Micah — Introduction & Outline

Few have argued against Micah's authorship of the book. He was a Judean from Moresheth Gath (1:1,14), a rural community on the border of Philistia and Judah about 20 miles southwest of Jerusalem. It is thus assumed he had a humble background. He is quoted in Jeremiah 26:18 as a respected prophet of Judah during the reign of Hezekiah. He also ministered under the two preceding kings, Jotham and Ahaz (1:1). His preaching evidenced a strong concern for the sufferings of his people.

The ministry under Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah could have stretched from 740 to 697 B.C. Evidently, the main thrust of his ministry came under Ahaz (731-715) and Hezekiah (715-686 B.C.). Micah's prophecy was probably written before the fall of Samaria in 722 B.C. which he predicts (1:6). The prevalent immorality he mentions indicates a time shortly before Hezekiah's reforms, thus a probable date for his writing is about 730-725 B.C.

Though Micah mentioned the fall of Samaria to the north, he was primarily a prophet to Judah. He endured the reigns of Jotham who was relatively good, Ahaz who was evil; and Hezekiah who led Judah in religious reforms. Micah was the rural counterpart to his Judean contemporary, Isaiah, while Hosea ministered in the north. Assyria had reached its zenith of power and posed a constant threat to Judah, especially after the downfall of Samaria in 722 B.C.

Micah indicts Judah for the sins of injustice, violence, and breach of the Mosaic covenant and predicts the righteous judgment of God as deserved discipline. While designed to warn the nation and bring them to repentance, the prophecy also encourages them with the hope of true justice and peace which will come to the remnant when the Messiah comes to reign in His kingdom.

This book is composed of three messages (chs. 1-2; 3-5; 6-7). Each message consists of an indictment of Judah's sins, a prediction of judgment, and a promise of restoration in the future.

The first message announces the judgment to come on Judah (1:1-2:13). The prediction of coming judgment for Judah (1:2-7) is assured by the imminent destruction of Samaria (1:6). Because of the terrible nature of the judgment and captivity, the prophet laments for his people (1:8-16). Next, he describes the specific sins of the nation that warrant God's discipline (2:1-11). The people practiced evil (2:1-5) while the false prophets prohibited true prophecy and misled the people (2:6-11). The first message then ends with a promise of the future regathering of Israel under the Messianic King (2:12-13).

The second message also announces judgment but focuses more on the blessing to follow (3:1-5:15). Judgment here concerns the nation's leaders (3:1-12). God will judge them because they abuse the people by injustice (3:1-4), give them a false sense of security (3:5-8), and practice all kinds of moral corruption (3:9-12). But here Micah turns his attention to the "latter days" (4:1) and the blessing Judah will experience in the coming kingdom (4:1-5:15). He first describes the kingdom as characterized by peace for all nations and the centrality of the restored nation of Israel (4:1-8). He then relates the necessary events preceding the kingdom (4:9-5:1): Israel must first be taken captive to Babylon, but they will be delivered and will triumph over all enemies. He also describes the future Ruler of Israel who will lead them into the kingdom of blessing (5:2-15). He will be born in Bethlehem (5:2) and work on Israel's behalf by restoring the nation, destroying the enemies, protecting the remnant, and destroying idolatry (5:3-15).

The third message is an interchange of God's complaints against Israel and Micah's pleas in response (6:1-7:20). God first complains about Israel's neglect of Him in spite of His past acts of deliverance and protection (6:1-5). Micah responds by confessing the need for forgiveness and telling the nation what God desires of them (6:6-8). God then complains about Israel's wickedness and predicts their judgment (6:9-16). In response, Micah pleads with the Lord (7:1-20) bemoaning the nations sins and expressing confidence in God's justice. God responds to Micah with a promise of marvelous things ahead for Israel (7:15-17). Finally, Micah affirms God's blessing on Israel by declaring His mercy, forgiveness, and covenant faithfulness (7:18-20).

Micah announces the inevitable judgment of Judah because of their sins against God.

However, the bad news of judgment recedes into a picture of Israel's blessing in the future kingdom because God is faithful to His covenant with Abraham.

1. First Message: An Announcement of Judgment 1:1-2:13

   1. Introduction 1:1
   2. The prediction of coming judgment 1:2-7

      1. God calls the people to listen. 1:2
      2. God announces His coming in judgment. 1:3-4
      3. God explains the reason for judgment. 1:5
      4. God describes the results of judgment. 1:6-7

         1. Samaria will be ruined. 1:6
         2. Samaria's idols will be destroyed. 1:7
   3. The lament for the people 1:8-16

      1. Micah laments for his people. 1:8-9
      2. Micah calls others to lament. 1:10-16

         1. The prohibition in Gath 1:10
         2. The mourning of Shaphir, Zaanan, and Beth Ezel 1:11
         3. The distress of Maroth and Lachish 1:12-13
         4. The shame of captivity 1:14-16
   4. The sins of the nation 2:1-11

      1. The sins of the people 2:1-5

         1. They plotted and practiced evil. 2:1-2
         2. God will bring judgment. 2:3-5

            1. God is planning their ruin. 2:3
            2. Others will mock their ruin. 2:4
            3. They will lose their fields. 2:5
      2. The sins of the false prophets 2:6-11

         1. They forbade true prophecy. 2:6-7
         2. They misled the people. 2:8-9
         3. The people are given over to false prophets. 2:10-11
   5. The promise of future regathering 2:12-13

      1. Israel will be regathered. 2:12
      2. Israel will be led by the King. 2:13
2. Second Message: The Blessing Following Judgment 3:1-5:15

   1. Judgment on the nation's leaders 3:1-12

      1. God will judge the rulers. 3:1-4

         1. Their responsibility is justice. 3:1
         2. They abuse the people with injustice. 3:2-3
         3. They will not find mercy with God. 3:4
      2. God will judge the false prophets. 3:5-8

         1. They lead the people astray. 3:5
         2. They shall be made ashamed. 3:6-7
         3. God is able to proclaim judgment. 3:8
      3. God will judge because of all corrupt leaders. 3:9-12

         1. He addresses all corrupt leaders. 3:9-10
         2. He describes their sins. 3:11
         3. He pronounces judgment on Jerusalem. 3:12
   2. The blessing of the coming kingdom 4:1-5:15

      1. The characteristics of the kingdom 4:1-8

         1. Jerusalem will be the center of instruction. 4:1-2
         2. The nations will experience peace. 4:3-5

            1. God will judge the nations. 4:3a
            2. Nations will war no more. 4:3b
            3. People will dwell securely. 4:4
            4. People will follow God. 4:5
         3. Israel will be restored. 4:6-8

            1. Israel will be regathered. 4:6
            2. Israel will be strengthened. 4:7
            3. Jerusalem will have dominiion. 4:8
      2. The events preceding the kingdom 4:9-5:1

         1. Israel will be exiled to Babylon. 4:9-10
         2. Israel will be delivered from Babylon. 4:10b
         3. Nations will gather against Israel. 4:11-13

            1. They intend to defile Israel. 4:11
            2. They are ignorant of God's plans. 4:12
            3. Israel will defeat the nations. 4:13
         4. Israel's ruler will be humiliated. 5:1
      3. The Ruler of the kingdom 5:2-15

         1. The birth of Israel's Ruler 5:2
         2. The work of Israel's Ruler 5:3-15

            1. He will restore the nation. 5:3
            2. He will care for His people. 5:4
            3. He will destroy Israel's enemies. 5:5-9

               1. The destruction of Assyria 5:5-6
               2. The protection of the remnant 5:7-9
            4. He will destroy Israel's military power. 5:10-11
            5. He will destroy Israel's idolatry. 5:12-14
            6. He will judge opposing nations. 5:1
3. Third Message: The Lord's Complaint and Micah's Pleading 6:1-7:20

   1. The Lord's complaint about Israel's neglect 6:1-5

      1. God calls for witnesses to hear His case. 6:1-2
      2. God reminds them about His goodness. 6:3-5

         1. He challenges them to find fault in Him. 6:3
         2. He reminds of His deliverance from Egypt. 6:4
         3. He reminds of His protection from Balak. 6:5
   2. Micah's response in behalf of the nation 6:6-8

      1. Micah confesses the nation's need of forgiveness. 6:6-7
      2. Micah tells the nation what God desires of them. 6:8
   3. The Lord's complaint about Israel's wickedness 6:9-16

      1. God accuses them of wickedness. 6:9-12

         1. He calls attention to His judgment. 6:9
         2. He accuses them of deceitful practice. 6:10-11
         3. He accuses them of violence and lies. 6:12
      2. God predicts their judgment. 6:13-16

         1. He will judge because of sins. 6:13
         2. They will not be able to satisfy their needs. 6:14-15
         3. He will judge because they followed evil ways. 6:16
   4. Micah's pleading with the Lord 7:1-20

      1. Micah bemoans the nation's sins. 7:1-6

         1. He bemoans the lack of good men. 7:1-2
         2. He acknowledges the corruption of the leaders. 7:3-4
         3. He acknowledges lack of trust within families. 7:5-6
      2. Micah expresses confidence in God's justice. 7:7-14

         1. He waits for God's salvation. 7:7
         2. He is confident of God's justice. 7:8-13

            1. Enemies will not gloat. 7:8-10
            2. Israel will be honored. 7:11-12
            3. Enemies will be judged. 7:13
         3. He asks God to be a Shepherd to Israel. 7:14
      3. God promises marvelous things. 7:15-17

         1. The promise is made. 7:15
         2. The nations will be ashamed. 7:16
         3. The nations will fear. 7:17
      4. Micah affirms God's blessing on Israel. 7:18-20

         1. He affirms God's delight in mercy. 7:18
         2. He affirms God's forgiveness of Israel's sins. 7:19
         3. He affirms God's covenant faithfulness. 7:20