MICAH

The Minor Prophets: 

Micah 1

MICAH was a native of Moresheth, not the same as Mareshah in Micah 1:15 lay near Eleutheropolis, west of Jerusalem, on the border of the Philistine country; so called to distinguish it from Moresheth of Judah. His full name is Micaiah (not the Micaiah mentioned 1 Kings 22:8 reigns of Jotham. Ahaz, and Hezekiah, that is, between 757 and 699 B.C. Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 26:18 reign of Hezekiah. He was thus a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea. The idolatries practised in the reign of Ahaz accord with Micah's denunciations of such gross evils, and confirm the truth of the time assigned Micah 1:1 (Samaria), partly against Judah. As Samaria, Israel's metropolis, was taken first, and Jerusalem, the capital of Judah subsequently, in the introductory heading, Micah 1:1 Jerusalem. He prophesies the capture of both; the Jews captivity and restoration; and the coming and reign of Messiah. His style is full, round, and perspicuous; his diction pure, and his parallelisms regular. His description of Jehovah ( Micah 7:18 Micah 7:19 elsewhere in Scripture. The similarity between Isaiah and Micah in some passages (compare Micah 4:1-3 accounted for by their being contemporaries, acquainted with each other's inspired writings, and having the same subjects for their theme. HENGSTENBERG maintains that the passage in Micah is the original. Isaiah was somewhat the older, being a prophet in the reign of Uzziah, Jotham's predecessor, whereas Micah began his prophecies under Jotham. HE IS A CONTEMPORARY of JEREMIAH

The book consists of two parts: (1) the first through fifth chapters; (2) the sixth and seventh chapters, a dialogue or contestation between Jehovah and His people, in which He reproaches them with their unnatural and ungrateful conduct, and threatens judgment for their corruptions, but consoles them with the promise of restoration from captivity.
Micah stands sixth of the minor prophets in the Hebrew canon, but third in the Septuagint.

(Jamieson)

1 The LORD(Jesus) gave these messages to Micah of Moresheth during the years when Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. The messages concerned both Samaria and Jerusalem, and they came to Micah in the form of visions.

2 Listen, all you people! Pay attention, earth and all who are on it. The LORD(Yahweh-The Father) GOD(of the Godhead) will be a witness against you. The LORD(Jesus here--Adonay not Yahweh) will be a witness from his holy temple.

Adonai means Sir or Mister or better MASTER, NOT the same as Yahweh. Whenever Yahweh is used as the FATHER in the Old Testament, and Christ is also being mentioned in the same verse; Christ is always referred to as Adonay, not Yahweh! (see Pslams 110:1).

3 The LORD(Jesus) is going to come from his throne. He is going to come down and step on the churches of the earth.

4 Mountains will melt under him like wax near a fire. Valleys will split apart like water pouring down a steep hill.

5 And why is this happening? Because of the sins and rebellion of Israel and Judah. Who is to blame for Israel's rebellion? Samaria, its capital city! Where is the center of idolatry in Judah? In Jerusalem, its capital!

6 So I will turn Samaria into a pile of rubble, a place for planting vineyards. I will roll its stones down into a valley and expose its foundations.

7 All its idols will be smashed to pieces. All her sacred treasures will be burned up. These things were bought with the money earned by her prostitution, and they will now be carried away to pay prostitutes elsewhere.

8 I will mourn and cry because of this. I will walk around barefoot and naked. I will cry like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich.

9 For my people's wound is far too deep to heal. It has reached into Judah, even to the gates of Jerusalem.

10 Don't report it in Gath. Don't cry there. Roll in the dust of Beth Leaphrah.

11 Pass by, naked and ashamed, inhabitants of Shaphir. Don't come out, inhabitants of Zaanan. Beth Ezel is in mourning. It will take its support away from you.

12 Wait anxiously for good, inhabitants of Maroth. From the LORD(Jesus) disaster will come on the gates of Jerusalem.

13 Harness the horses to the chariots, inhabitants of Lachish. You were the first to lead the people of Zion into sin. The rebellious acts of Israel are found in you.

14 That is why you will give farewell gifts to Moresheth Gath. The town of Achzib will betray the kings of Israel.

15 I will again bring a conqueror against the inhabitants of Mareshah. The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.

16 Shave your head in mourning for the children you love. Make yourselves as bald as vultures because your children will be taken from you into exile.

The earth is called upon, with all that are therein, to hear the prophet. God's holy temple will not protect false professors. Neither men of high degree, as the mountains, nor men of low degree, as the valleys, can secure themselves or the land from the judgments of God. If sin be found in God's people he will not spare them; and their sins are most provoking to him, for they are most reproaching. When we feel the smart of sin, it behoves us to seek what is the sin we smart for. Persons and places most exalted, are most exposed to spiritual diseases. The vices of leaders and rulers shall be surely and sorely punished. The punishment answers the sin. What they gave to idols, never shall prosper, nor do them any good. What is got by one lust, is wasted on another. (Matthew Henry)

Micah 2

1 Woe to them that devise iniquity(lawlessness), and work evil upon their beds! When the morning dawns, they carry out their plans because they are able to.

2 They covet others' property, so they seize it. They covet houses, so they take them. They cheat a man and his family, a man and his inheritance.

Eminent Domain????

3 So this is what the LORD(Jesus) says: I'm planning a disaster to punish your family. You won't be able to rescue yourselves. You will no longer be able to walk proudly. This will be a time of disaster.

4 When that day comes, people will make fun of you. They will sing this sad song about you: "We are completely ruined. The LORD(Jesus) gives our people's possessions [to others]. He takes them from us. He divides our fields among our captors."

5 That is why none of you in the LORD(Jesus)'s churches will draw lots to divide your property.

6 Your prophets say, "Don't prophesy! Don't prophesy such things! Disgrace will never overtake us."

7 Should the descendants of Jacob be asked: Has the Spirit of the LORD(Jesus) become impatient with you? Has he done these things? Are his words good for those who live honestly?

8 Recently, My people have turned into enemies. You take coats from those who pass by without a care as they return from war.

9 You force the women among My people out of their pleasant homes and take My glory away from their children forever.

10 Get up, and go away! This is not a place to rest! It will be destroyed, completely destroyed, because it offends me.

11 Liars and frauds may go around and say, "We will preach to you about wine and liquor." They would be just the type of preacher you want.

Like Modern “Born Again” hypocrites! They want to tell you how to live.

12 I will surely gather all of you, Jacob. I will surely bring together the few people left in Israel. I will gather them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture. They will make a lot of noise because there will be so many people.

13 I will open the way and lead you. I will bring you through the gates of your cities of captivity, back to your own land. Your king will lead you; the LORD himself will guide you."

Micah 3

1 Then I said: Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel. You should know justice.

2 You hate good and love evil. You skin my people alive and tear the flesh off their bones.

3 You eat my people's flesh. Cut off their skin and break their bones to pieces. You chop them up like meat for a pot, like stew meat for a kettle.

4 Then you will cry to the LORD(Jesus), but he will not answer you. He will hide his face from you at that time because you have done evil things.

5 This is what the LORD(Jesus) says about the prophets who mislead My people: When they have something to eat, they say, "All is well!" But they declare a holy war against those who don't feed them.

6 That is why you will have nights without visions. You will have darkness without revelations. The sun will set on the prophets, and the day will turn dark for them.

7 Seers will be put to shame. Those who practice witchcraft will be disgraced. All of them will cover their faces, because God won't answer them.

8 But as for me, I am filled with power and the Spirit(ruwach) of the LORD(Jesus). I am filled with justice and might, fearlessly pointing out Israel's sin and rebellion.

9 Listen to this, you leaders of the descendants of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel. You despise justice and pervert everything that is right.

10 You are building Jerusalem on a foundation of murder and corruption.

11 You rulers govern for the bribes you can get; you priests teach God's laws only for a price; you prophets won't prophesy unless you are paid. Yet all of you claim you are depending on the LORD(Jesus). "No harm can come to us," you say, "for the LORD(Jesus) is here among us."

12 So because of you, Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field; Jerusalem will be reduced to rubble! A great forest will grow on the hilltop, where the Temple now stands.

Jeremiah 26:18 quotes this verse. The Talmud and MAIMONIDES record that at the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans under Titus, Terentius Rufus, who was left in command of the army, with a ploughshare tore up the foundations of the temple.

Micah 4

1 In the last days, the Temple of the LORD(Jesus) in Jerusalem will become the most important place on earth. People from all over the world will go there to worship.

2 Then many nations will come and say, "Let's go to the mountain of the LORD(Jesus), to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways so that we may live by them." The LAW(Torah) will go out from Zion. The word of the LORD(Jesus) will go out from Jerusalem.

THE LAW in the MILLENNIUM

3 Then He will judge disputes between many people and settle arguments between many nations far and wide. They will hammer their swords into plows and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not fight against each other again, neither shall they learn war any more.

4 They will sit under their grapevines and their fig trees, and no one will make them afraid. The LORD(Jesus) of Hosts(of the Armies of Heaven) has spoken.

5 All the nations live by the names of their gods(elohim/theos), but we will live by the name of the LORD(Jesus) our God forever.

6 "When that day comes," declares the LORD(Jesus), I will gather those who are lame. I will bring together those who are scattered and those whom I have injured.

7 I will change those who are lame into a faithful people. I will change those who are forced away into a strong nation." The LORD(Jesus) will rule them on Mount Zion now and forever.

8 As for you, O Jerusalem, the citadel of HIS people, your royal might and power will come back to you again. The kingship will be restored to my precious Jerusalem.

9 Now why are you crying so loudly? Don't you have a king? Has your counselor died? Pain grips you like a woman in labor.

10 Daughter of Zion, writhe in pain and groan like a woman in labor. Now you will leave the city, live in the open fields, and go to Babylon. There you will be rescued. There the LORD(Jesus) will reclaim you from your enemies.

11 But now many nations gather against you. They say, "Let's dishonor Zion and gloat over it."

12 They don't know the thoughts of the LORD(Jesus) or understand his advice. HE will bring them together like cut grain on the threshing floor.

13 Get up and thresh, people of Zion. I will make your horns as hard as iron and your hoofs as hard as bronze. You will smash many nations into small pieces. You will claim their loot for the LORD(Jesus), their wealth for the LORD(Jesus) of the whole earth.

Micah 5

PREDICTION OF JESUS BIRTHPLACE

1 Now, gather your troops, you city of troops. We are under attack. Enemies will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek with a stick.

2 You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, are too small to be included among Judah's cities. Yet, from you Israel's future ruler will come for me. His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago.

Beth-lehem Ephratah--( Genesis 48:7 ), or, Beth-lehem Judah; so called to distinguish it from Beth-lehem in Zebulun. It is a few miles southwest of Jerusalem. Beth-lehem means "the house of bread"; Ephratah means "fruitful": both names referring to the fertility of the region. though thou be little among--though thou be scarcely large enough to be reckoned among, &c. It was insignificant in size and population; so that in Joshua 15:21 , &c., it is not enumerated among the cities of Judah; nor in the list in Nehemiah 11:25 , &c. Under Rehoboam it became a city: 2 Chronicles 11:6 , "He built Beth-lehem." Matthew 2:6 seems to contradict Micah, "thou art not the least," But really he, by an independent testimony of the Spirit, confirms the prophet, Little in worldly importance, thou art not least (that is, far from least, yea, the very greatest) among the thousands, of princes of Judah, in the spiritual significance of being the birthplace of Messiah ( John 7:42 ). God chooses the little things of the world to eclipse in glory its greatest things ( Judges 6:15 , John 1:46 , 1 Corinthians 1:27 1 Corinthians 1:28 ). The low state of David's line when Messiah was born is also implied here.

The promise of the Redeemer at first was vaguely general ( Genesis 3:15 ). Then the Shemitic division of mankind is declared as the quarter in which He was to be looked for ( Genesis 9:26 Genesis 9:27 ); then it grows clearer, defining the race and nation whence the Deliverer should come, namely, the seed of Abraham, the Jews ( Genesis 12:3 ); then the particular tribe, Judah ( Genesis 49:10 ); then the family, that of David ( Psalms 89:19 Psalms 89:20 ); then the very town of His birth, here. And as His coming drew nigh, the very parentage ( Matthew 1:1-17 , Luke 1:26-35 , 2:1-7 ); and then all the scattered rays of prophecy concentrate in Jesus, as their focus ( Hebrews 1:1 Hebrews 1:2 ). (Jamieson)

3 That is why the HE(Jesus) will abandon Israel until the time a mother has a child{about 9 months}. Then the rest of HIS(Jesus)'s people will return to the people of Israel.

4 The child will become the shepherd of his flock. [He will lead them] with the strength of the LORD(Jesus), with the majestic name of the LORD(Jesus) his God. They will live in safety because his greatness will reach the ends of the earth.

his God--God is "His God" in a oneness of relation distinct from the sense in which God is our God ( John 20:17 ).

5 This man(Jesus) will be their peace. When the Assyrians{Germans} invade our land and trample our palaces, we will attack them with seven shepherds and eight leaders.

6 They will rule Assyria{Germany} with their swords and the country of Nimrod with drawn swords. They will rescue us from the Assyrians{Germany} when they come into our land and walk within our territory.

At the time of the end, the King of the North (Germany) will be like Nimrod

7 Then the remnant of Jacob will be among many people like dew from the LORD(Jesus), like showers on the grass. They do not put their hope in humans or wait for mortals.

8 The remnant of Israel will go out among the nations and be as strong as a lion. And the other nations will be like helpless sheep, with no one to rescue them.

9 The people of Israel will stand up to their foes, and all their enemies will be wiped out.

10 When that day comes, says the LORD(Jesus), I will destroy your horses and demolish your chariots.

11 I will destroy the cities in your land and tear down all your fortresses.

12 I will destroy your sorcerers, and you will have no more fortunetellers.

13 I will destroy your idols and your sacred monuments. You will no longer worship what your hands have made.

14 I will pull out your poles dedicated to the goddess Easter. I will wipe out your cities.

The "groves" are the idolatrous symbol of Astarte or EASTER ( Deuteronomy 16:21 , 2 Kings 21:7 ). "Cities" being parallel to "groves," must mean cities in or near which such idolatrous groves existed. Compare "city of the house of Baal" ( 2 Kings 10:25 ), that is, a portion of the city sacred to Baal.

15 I will pour out my vengeance on all the nations that refuse to obey me.

Micah 6

1 Now listen to what the LORD(Jesus) is saying: Stand up! Plead your case in front of the mountains, and let the hills listen to your request.

2 Listen to the LORD(Jesus)'s complaint, you mountains. Listen, you strong foundations of the earth. The LORD(Jesus) has filed a lawsuit against his people. He is arguing his case against Israel.

3 My people, what have I done to you? How have I tried your patience? Answer Me!

4 I brought you out of Egypt and freed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.

5 My people, remember what King Balak of Moab planned and how Balaam, son of Beor, responded to him. Remember your trip from Shittim to Gilgal so that you may know the victories of the LORD(Jesus)."

6 What should I bring when I come into the LORD(Jesus)'s presence, when I bow in front of the GOD (Elohim-The Family of God) of heaven? Should I bring him year-old calves as burnt offerings?

7 Will the LORD(Jesus) be pleased with thousands of rams or with endless streams of olive oil? Should I give him my firstborn child because of my lawlessness? Should I give him my young child for my sin?

8 You mortals, the LORD(Jesus) has told you what is good. This is what the LORD(Jesus) requires from you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your GOD (Elohim-The Family of God).

9 Listen! Fear the LORD(Jesus) if you are wise! His voice is calling out to everyone in Jerusalem: The armies of destruction are coming; the LORD(Jesus) is sending them.

10 I have cursed all the wicked people who use their money for evil and use inaccurate weights and measures.

11 I cannot tolerate dishonest scales and bags filled with inaccurate weights.

12 The rich people in the city are violent. Those who live in the city speak lies, and their tongues speak deceitfully.

13 I have begun to strike you with heavy blows and to ruin you because of your sins.

14 You will eat, but you won't be full. So you will always be hungry. You will put things away, but you won't save them. Anything you save I will destroy.

15 You will plant, but you won't harvest. You will crush olives, but you won't rub the oil on your skin. You will make new wine, but you won't drink it.

16 The only laws you keep are those of evil King Omri; the only example you follow is that of wicked King Ahab! Therefore, I will make an example of you, bringing you to complete ruin. You will be treated with contempt, mocked by all who see you.

Micah 7

1 Woe is me! I am like those gathering summer fruit, like those picking grapes. But there aren't any grapes to eat or any ripened figs that I crave.

2 The good are gone from the earth, and no one is decent. All people lie in ambush to commit murder. They trap each other with nets.

3 Their hands are skilled in doing evil. Officials ask for gifts. Judges accept bribes. Powerful people dictate what they want. So they scheme together.

4 The best of them is like a briar. The most decent person is sharper than thornbushes. The day you thought you would be punished has come. Now is the time you will be confused.

5 Don't trust anyone -- not your best friend or even your wife!

6 A son treats his father with contempt. A daughter rebels against her mother. A daughter-in-law rebels against her mother-in-law. People's enemies are the members of their own families.

Matthew 10:26, Mark 3:21, John 7:5

The state of unnatural lawlessness in all relations of life is here described which is to characterize the last times, before Messiah comes to punish the ungodly and save Israel (compare Luke 21:16 , 2 Timothy 3:1-3 ).

7 I will look to the LORD(Jesus). I will wait for GOD (Elohim-The Family of God) to save me. I will wait for my GOD (Elohim-The Family of God) to listen to me.

8 Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD(Jesus) is my light.

9 I have sinned against the LORD(Jesus). So I will endure His fury until He takes up my cause and wins my case. He will bring me into the light, and I will see His victory.

10 Then my enemies will see this, and they will be covered with shame, because they asked me, "Where is the LORD(Jesus) your GOD (Elohim-The Family of God)?" Now I look at them. They are trampled like mud in the streets.

11 The day for rebuilding your walls and extending your borders is coming.

12 When that day comes, your people will come to you from Assyria(Germany) and the cities of Egypt, from Egypt to the Euphrates River, from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.

13 The earth will become a wasteland for those who live on it because of what the people living there have done.

14 With your shepherd's staff, take care of your people, the sheep that belong to you. They live alone in the woods, in fertile pastures. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead like before.

15 Let us see miracles like the time you came out of Egypt.

16 Nations will see this and be ashamed in spite of all their strength. They will put their hands over their mouths. Their ears will become deaf.

17 They will lick dust like reptiles, like animals that crawl on the ground. They will come out of their hiding places trembling. They will turn away from your presence in fear, O LORD(Jesus) our GOD (Elohim-The Family of God). They will be afraid of you.

18 Who is a GOD (Elohim-The Family of God) like you? You forgive sin and overlook the rebellion of your faithful people. You will not be angry forever, because you would rather show mercy.

19 You will again have compassion on us. You will overcome our wrongdoing. You will throw all our sins into the deep sea.

20 You will be faithful to Jacob. You will have mercy on Abraham as you swore by an oath to our ancestors long ago.

Those truly penitent for sin, will see great reason to be patient under affliction. When we complain to the Lord of the badness of the times, we ought to complain against ourselves for the badness of our hearts. We must depend upon GOD (Elohim-The Family of God) to work deliverance for us in due time. We must not only look to him, but look for him. In our greatest distresses, we shall see no reason to despair of salvation, if by faith we look to the Lord as the GOD (Elohim-The Family of God) of our salvation. Though enemies triumph and insult, they shall be silenced and put to shame. Though Zion's walls may long be in ruins, there will come a day when they shall be repaired. Israel shall come from all the remote parts, not turning back for discouragements. Though our enemies may seem to prevail against us, and to rejoice over us, we should not despond. Though cast down, we are not destroyed; we may join hope in GOD (Elohim-The Family of God)'s mercy, with submission to his correction. No hinderances can prevent the favours the Lord intends for his church.

Matthew Henry