Micah Wk 1

 Today is the first of three messages on the book of Micah; one of the twelve books that make up what we call the minor prophets. Minor doesn’t suggest that these prophets are less important, only that their books are shorter. Micah is only a handful of pages long. 

We don’t know much about the prophet Micah; he’s not really mentioned anywhere else. He lived during the time of the divided kingdom, where following the reign of Solomon, the Israelites had fractured into two nations, Israel in the North, Judah in the South. 

This map of the divided kingdom highlights where different prophets were from; you can see Micah’s town, Moresheth-Gath, highlighted down in the lower left, in Judah. It was a small nation; he lived only about 25 miles from the Jerusalem. 

There was a lot of tension between Israel and Judah. The kings in Israel had wandered away from God; they were worshiping other gods and had put pagan idols in the temple. Judah did a little better; they had some good kings, but they had a lot of bad ones who ignored God as well. 

There are a few things that we know about Micah; he seemed to have been educated. Even though his book is short, he wrote in several different styles. He knew different audiences and regions would need to be communicated to in different ways and (apparently) he had the education to do so. He was a prophet for decades, spanning the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.  

We know approximately when the book of Micah was completed; it's a collection of his prophecies put together over time. It was finished around 700 or 710 BC, which means it is at least 2700 years old. 

Micah had a great concern for the poor. This series is called “The Poor Man's Prophet”; Micah wasn’t just speaking to the poor, he was speaking to everyone and advocating for the poor. For the time period, this was considered deviant theology. It was, and is, godly to advocate for the poor, but it was deviant to the people at the time because their assumption was that if you were wealthy, it was because you had done something right and God was blessing you. Therefore, if you were poor, which described about 85-90% of the people, it was because you or your ancestors had sinned in some way and God was punishing you. The wealthy would use this belief to justify not helping the poor; after all, it must had been God’s will that they are suffering and starving.  

Throughout Scripture, God communicates a deep concern for the poor, the downtrodden, and the abused. Scripture communicates that God has blessed the rich so they are able to help those in need. There is a shocking example of God’s concern for the poor found in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. People tend to say that God destroyed them over sexual sin, but in Ezekiel 16:49, we find the one place where Sodom’s sins were clearly spelled out:  

Ezekiel 16:49 NIV

“ ‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.

Sodom's biggest sin was ignoring the poor and needy. God goes on to say in Ezekiel 16:50 

Ezekiel 16:50 NIV

They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.

 So, while Micah addressed this topic more thoroughly than most, it is a concern of God’s that shows up throughout Scripture. 

Micah is essentially three sets of prophecies. The pattern for each is moving from doom to hope, with three themes repeated throughout the book: judgment, restoration, and justice.  

Today, we’re going to look at the first set of prophecies: chapters one and two. We don’t have time to look at every verse, but here’s the big picture outline:  

Outline of Micah 1-2 

God’s people are toast (1:2-16) 

Going to toast Judah just like He toasted Israel (1:2-7) 

It’s super sad, because it’s going to be really bad (1:8-16) 

Here’s why they’re toast (2:1-11) 

The rich people are mean (2:1-5) 

They’re ignoring God (2:6-11) 

A few won’t get toasted (2:12-13) 

The people of Judah would have been stunned at the idea that they would be judged like Israel had been. From their perspective, Israel deserved it for following pagan gods, while Judah still claimed to follow God. The idea that they were guilty of that level of sin would have been a shock to them, but it was the truth. So, let’s dive into it and see exactly what Micah had to say to them. 

Each of the three prophecies start with the word, “attention.” Some Bibles translate it as “hear.” Micah is formally calling their attention to what he’s about to say. 

Micah 1:2–9 NIV

Hear, you peoples, all of you, listen, earth and all who live in it, that the Sovereign Lord may bear witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth. The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. 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? “Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble, a place for planting vineyards. I will pour her stones into the valley and lay bare her foundations. All her idols will be broken to pieces; all her temple gifts will be burned with fire; I will destroy all her images. Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes, as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.” 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 Samaria’s plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah. It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself.

This is fascinating; he was speaking to the people of Judah, but his message is for the world. We all can learn from the mistakes they have made. 

Micah 1:2–9 NIV

Hear, you peoples, all of you, listen, earth and all who live in it, that the Sovereign Lord may bear witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth. The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. 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?

Up to this point, the people listening to him were thinking, this is awesome; God is coming. They are looking forward to the day God will return and give them the full Promised Land, and the prestige and status they once had. They were excited because they thought this might be it. And the stuff about Israel just made sense; Judah knew Israel is messed up. But then, Micah takes a shocking turn: 

Where is the center of idolatry in Judah? In Jerusalem, its capital! 

Jerusalem was the capital of Judah; it was home to the temple, and the people of Judah claimed to still be following God. While Israel had been blatant in how they stopped following God, Judah was more subtle in their sin. They may not have had pagan idols, but Micah revealed that they made money, power, and possessions their idols. So much so, in fact, that they would trample over anyone to build their wealth and power – even their own people. God, through Micah, called them out, revealing that their sin was just as heinous as the Israelites in the North. 

New International Version (2011) Chapter 1

6 “Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble,

a place for planting vineyards.

I will pour her stones into the valley

and lay bare her foundations.

7 All her idols will be broken to pieces;

all her temple gifts will be burned with fire;

I will destroy all her images.

Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes,

as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.”

This comment on prostitution wasn’t a metaphor. Pagan religions involved prostitution at their temples. God promised Judah that everything would be destroyed and all the wealth taken by a conquering enemy, the same way that it happened to Israel. In a way, the Jews had been relying on God’s promise that they would be a nation as almost a “get out of jail free” card; but that covenant was not a good luck charm and God promised judgement if they didn’t follow Him. 

In verse eight, Micah began what is called a lament. This was a common practice. So, when he said, 

Micah 1:8 NIV

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.

He’s not literally naked; the practice was to be in a loin cloth. 

I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl. 

A funny bit of trivia; they recently realized the Hebrew word translated to “owl” in verse 8 was a mistake – it should actually be translated “ostrich!” Ever hear a moaning ostrich? Neither have I. The practice 2700 years ago was that when you were grieving over a huge loss, you would go barefoot, wear fewer clothes, and weep loudly to symbolize brokenness and the depth of your pain. Micah is using the loudest animals he can think of to communicate tremendous agony. 

New International Version (2011) Chapter 1

9 For Samaria’s plague is incurable;

it has spread to Judah.

It has reached the very gate of my people,

even to Jerusalem itself.

The news was bad; it was too late to avoid judgment. In verse 16, at the end of this lament we read,  

New International Version (2011) Chapter 1

16 Shave your head in mourning

for the children in whom you delight;

make yourself as bald as the vulture,

for they will go from you into exile.

This is a call to repentance; it is a little hint of hope. Micah wasn’t just putting on a big show, he was genuinely lamenting and inviting the people to join him in this lament. He was saying, “We all need to recognize how far away we've fallen from God because maybe we can stop this train.” Which gets us to chapter two.  

One of the things to notice is that there were a lot of false prophets. They were telling the people what they wanted to hear: that God was blessing them, that they were wealthy because God wanted them to be, and they were okay to take advantage of the poor to steal their food, land, and income because it was God’s judgment on the poor.  

For us today, moving and changing locations is a common thing. There isn't the same sense of family identity tied up in a specific property. In ancient times, there was a deep family connection to their land; it was passed from generation to generation. Family land would provide their status, their influence and identity in the community. The wealthy had taken advantage of the hard times by robbing these people of their family lands, ruining that family’s status, influence, and voice they had in the community.  

The false prophets were telling the wealthy and powerful what they wanted to hear. When Micah opposed them, the wealthy chose to listen to the false prophets.  

I read this passage and wonder how they could rationalize the idea that God would want them to rob the poor. Then I thought about reality TV. Have you seen some of the awful American Idol auditions? I feel so bad for the people as they get ripped to shreds. And they’re genuinely shocked! How could they be so blind to the reality? Did you know that by the time someone appears in front of a Simon Cowell, they have gone through months of interviews and further auditions? Each step of the way, producers are telling them they are amazing, their story is one America needs to hear, their voice is powerful – it’s exactly what they want to hear. So, they believe it in spite of all the evidence to the contrary until the show finally gets what it wants: a horrible audition it can use to get a laugh. 

How do these people not know their voices aren’t good enough? Because they listen to the wrong people.  

And that’s what was going on in the book of Micah, 2700 years ago. There were voices telling them lies, but they liked the lies. The lies made them feel good about themselves and what they were doing. It felt so much better to listen to the false prophets than Micah. 

In Micah 2:1-3, 6-7, 11-13 , he said to the rich people, 

New International Version (2011) Chapter 2

2 Woe to those who plan iniquity,

to those who plot evil on their beds!

At morning’s light they carry it out

because it is in their power to do it.

2 They covet fields and seize them,

and houses, and take them.

They defraud people of their homes,

they rob them of their inheritance.

3 Therefore, the LORD says:

“I am planning disaster against this people,

from which you cannot save yourselves.

You will no longer walk proudly,

for it will be a time of calamity.

New International Version (2011) Chapter 2

6 “Do not prophesy,” their prophets say.

“Do not prophesy about these things;

disgrace will not overtake us.”

7 You descendants of Jacob, should it be said,

“Does the LORD become impatient?

Does he do such things?”

“Do not my words do good

to the one whose ways are upright?

Over the next few verses, Micah essentially said, “You're listening to the wrong people. You're doing the wrong thing, and you know it.” Let’s pick up his response in verse eleven: 

New International Version (2011) Chapter 2

11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says,

‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’

that would be just the prophet for this people!

Deliverance Promised

12 “I will surely gather all of you, Jacob;

I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.

I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,

like a flock in its pasture;

the place will throng with people.

13 The One who breaks open the way will go up before them;

they will break through the gate and go out.

Their King will pass through before them,

the LORD at their head.”

The hard truth was that while there was a little bit of hope, there was going to be a lot of suffering before the hope would come to pass.  

We’re going to tackle the question, “Where did they go wrong?” But first, let’s look at Matthew 22:37-39

Matthew 22:37–39 NIV

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Sometimes, we might think that Jesus created that command in the New Testament, but it was actually a law from Deuteronomy and Leviticus that the Jews had known for centuries. Jesus singled it out as one of the two most important laws out of the 613 laws found in Deuteronomy and Leviticus. 

Where did they go wrong? First, they gave their love to idols. In Israel, they literally had idols to other gods. In Judah, they had made money, power, and possessions their idols. They loved them more than God.  

Second, they let their greed have its way. They wanted these things so bad and listened to the people that justified their desire. 

Third, they used their power for themselves. Each one of us has power; you have influence and there's somebody that you can and do impact. You have power to do and achieve things, and one of the challenges from Micah is, “How do you use your power?” Are you like the people of Judah using it for evil? Or are you using it to help others?  

Finally, they listened to what they wanted to hear. Instead of listening to wise counsel, which may not have been what they wished to hear, they chose to listen to false prophets that justified their wrong desires.  

Here's the challenge for us: we see how angry God was that these people let their selfishness listen to the wrong voices and to take advantage of others. We need to be asking ourselves questions like, “What are the things in my life that I love so much that maybe I love them more than God? Are they getting in the way of me following God? What are ways that I have power that I could use for others instead of myself?” It might be as simple as just helping your younger sibling with their homework. You could use your power to build them up! It might be something more significant: you're going to volunteer somewhere or take a portion of the money you make from your job or after-school activity and give it to some organization that is making a difference. There are so many ways you can use your power.  

Finally, have you thought about the voices that are influencing your life? Are they influencing you away from God or towards God? Are you becoming the type of person you want to be, or do those voices need to change?  

Before we close, let’s split into groups of 3-5 people and discuss these questions: 

Discussion Questions: 

What things do you love that could become idols? 

In what ways do you have power that you could use to love your neighbor? 

How can you recognize what voices you should let influence your life and decisions?