would go from them into exile vs. 16

 God and His ways:  Exodus 33:13 “Let me know Your ways that I may know You”  Exodus 33:15 “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest”  Micah 2:10 “Arise and go, for this is no place of rest. God had intended this land as a place of peace and rest.

 Verses 1-5 “Woe”: used by prophets to announce judgment.  Sins listed:  Those who scheme/devise on their beds!  The leaders who exploited the weak  Social injustices like robbing, coveting, scheming iniquity, lying and drunkenness  God: He was planning calamity/disaster. One they could NOT get away from  He allowed it and brought it on them

 “Walk” in verse 3: You will not walk haughtily when the calamity/disaster comes  “Walk” in verse 7: The one who walks uprightly is the one who takes heed to God’s Word  Verses 6-7 Lying, false prophets were not speaking out because of sin and rebellion  They did not want Micah to speak out because truth caused trouble for them

 Verses 8-11  God’s people became His enemy  They oppressed the unsuspecting, the women, and the children  Verses Begins with judgment, but ends in hope.  God said: He would surely assemble the remnant  Put them together in the fold.  He is the Shepherd of Israel

 Message is to all people: that includes US  Coming judgment for sin: that includes US  Samaria would become a heap, useless  Her incurable wound would spread  God would send calamity/disaster  Hope: There is ALWAYS hope because of Jesus  SPEAK the TRUTH: even when it is unpopular and will surely bring you rejection.