THE PROPHET Micah lived at the time when God’s kingdom was divided into Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Micah prophesied to the Southern Kingdom during the reigns of its kings Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (Micah 1:1). He spoke out against idolatry, cruelty and oppression in both Judah and Israel, and warned of God’s coming judgements.
Yet, through him, God also foretold the recovery of a remnant of the people (2:12; 5:7–8), the coming of the King (the ‘Messiah’) (5:2) and the ultimate restoration of the Kingdom of God (4:1–4).
Summary of the Prophecy
Chapters 1–3: Judgements on Judah and Israel.
Chapters 4–5: Ultimate restoration of the kingdom under God’s coming King.
Chapters 6–7: God’s desire for justice, kindness and humility (6:8). He will fulfil His promises to the Jews’ ancestors, Abraham and Jacob (7:20).
The Kingdom Restored
The Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, the town of the great King David (5:2). He will be King, not only of Judah, but of the united kingdom of Israel. His capital will be Jerusalem and his dominion will be worldwide. There is a wonderful description of tomorrow’s world in 4:1–4 (which also appears in chapter 2 of the prophecy of Micah’s contemporary Isaiah):
Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Micah 4:1-–2).
Norman Owen
By kind permission of ‘The Christadelphian’
Some interesting links with other parts of the Bible:
Micah 4:2, 8—see Obadiah 17; Isaiah 65:17-25.
Micah 5:2—see Matthew 2:1-6; Luke 1:32, 33.
Micah 7:20—see Genesis 13:14-16; 28:13; 35:12.