Intro to the Prophets: Micah, Nahum

Introduction

The next two prophets in our overview study are Micah and Nahum. A combined 10 chapters, these two prophets prophesied about a hundred years apart from each other. Micah prophesied to both kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Nahum would prophesy against Nineveh.

Background of Micah

Micah prophesied “in the day of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah”. This was around the same time as Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Jonah. I’ve attached a helpful graph to keep track of the dates of all these prophets.

Unlike most of the other prophets who typically preached to one kingdom or the other, Micah actually prophesied against both. Micah was around to witness the fall of the northern Kingdom in 722 BC (he prophesied it would happen), but he also saw how its corruption had begun to spread south into Judah.

Assyria did attack Judah in 701 and Jerusalem barely survived. Many towns in Judah were destroyed.

The name Micah means “Who is like Yahweh?” (which makes for a play on words in the final chapter Micah 7:18 “Who is a God like you [Micah], pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.”

According to Jeremiah 26:17-19, Micah was the one who helped change Hezekiah’s heart, lead religious reforms, and save Judah from immediate disaster.

Micah is known as the “prophet of the poor” because he prophesied against the elites and wealthy who were taking advantage of the middle class and poor citizens.

The Northern Kingdom is often referred to as Samaria by Micah (which was the capital). “Israel” is used to describe both kingdoms, but Judah is usually denoted by reference to Jerusalem.

Micah is also the “home” of one very important prophecy regarding the Messiah...

What to expect when reading Micah

At first glance, the book of Micah seems very sporadic. It jumps between oracles of judgement, oracles of hope, and laments.

The first chapter begins with a prophesy against Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom. It uses very violent language to describe the Lord himself coming down to destroy the city (and the kingdom). Micah makes it clear why this is happening in Micah 1:5 “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?”

The second half of chapter one is a lament over the destruction of the towns in Judah.

Chapter 2 is where Micah really leans in on the leaders of the people.

First he chastises the land barons who were taking advantage of the people. Micah 2:2 “They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.”

Then he attacks the false prophets who were willing to say anything for money. Micah tells them to stop preaching, but they don’t, then the Lord mocks them for tricking the people into thinking “everything is good”. Micah 2:11 “If a man should go about and utter wind and lies, saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be the preacher for this people!”

The final two verses (Micah 2:12-13) are a promise by the Lord to send a true leader and regather his people. It sure seems like the Lord Jesus had these very words in mind when he claimed to be the Good Shepherd, being the fulfilment of Micah’s words.

Chapter 3 contains more oracles against the rulers of Israel. Specifically he compares the “shepherds” to cannibals who are devouring the people rather than protecting them.

In verses 5-8, Micah again condemns the greedy prophets, but with even stronger language. He says that they will “see” nothing but darkness, and none of their words will ever come true. In contrast, Micah is “filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.” (vs 8)

Chapter 3 ends with a declaration that the Southern Kingdom of Judah would also be destroyed because of their sin. That sin is summed up in Micah 3:9–11 “Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.””

We see, as we saw with Amos, that few things make God angrier than injustice.

Chapter 4 is split into two prophecies.

The first is a promise of “mountain of the house of the Lord” shall be established “in the latter days”. This is a beautiful prophecy that can clearly be seen as fulfilled in the church and Christ’s Kingdom. The final verse sums up the beauty of the Gospel: Micah 4:5 “For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.”

The second is a prophecy to Micah’s immediate audience that they would be taken into captivity in Babylon, but would ultimately be rescued.

Chapter 5 contains perhaps the most well-known prophecy of Micah: Micah 5:2 “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.”

It was universally agreed upon that this meant the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, and that is exactly why it is important that Jesus was born there.

But the promise of this king, which Christ fulfilled, continues in Micah 5:4 “And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.”

The rest of the chapter follows a theme of redemption by this shepherd-king, namely destroying the idolatry of the people - but with a warning for those who disobey, Micah 5:15 “And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance on the nations that did not obey.”

Chapter 6 is a sermon set up in the form of a “lawsuit” where the Lord is bringing a case against the people. Micah himself seems to play the part of the people, having to answer for them. Here he makes it clear what the Lord really desires: 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 final chapter of Micah is a lament by the prophet for the state of the people and their impending judgement. But the book ends, as so many of the prophets do, with a promise of hope. That promise was again ultimately fulfilled in Christ, and demonstrates what the Lord has always wanted to do all along: free people from their sins.

Micah 7:18–20 “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.”

Part of the reason the people misunderstood Jesus is because they misunderstood the Messiah’s mission. It wasn’t to free them from earthly slavery, but spiritual slavery!

Background on Nahum

Nahum is another short book that contains a prophecy against Nineveh. Sound familiar? That’s the same city that Jonah preached to! The difference? The two prophets lived about 100 years apart from each other.

In this sense, Nahum also parallels Obadiah as being a prophecy against another people group.

Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire which conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC, and devastated Judah in 701 BC. Despite its apparent repentance and response to Jonah’s message, it ultimately returned to its evil ways. This evil is what led to its own punishment by God in 612 when the empire was conquered by another empire...Babylon.

Nahum’s prophecy, which foretold that destruction, demonstrates God’s sovereignty - something that will be highlighted in Habakkuk as well. Empires rise and fall under His watch. Or as Paul puts it in Romans 13:1 “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

The twist of Nahum is that it sounds almost celebratory. And that’s because it is - Nahum is pronouncing this judgement against Nineveh to the people of Judah, who were no doubt happy to see their enemies put down.

But they failed to realize that the fish that can eat the big fish, might also be able to devour them. And that is exactly what Babylon would eventually do. The Lord makes it clear throughout the entire OT that he punishes all sin in all people groups.

What to expect when reading Nahum

All 3 chapters are consistent messages against Nineveh. Many of the words are direct references to this specific people group and their geography (similar to what we saw with Obadiah and the Edomites). So having a “historical reference” Bible or commentary might help bring clarity some of these verses.

After a lengthy oracle, chapter 1 ends with celebration for “Judah”, which says Nahum 1:15 “Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows, for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off.”

Why is this important? Because Paul quotes it as actually being fulfilled by the preaching of the Gospel in Romans 10:15 “And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!””

Chapter 2 continues the judgement using extremely vivid language of the city being captured and destroyed. Historical evidence indicates that Nineveh fell in pretty much the same way that Nahum described that it would.

The final chapter, another judgement, basically shows the Lord doing to Assyria what they had done to other people groups - taking them captive, piling up their bodies in the streets, embarrassing them, destroying their children, and having their leaders abandon them.

Conclusion

Micah and Nahum demonstrate God’s sovereignty over the entire world. He has no problems chastising his people and the peoples of the world. He did this in the OT and continues to do this today. As Peter puts t in 1 Peter 4:17 “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” Both of these prophets remind us what it is that God expects from us: justice and repentance from sin (and they tell us exactly what kinds of sin God detests!). They also show us how Christ and his Gospel were prophesied well ahead of time, just like the other prophets.