Micah 1

Micah 1

1 The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

2 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.

3 For behold, the Lord is coming out of his place,

and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.

4 And the mountains will melt under him,

and the valleys will split open,

like wax before the fire,

like waters poured down a steep place.

5 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?

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.

7 All her carved images shall be beaten to pieces,

all her wages shall be burned with fire,

and all her idols I will lay waste,

for from the fee of a prostitute she gathered them,

and to the fee of a prostitute they shall return.

8 For this I will lament and wail;

I will go stripped and naked;

I will make lamentation like the jackals,

and mourning like the ostriches.

9 For her wound is incurable,

and it has come to Judah;

it has reached to the gate of my people,

to Jerusalem.

10 Tell it not in Gath;

weep not at all;

in Beth-le-aphrah

roll yourselves in the dust.

11 Pass on your way,

inhabitants of Shaphir,

in nakedness and shame;

the inhabitants of Zaanan

do not come out;

the lamentation of Beth-ezel

shall take away from you its standing place.

12 For the inhabitants of Maroth

wait anxiously for good,

because disaster has come down from the Lord

to the gate of Jerusalem.

13 Harness the steeds to the chariots,

inhabitants of Lachish;

it was the beginning of sin

to the daughter of Zion,

for in you were found

the transgressions of Israel.

14 Therefore you shall give parting gifts

to Moresheth-gath;

the houses of Achzib shall be a deceitful thing

to the kings of Israel.

15 I will again bring a conqueror to you,

inhabitants of Mareshah;

the glory of Israel

shall come to Adullam.

16 Make yourselves bald and cut off your hair,

for the children of your delight;

make yourselves as bald as the eagle,

for they shall go from you into exile.

-Pray

Sermon Title: "The Heartbreak of Holiness: God’s Warning and Call in Micah 1"

Opening Illustration:

Imagine a father who, after years of pleading with his son to make wise choices, sees him walking down a self-destructive path.

He watches helplessly as his son disregards every warning, every lesson, every plea to turn back.

The father’s heart is broken, not because of a lack of love but because of it.

His love is so great that watching the consequences unfold brings him deep sorrow.

This is similar to what we see in Micah chapter 1, where God, out of love and justice, confronts His people with heartbreaking but necessary judgment.

Background:

The book of Micah was written by the prophet Micah, who ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Micah 1:1).

This was a time of turmoil in Israel’s history.

Assyria, led by brutal kings like Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon II, was expanding its empire.

The northern kingdom of Israel had fallen to Assyria in 722 B.C., and Judah stood next in line for judgment if they didn’t turn back to God.

Micah’s message was a mixture of sorrow and urgency, spoken to a nation spiraling toward destruction due to its sin.

Main Point 1: The Summoning of the Nations to Witness God’s Judgment (Micah 1:2-5)

Scripture: "Listen, all you peoples; pay attention, earth and all who are in it, that the Sovereign LORD may bear witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple" (Micah 1:2, NIV).

Exposition: Micah opens by calling “all you peoples” (Hebrew: ‘ammi) to listen.

This is a divine summons from God’s courtroom, not just for Israel and Judah but for all nations.

The Hebrew word ‘ammi implies a call to all people groups, suggesting that this judgment is not isolated but has universal implications.

Historical Background: During this period, Assyria was known for its cruelty, and smaller nations like Judah and Israel would have recognized the might and dread of facing judgment.

This summons reveals that God is not only the God of Israel but the Sovereign Judge over all nations.

He stands in His holy temple (v. 2) — a reference to His throne of authority, above human politics and conflicts.

Application: This passage reminds us that God sees and judges all the earth.

No person or nation can claim ignorance before Him.

God calls all people to heed His ways, and this includes us today.

Main Point 2: The Dreadful Descent of the Holy God (Micah 1:3-4)

Scripture: "For behold, the LORD is coming out of His place; He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. The mountains will melt under Him, and the valleys will split, like wax before the fire" (Micah 1:3-4, NKJV).

Exposition: The phrase “coming out of His place” (Hebrew: yatsa‘ memqomo) conveys the idea of God leaving His position of grace and mercy to descend in judgment.

The imagery here is intense.

God’s holiness is like fire, melting mountains like wax.

This isn’t an arbitrary punishment but a necessary response to Israel and Judah’s sin.

Historical Leaders and Timeline: Jotham’s reign was marked by continued worship of God, though high places remained, which were often associated with idolatry.

Ahaz, his son, became one of the most idolatrous kings, even offering his children to foreign gods.

Under Hezekiah, there was reform, but Micah’s warning was still urgent: even during revival, the lingering effects of past sins could bring judgment.

Application: God’s holy presence has the power to melt what we view as immovable.

Just as mountains represent stability, we can hold to things in our lives that we think are unshakeable.

But in God’s presence, idols are exposed and crumble. This passage calls us to examine our lives and surrender anything that stands in the place of God.

Main Point 3: The Cause of Judgment - Israel’s Sin and Judah’s Complicity (Micah 1:5-7)

Scripture: "All this is because of Jacob’s transgression, because of the sins of the people of Israel. What is Jacob’s transgression? Is it not Samaria? What is Judah’s high place? Is it not Jerusalem?" (Micah 1:5, NIV).

Exposition: Micah identifies the reason for this devastation: sin. Samaria and Jerusalem are referenced as centers of idolatry.

The phrase “high place” (Hebrew: bamah) refers to places of worship on elevated sites, where idols were often placed.

Micah addresses both Israel and Judah because both have contributed to this spiritual corruption.

Original Language Note: The Hebrew word pesha‘ (transgression) implies a rebellious breach of covenant.

This wasn’t accidental sin; it was deliberate rebellion against the covenant relationship established by God.

They knew the laws but chose to ignore them, corrupting the very places meant for worship.

Application: Like Israel and Judah, we, too, can fall into cycles of sin, justifying behavior we know is wrong.

This passage challenges us to examine any high places in our lives, areas where we knowingly place other things above God. God’s judgment is sobering, but it’s also an invitation to repentance.

Main Point 4: The Mourning of the Prophet - A Heart Grieved by God’s Judgment (Micah 1:8-9)

Scripture: "Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl, for her wound is incurable; it has come to Judah" (Micah 1:8-9, NIV).

Exposition: Micah’s reaction is visceral. His deep mourning — barefoot, naked, howling like a jackal — shows a profound identification with God’s grief over sin and judgment.

The prophet’s mourning is not just personal; it reflects God’s own heartbreak over the people He loves.

Application: Micah’s response challenges us as believers. Do we grieve over sin, or do we merely accept it as inevitable? When we see God’s truth violated, do we feel compelled to intercede for others?

This passage calls us to a holy sorrow over sin, not to condemn, but to drive us to prayer and action.

Closing Illustration: A Current Events Story of Compassion Amid Judgment

As we look around the world today, we see natural disasters, wars, and widespread brokenness.

Just recently, in areas devastated by conflict or tragedy, volunteers rush in with aid, food, and support.

A journalist asked one of these volunteers why they risked their lives, and they replied, “Because someone has to show them they’re not forgotten.”

Amid the devastation, people find hope through the compassion of others.

Closing Application:

Just as those volunteers rushed in to bring hope, God’s message through Micah is ultimately one of redemption.

Yes, He brings judgment, but He also brings hope through repentance. God’s heart breaks for those who reject Him, but He still calls them back.

We, too, are called to reach out with love and truth, warning those around us and offering the hope of reconciliation with God.

Micah’s message reminds us that judgment is real, but so is God’s love. In a world heading down dangerous paths, God calls us to be agents of hope, compassion, and truth.

May we heed His warning, share His message, and live in a way that reflects His heart.

-Pray

-Invitation