Thursday, December 23, 2021

Bible reading & studying in one year Micah 1-7 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible reading & studying in one year   Micah 1-7     12/23/2021   

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries / Biblical precepts & Gospel music / Pastoral ministry & Counseling


Introduction

 

The prophet Micah, His name means “Who is like Yahweh?” Whereas Hosea prophesied to the northern tribes of Israel and Isaiah to the court in Jerusalem, Micah, a Judean from Moresheth in the SW. of Palestine, preached to the common people of Judah.  

       

His times- Micah ministered during the reigns of Jotham (750-732), Ahaz (736-716) and Hezekiah (716-687). Though for the most part a good king, Jotham did not remove the idolatrous high places from his kingdom. Ahaz, a wicked king (2Kings16:2-4), adopted a pro-Assyrian foreign policy, and during his reign the captivity of the northern tribes took place. Hezekiah, one of Judah’s best kings was anti-Assyrian and withstood the siege of Jerusalem that Sennacherib led in 701 (2 Kings18:13-19:36). For peasants and villagers, these were days of harassment from enemy armies, of hardship because of exploitation by the wealthy (2:1-13), and of oppression by the rulers (3:1-4) and false prophets (3:5-8). Micah, as Amos, cried for social justice.

      

           The contents of Micah, three important quotations from Micah are found elsewhere in the Bible. One saved the prophet Jeremiah’s life (Jer.26:18, a quote of Mic.3:12). The priests and scribes quoted Micah5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathan, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel ,whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” in answer to Herod’s question about the birthplace of Messiah (Matt.2:5-6). Christ quote Micah 7:6 “For a son dishonors his father a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law –a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.” when He commissioned the disciples the first time” (Matt.10:35-36). Micah chapter 4 is one of the most important descriptions in the Bible of the future glory of Israel and Micah 6:8 “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” is one of the favorite verses. The major sections of the book are introduced with the word “Hear or “Listen (1:2; 3:1; 6:1).

Chapter 4 described the deliverance: the coming Kingdom

 The glories of the kingdom

 

“In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths. The Law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide…” (Micah4:1-3)

 

Micah4:1-3 Almost identical to Isa.2:2-4, this passage describes the glories of the millennial kingdom. The mountain of the Lord’s temple. Jerusalem and the Temple on Mount Zion, which will be the center of the government of the kingdom. As chief. Lit., at the head (of lesser governmental division).   

 

“In that day”, declares the Lord, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever. As for you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:6-8)

 

Watchtower of the flock, I.e., Jerusalem, which, in the figure, watches over Israel as a shepherd watches his sheep from a tower. The millennial kingdom will be greater in extent than David’s or Solomon’s, the former dominion.

 

Why do you now cry aloud have you no king? Has your counselor perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor? Writhe in agony, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you must leave the city to camp in the open field. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued. There the Lord will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies.” (vv.9-10)

 

These verses refer to the Babylonian captivity and later return to Palestine under Cyrus. In Micah’s time Babylon was only a vassal of powerful Assyria, making this an even more startling prophecy.  

 

But now many nations are gathered against you. They say,” let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion! But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand His plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor. Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, I will give you hoofs of bronze and you will break to pieces many nations. You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth. (Micah4:11-13)

 

 This passage looks further ahead, to the great campaign of Armageddon immediately preceding the second coming of Christ and the millennial kingdom. There the world will be lined up against Israel, but God will give Israel victory, using horns of iron and hoofs of bronze.

 Chapter 5 described the deliverance: the Coming King

 

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathan, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time when she was is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. (Micah5:2-3)

 

Ephrathah. The ancient name for Bethlehem and also apparently the name of the district (Gen.35:19; Ruth4:11). Both names indicate the fertility of the area, Bethlehem meaning “House of Bread” and Ephrathah, “ fruitful” This was the birthplace of King David(1Sam.16:1) as well as of his most eminent descendant, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. For me I.e., to do My will. Origins. Refers primarily to Christ’s preincarnate appearances as the Angel of the Lord,  thus affirming the existence of Christ before His birth in Bethlehem. From of old. May mean “from days of old” or it may mean “from eternity,” indicating the eternal existence of Messiah (cf. Heb.1:12). Will be abandoned. To their enemies until she (the Virgin Mary, Isa.7:14) gives birth to Messiah, who will reunite Israel (a work in connection with His second coming.).

 His second coming Micah 5:4-15

 

He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace.(v.4).

 The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind.(v.7)

 The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue. (v.8).

Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed. (v.9)

“In that day” declares the Lord, “I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots.. I will destroy your carved images and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands…I will take vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations that have not obeyed me.”(vv.10,13,15)    

 

 In this section Micah again describes the glories of the messianic kingdom. King Jesus, who is greater than Shepherd-King David, will shepherd His people (v.4). They will be sage from the Assyrian, used here as typical of all Israel’s enemies (vv.5-6).Regathered Israel will be strong as a lion (vv.7-9) and purified from all idolatrous practices (vv.10-15).

 

Chapter 6 A message of denunciation;

  God’s first indictment

“ Listen to what the Lord says: stand up, plead your case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. Hear, O mountains, the Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me.”(vv.1-3)

“I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.” (vv.4-5)

 

Chapter 6: 4-6 God as prosecutor in this cosmic courtroom (vv.1-2), states His case: (1) He rescued Israel from Egypt; (2) He gave as leaders Moses, Aaron, and Miriam;(3) He reversed the intended curse of Balaam (Num.23-24); and (4) He brought His people into the promised land (Shittim being the last encampment E. of the Jordan River and Gilgal the first on the W. bank).


Israel’s first reply (6:6-8)

 

“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? With the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

 

In reply to God, Israel proposes to make up for her sin by offering sacrifices. But God replies that He had previously told them (Deut.10:12) that He prefers obedient, spiritual people (v.8). To act justly. In contrast to 3:2.  mercy. See notes on Hos.2:19.   


Chapter 7 Israel’s second reply (7:1-10)

        Chapter 7 1-10 Micah bemoaned the sinfulness of Israel. It is universal (v.1), unrestrained (vv.2-3), involves the leaders (v.3), and exhibits itself in perverse (v.4) and unnatural (vv.5-6) ways. But God is merciful and in Him there is hope (vv.7-8)

 

Epilogue: blessings for Israel 7: 11-20

 

The day for building your walls will come, the day for extending your boundaries. In that day people will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, even from Egypt to the Euphrates and from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain…Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance,

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. You will be true to Jacob, and show mercy to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our fathers in days long ago.

 

Verses 11-20 the promised millennial blessing for Israel will include her restoration (vv.11-13), her blessing (vv.14-15), her exaltation over the other nations (vv.16-17), and forgiveness (vv.18-19) all on the basis of the covenant God made with Abraham. (Gen.12:1-3;15:18-21).

 

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 

 

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