“For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver…” – Isaiah 33:22 (NIV)
Micah, whose name means “who is a God like you,” is a meaningful theme of the Book in the Bible as he summarised the Lord’s prophecy: “Who is God like you, Who pardons sins and forgives the transgressions of the remnant of His inheritance…? (Micah 7:18)
Micah, the sixth of the twelve minor prophets, was from the small town of Moresheth (Micah 1), a village located near the border of Israel and Philistia. It was an agricultural area, which placed him in good company with the prophet Amos, who was a shepherd and took care of sycamore fig trees. He prophesied during the reigns of Kings Jotham, Azah, and Hezekiah of Judah.
A prophet is someone who speaks on behalf of God for the benefit of the people. He may also see into the future and foretell coming events so that the world may be warned. His role is to teach the truth and interpret the Word of God.
Micah begins by speaking of God’s coming judgement and makes it clear that this judgement is a response to the people’s transgressions (Micah 1:5). We see that the judgement will be harsh and unavoidable (Micah 6:14-16).
The main message of the Book of Micah is that the people and leaders need to leave behind their lives of sin and corruption to receive God’s grace, and if they don’t, their cities will be destroyed. This is a clear and instructive message.
Micah prophesied in both Judah and Israel during his lifetime. He believed the people of both kingdoms had strayed away from God and were living in sin and blasphemy. He was particularly concerned about the oppression of the poor by the wealthy and counted it as injustice.
He prophesied the future destruction of Jerusalem and Samaria and then the future restoration of the Judean state. He rebuked the people of Judah for their dishonesty and idolatry and was more concerned for the less fortunate, the lame, outcasts, and the afflicted (Micah 3:11-12; 4:6).
Brothers and sisters, this is a warning for us today. Turn away from evil and do what is right and just in God’s eyes, not man’s. After all, the Word says, “He has shown you, o mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8 – NIV).
Read: Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 69:1-12; John 21; 2 Samuel 2:8-32; 2 Samuel 3:1-21
