Second Introduction to Micah

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/8/2015 9:17 AM

My Worship Time                                                            Focus:  PT-2 Introduction to Micah

      I thought that since John MacArthur in his study Bible has very informative introductions for each of the 66 books of the Bible that I would quote certain portions of his introduction.

“AUTHOR AND DATE

“The first verse establishes Micah as the author.  Beyond that, little is known about him.  He parentage is not given, but his name suggests a godly heritage.  He traces his roots to the town of Moresheth (1:1, 14), located in the foothills of Judah, approximately 25 mi. SW of Jerusalem, on the border of Judah and Philistia, near Gath.  From a productive agricultural area, he was like Amos, a country resident removed from the national politics and religion, yet chosen by God (3:8) to deliver a message of judgment to the princes and people of Jerusalem.

“Micah places his prophecy during the reigns of Jotham (750-731 BC), Ahaz (731-715 BC), and Hezekiah (715-686 BC).  His indictments of social injustices and religious corruption renew the theme of Amos (mid-eight century BC) and his contemporaries, Hosea in the N (ca. 755-710 BC) and in the S Isaiah (ca. 739-690).  This fits that which is known about the character of Ahaz (2 Ki. 16:10-18) and his son Hezekiah prior to his sweeping spiritual reformations ( 2Ch. 29; 31:1).  His references to the imminent fall of Samaria (1:6) clearly position him before 7:22 BC, at approximately 735-710) BC.

“BACKGROUND AND SETTING

“Because the northern kingdom was about t fall to Assyria during Micah’s ministry in 722 BC, Micah dates his message with the mention of Judean kings only.  While Israel was an occasional recipient of his words (cf. 1: 5-7), his primary attention was directed toward the southern kingdom in which he lived.  The economic prosperity and the absence of international crises which marked the days of Jeroboam II (793-753 BC), during which the borders of Judah and Israel rivaled those of David and Solomon (cf. 2Ki 14:23-27), were slipping away.  Syria and Israel invaded Judah, taking the wicked Ahaz temporarily captive (cf. 2 Ch 28:5-16; Is 7:1, 2).  After Assyria had overthrown Syria and Israel, the good king Hezekiah withdrew his allegiance to Assyria, causing Sennacherib to besiege Jerusalem in 701 BC (cf. 2Ki 18, 19; 2Ch 32).  The Lord then sent His angel to deliver Judah (2Ch 32:21).  Hezekiah was used by God to lead Judah back to true worship.

“After the prosperous reign of Uzziah, who died in 739 BC, his son Jotham continued the same politics, but failed to remove the centers of idolatry.  Outward prosperity was only a façade masking rampant social corruption and religious syncretism.  Worship of the Canaanite fertility god Baal was increasingly integrated with theOT sacrificial system, reaching epidemic proportions under the reign of Ahaz (cf. 2Ch 28:1-4).  When Samaria fell, thousands of refugees swarmed into Judah, bringing their religious syncretism with them.  But while Micah (like Hosea) addressed this issue, it was the disintegration of personal and social values to which he delivered his most stinging rebukes and stern warnings (e. g., 7:7, 6).  Assyria was the dominant power and a constant threat to Judah, so Micah’s prediction that Babylon, then under Assyrian rule, would conquer Judah (4:10) seemed remote.  Thus, as the prophet Amos was to Israel, Micah was to Judah.

“HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL THEMES

“Primarily, Micah proclaimed a message of judgment to a people persistently pursuing evil.  Similar to other prophets (cf. Hos 4:1; Am 3:1), Micah presented his message in lawsuit/courtroom terminology (1:2; 6:1, 2). The prophecy is arranged in 3 oracles or cycles, each beginning with the admonition to ‘hear’ (1:2; 3:1; 6:1).  Within each oracle, he moves from doom to hope—doom because they have broken God’s law given at Sinai; hope because of God’s unchanging covenant with their forefathers (7:20).  One third of the book targets the sins of his people; another third looks at the punishment of God to come; and another third promises hope for the faithful after the judgment.  Thus, the theme of the inevitability of diving judgment for sin is coupled together with God’s immutable commitment to His covenant promises.  The combination of God’s 1) absolute consistency in judging sin and 2) unbending commitment to His covenant through the remnant of His people provides the hearers with a clear disclosure of the character of the Sovereign of the universe.  Through divine intervention, He will bring about both judgment on sinners and blessing on those who repent.”

Now I want to give the Outline that MacArthur has in his study Bible in conclusion.  I had not planned to give another introduction to Micah but after looking over what MacArthur had to say I think it will help us in better understanding what Micah is saying in his book, which of course, was inspired by God.

OUTLINE

I.                   Superscription (1:1)

II.                God Gathers to Judge and Deliver (1:2-2:13)

a.      Samaria and Judah Punished (1:2-16)

b.      Oppressors Judged (2:1-5)

c.       False Prophets Renounced (2:6-11)

d.      Promise of Deliverance (2:12, 13)

III.             God Judges Rulers and Comes to Deliver (3:1-5 :15)

a.      The Contemporary Leaders are Guilty (3:1-2)

b.      The Coming Leader Will Deliver and Restore (4:1-5:15)

IV.              God Brings Indictments and Ultimate Deliverance (6:1-7:20)

a.      Messages of Reproof and Lament (6:1-7:6)

b.      Message of Confidence and Victory (7:7-20)

12/8/2015 9:59 AM