Commentary Notes - Micah

A. THE BOOK OF MICAH

1. The book of Micah is notable in that:

(1) It bears a striking resemblance to the book of Isaiah in its major two divisions

(2) It is written in an entrancing style full of poetic beauty

(3) It names the birth and birthplace of the Saviour, 5:2

2. The book begins with denunciation, leads into consolation, and ends in a triumphant song celebrating the ultimate victory of God

3. The key word in the book is "hear"

B. THE PROPHET MICAH

1. Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah, who was a city prophet with a family background that gave him free access into the king's palace. Micah was a country prophet from Moreshethgath, a village in the lowlands of Judea

2. His name means "who is like Jehovah" and suggests the godly character of his parents

3. He prophecied concerning Samaria (Israel) and Jerusalem (Judah), exercising a ministry which was one of the longest of all the prophets

4. Micah suffered great opposition at the hands of the false prophets who were exerting a disastrous influence upon the nation

5. He was the prophet of the kingdom

C. THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK

1. God's effort to reach the human ear

2. God's hatred of injustice and mere ritualism

3. The ultimate triumph of the kingdom of God over rebellious mankind

(With due acknowledgment to Pulpit Commentary)

DENUNCIATION, 1:1-3:12

A. WITNESS AGAINST ISRAEL, 1:1-3:12

1. Give the general content of 1:2-9: The downfall of Israel

2. What does Micah do in 1:2-3? He calls on all mankind to observe God's witness against Israel by means of the coming judgment

3. Point out the idea which underlies 1:4: Even inanimate creation will share in the judgment of man and is used as an instrument in that judgment

4. Who is denounced in 1:5-7? Israel and Judah because of their sin, particularly their idolatries for which their land will become a desolation

5. What does Micah do in 1:8-9? He mourns especially because judgment has also to be extended to Judah and without hope

6. Give the general content of 1:10-16: A lamentation for Israel because of the fate of her cities

B. WITNESS AGAINST ISRAEL, 1:1-3:12 (contd.)

1. In general, what does the prophet do in 2:1-11? He recounts the sins for which the announced judgment is coming

2. Specifically, what were these sins according to:

(1) 2:1-2 - Conceiving and practicing oppression of the helpless

(2) 2:6 - Reproaching the prophets for harping on the theme of judgment in the coming of which they do not believe anyway

(3) 2:7 - Accusing God of impatience and being less longsuffering than heretofore

(4) 2:8- For robbing those who were peaceably disposed

(5) 2:9 - For violently dispossessing helpless women from their houses which were so dear to them

(6) 2:11 - For honoring the false prophets who deceive the people with false promises, while rejecting the prophets of the Lord who tell them the truth

3. How does God reply to the people in:

(1) 2:3 - That sin shall be followed by its appropriate punishment, for as they devised evil so God will devise a penalty

(2) 2:4 - The enemy shall use the words in which Israel laments her calamity as a taunt against her

(3) 2:10 - The oppressors shall be banished from their land, even as they have torn others from their homes

4. Israel, however, receives what in 2:12-13? A promise of ventual deliverance and restoration

C. WITNESS AGAINST ISRAEL, 1:1-3:12 (contd.)

1. For what were the rulers denounced in 3:1-12? For injustice and cruel oppression

2. Give the general content of the following:

(1) 3:1-4 - The sins of the ruling classes

(2) 3:5-7 - The sins of the false prophets

(3) 3:9-12 - Recapitulation of the sins of the rulers, priests and prophets

3. How will God reward their doings, 3:4? In just retribution, God will refuse to hear the cry of those who refused to hear the cry of the poor and needy

4. For what were the false prophets denounced in 3:5? For predicting peace and happiness if bribed with food, and for predicting judgment if food was withheld

5. How will God reward their doings, 3:6-7? With the shame resulting from their unfulfilled predictions and their inability to account for them

6. How does Micah contrast himself with the false prophets in 3:8? In that he possesses:

(1) Divine authority in his message

(2) Divine origin for his message

(3) Divine content in his message

(4) Divine ability ("strength," Goodspeed) to deliver his message in spite of the risks and hostile opposition

7. Of what sins are the rulers and prophets accused in:

(1) 3:9? Perversion of justice

(2) 3:10? Building of Zion's beautiful palaces by extortion and violence

(3) 3:11? Judging unrighteously, teaching wrongfully and prophesying falsely, all for personal gain

CONSOLATION, 4:1-7:20

A. CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL, 4:1-5:15

1. What subject is introduced in 4:1-5:15? The future kingdom of the Messiah

2. Specifically, what is described in:

(1) 4:1? The supremacy of Christ's kingdom

(2) 4:2? The universality of Christ's kingdom

(3) 4:3? The peacefulness of Christ's kingdom

(4) 4:4-5? The security of Christ's kingdom

3. What is predicted in:

(1) 4:6? The regathering of Israel ("her that is bruised," in a depressed condition)

(2) 4:7? The national resurgence of Israel though downtrodden among the nations

(3) 4:9-10? The Babylonian captivity

(4) 4:11-13? The downfall of the nations

4. Point out the predictions in:

(1) 5:1 - The rejection of Christ

(2) 5:2 - The birthplace of Christ

(3) 5:3 - The birth of Christ

(4) 5:3 - The rejection of Israel until the completion of the Church

(5) 5:4 - Christ the Shepherd feeding his flock in the strength of the Lord

(6) 5:5-6 - Christ's protection of Israel against the invading armies of the Gentiles

(7) 5:7 - Israel's ministry to the nations

(8) 5:8 - Israel's irresistible strength

(9) 5:9 - Israel's victory over her enemies

(10) 5:10-14 - The Messiah's destruction of Israel's implements of war and idols

(11) 5:15 - The Messiah's vengeance upon the heathen nations

B. PLEADING WITH ISRAEL, 6:1-16

1. What is meant by "the Lord's controversy," 6:2? That God disputes with his people because of his goodness to them and their ungratefulness to him

2. Comment on 6:3:

(1) God lovingly expostulates with Israel

(2) God asks Israel to justify her attitude

3. What does God do in:

(1) 6:4? He makes his own defense by recalling their deliverance from Egypt

(2) 6:5? He cites added proof from his intervention in the matter of Balaam

4. What takes place in 6:6? The people make an insincere response to the case presented by God

5. What may be observed from:

(1) 6:7? - God is not satisfied with even a multitude of sacrifices

(2) 6:7? That people are willing to bring anything in any quantity but what God requires

(3) 6:8? The worthlessness of outward observances when moral precepts are not kept

6. Account for the judgment announced in 6:9-10: There was no true response to God's expostulation and argument

7. Comment on the statement "hear ye the rod," 6:9: Having failed to learn from God's words, they will learn from the rod of the Assyrian conqueror. "Waer nicht hoeren will muss fuehlen"

8. For what is Israel denounced in 6:10-11? For using fraudulent weights and measures to amass these treasures of illgotten wealth

C. PARDONING OF ISRAEL, 7:1-20

1. Note the subject of the lamentation in 7:1-6 from:

(1) 7:2 - Ungodliness and unrighteousness

(2) 7:3- Perversion of truth and taking bribes

(3) 7:4 - Lack of uprightness

(4) 7:5 - Untrustworthiness

(5) 7:6- Dishonoring parents

2. What is shown concerning the godly remnant in:

(1) 7:7-8? Its hopeful expectation of a divine response to its prayers

(2) 7:9? Its patient submission to divine chastisement in acknowledgment of its justification

(3) 7:10-13? Its confident anticipation of divine intervention to the dismay of the enemy

3. Point out the subject matter in 7:14-20: The prophet prays for his people, confident of the unfailing mercies of God

4. What is the basis of Micah's confidence in:

(1) 7:18a - God's readiness to forgive

(2) 7:18b - God's willingness to show mercy

(3) 7:19 - God's compassionate love

(4) 7:20 - God's regard for his covenant