#36 On the Nature of God: Learning from His Prophets: Micah

At present, the daily Bible-reading program of the Westside Church of Christ involves reading Micah, one of the Old Testament minor prophets. Three practical lessons and a ray of hope emerge for those living at that time. Focusing on these lessons will help us understand more of the nature of God and draw ever closer to Him.

  1. In the first section of Micah, chapters 1 and 2, God brings His ‘case’ against the transgressions of Jacob, much as in a court room, Micah 1:2, 5:

“Hear, you peoples, all of you; pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it, and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple…

All this is for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?”

The major problem was that they worshipped idols. God was greatly offended and promised the destruction of Samaria, Micah 1:6:

“Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country, a place for planting vineyards, and I will pour down her stones into the valley and uncover her foundations.”

But idolatry gives birth to other sins as well—to social injustice, Micah 2:1-2:

”Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.”

The rich and powerful were using their power to benefit themselves at the expense of the poor.

The lesson to us today is that God knows how we are and if we are living by His rules and truly worshipping.

  1. A major reason for Israel’s and Judah’s sins was the corrupt character of their rulers and prophets, Micah 3:1-2; 5:

“Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?— you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones,…

Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths.”

Their punishment was clearly stated, Micah 3:12:

“Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.”

These were the last warnings. Unless they repented, God was finished with them as His people.

The lesson to us is clear. God knows about our leaders and if they are righteous or ungodly.

Even amid this prophecy of a terrible future, God offers a ray of hope for the remnant of His people, Micah 4:1-2; 5:2:

“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD…

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

Two important points appear in these verses: 1) Many nations would be part of the future Kingdom of God, not just the Israelites, and 2) The Messiah, the leader in the formation of God’s ‘New Israel,’ would be born in Bethlehem.

  1. God continues His case against Israel, Micah 6:2:

“Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the LORD has an indictment against his people, and he will contend with Israel.”

God reminds them of the great thing He had done for them, Micah 6:4:

“For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.”

Yet, they had strayed from His covenant in worship and treatment of each other.

A single verse shows what God requires, Micah 6:8:

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

The lesson to us is forceful, because God does not change. We must seek justice wherever we are, be kind to others each and every day, and walk humbly with God as we pray and worship.

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