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.
“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.).
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;
“ 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)
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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