Woe to those who devise iniquity, and work out evil on their beds. Book of micah, the sixth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, grouped together as the twelve in the jewish canon. Watch our overview video on the book of micah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of micah is in the old testament part of the bible. The organization of the material is thematic, moving from judgment to salvation in both major sections. The length of micahs public activity may have been about 20 to 25 years. The purpose of micah s prophecy is to face the people with their sins and to seek the word of gods judgment that must fall because of their persistent sinning. 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. He warned ahab and jehoshaphat against the war with syria but he was not taken seriously. Much of micahs prophecy is very severe in tone, though it does contain much poetic beauty similar to that of isaiah. Much of micah s book revolves around two significant predictions. It is uncertain if one prophet borrowed from the other, or if they wrote independently.
A ruler to be great in all the earth 16 the ruler to come from bethlehem 2. He was younger than isaiah, and his prophecy might be called a miniature isaiah or isaiah in shorthand, since there are striking similarities. Micah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The one thing every christian should be doing but most are not. Following its superscription, the book has two major sections, each with two parts. The prophet micah identified himself by his hometown, called moresheth gath, which sat near the border of philistia and judah about. This book consists of a collection of speeches, proclamations of punishment and of salvation, attributed to the prophet micah. Micah prophesied during the reigns of the judean kings jotham 750735 b. But we can be assured that all these verses were inspired by the same creator god. Those professing to be people of god were practicing sensual idolatry and the leaders were corrupt.
When god had a message for the people, he gave his message through the prophets. According to the superscription, this judaean prophet was active during the last half of the 8th century bc. In deuteronomy, moses laid out what social justice should look like for gods people. Micahs writings address the themes of judgment and hope. Micah introduction united states conference of catholic bishops.
That s my name and it s the awesomest book so who wrote it cause i want to know. 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. Welcome to a rich, challenging, and wonderful study of the book of micahone of the books of the lords word. There are many striking similarities between the two. The book of micah introduction to the book of micah in the bible. Enjoy and let me know if you want to learn more about the minor.
On the one hand, the prophecies announce judgment upon israel for social evils, corrupt leadership and idolatry. Micah was known to be a prophet, having lived some 150 years before jeremiah. Micah speaks a message from god to all the nations a free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of micah in easy english. During the time of the minor prophets, the nation of israel had divided into two separate countries, each with its own government. Key personalities are all the people of samaria and jerusalem. In many ways the book of micah is a sisterbook to isaiah. He lived in a small village named moresheth, not far from the city of gath, which was destroyed by the assyrians when they invaded judah. Israel, the northern country consisting of ten tribes, and judah, the remaining two tribes in the south. Micah prophesied during the days of jotham, ahaz and hezekiah, kings of judah micah 1.
Under messiah, its elevation is to be not that of situation, but of moral dignity, as the seat of gods universal empire. What uniqueness dos the book of micah bring to gods bible. The book of micah is a candid statement of the wrongdoing of israel and of judah, a forecast of desolation for samaria and jerusalem, and a promise of restoration. Micah was used of god to prophesy butholy men of old spoke as god the holy spirit moved them. At morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. The book of micah is the sixth book of the 12 minor prophets. These messages came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. In the days of jotham micah was one of a number of prophets bringing warning messages.
He began his ministry shortly before isaiah, hosea and amos. Text and commentary on the book of micah micah writes of. And they listened to false prophets false holy men whose words were lies micah 2. In todays video im going to give you a brief but detailed overview of this book and more importantly, how it applies to your life. Author the author of the book is micah of moresheth 1. The message of the book of micah is a complex mixture of judgment and hope. Bruce waltke has written three commentaries on the book of micah. This book makes clear from its opening verse to its closing verse that everything that is shared in this prophecy is from the lord alone. In this book, micah announces that gods justice is coming in order to create a new future of love and faithfulness on the other side of israels sin and exile. Jotham and hezekiah were good kings, but ahaz was very wicked. The world power at this time was assyria which had conquered the northern kingdom of the divided israel.
There are a number of passages in the book of micah that are similar to sections of scripture in the book of isaiah. Micahs hometown of moresheth is probably the same town identified later as moreshethgath in the shephelah rolling hills of judah. Micahs career began a little later than his contemporaries, isaiah and hosea isaiah 1. Micah was a contemporary of the great prophet, isaiah, and his book is of a similar style. And in light of the other old testament documents they had at the time, they indeed should have known better. This book also contains a significant messianic prophecy 5. For many people, micah is the favorite of the minor prophets. However, micah also eloquently stated that heavenly father hears the prayers of his children and that jesus christ is an advocate for and a light unto all see micah 7.
Top 5 commentaries on the book of micah ligonier ministries. In beginning the second oracle, micah first addressed israels corrupt rulers as in 2. Micah was a contemporary of isaiah and prophesied during the reigns of jotham, ahaz, and hezekiah micah 1. Yet their conduct toward the poor was like the butchering of animals verses 23. Ostensibly, it records the sayings of micah, whose name is mikayahu hebrew. Ewald and wellhausen attacked the unity of this book. First, it provides a point of comparison with the major prophetic book of isaiah. The purpose of the book of micah was to proclaim warning and judgment to both the northern and the southern kingdoms.
Micah 4 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. Then follows the announcement of gods judgment over samaria capital of the northern kingdom and over jerusalem capital of judah. The book of micah is the sixth of the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible old testament. Micah called for repentance and announced judgment. The prophet micah from the village city of moresheth wrote this book. Micah is the sixth of the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the bible. Therefore, when judgment came and they cried for help, god didnt answer verse 4. Micah free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. The author of the book of micah was the prophet micah micah 1. This summary of the book of micah provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of micah. The contribution of the book of micah is at least threefold. It is possible that he was a friend of isaiah, and his prophecy has been called that of a miniature book of isaiah.
Like amos, micah calls the peoples injustice to light. The book of micah was likely written between 735 and 700 b. Micah was a prophet so passionately committed to delivering his message that once stripped himself naked to bring his point across micah 1. For example, micah taught that the sins of the leaders of israel would result in the destruction of jerusalem see micah 3. This was about the same time as hosea and isaiah, though micah may have served somewhat later. Summary of the book of micah the story of the bible. In his earlier years he does not appear to have an understanding of the law although he was intent on honouring god in his own way. Micah warned the people in israel and judah micah 1. Micah admonishes the people, telling them that they should have known better. Living in this village, micah came into daily contact with the people who suffered most from the system of land tenure against which isaiah protested.
The book of hosea consists of fourteen chapters, which was the record for a minor prophet until zechariah tied it a couple centuries later. Jehovahs mountain elevated 15 swords into plowshares 3 we will walk in jehovahs name 5 restored zion to be made strong 6 5. Apparently micah died in peace in the days of good king hezekiah jer. The second was a larger and more technical commentary that appeared in the set on the minor prophets edited by thomas mccomiskey. The first was a small commentary that appeared in the tyndale series together with small commentaries on obadiah and jonah. Little is known about the prophet micah beyond what can be learned from the book itself and from jer 26. Micah filled with power by jehovahs spirit 8 priests instruct for money 11 jerusalem to be heaps of ruins 12 4. Judgment and restoration inspire fear and hope, two ideas wrapped up in the final sequence of micah s prophecy. Book of micah overview insight for living ministries. The verse clearly speaks of a coming king in israel, but does it predict the coming of the messiah. Sometimes, in fact, this book is called isaiah in miniature because it is a much briefer presentation of essentially the same message as the prophecy of isaiah. The book of micah consists of three serious prophetical speeches each beginning with hear. This village was one of many that was captured by sennacherib in his attack on judah in 701 bc.
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