Micah - Introduction

PLUS

NEXT I. The Approaching Punishment of Israel and Judah (Micah 1:1–2:13)

Introduction

Author

MICAH WAS A NATIVE OF MORESHETH, a small town on the border of the city of Gath (1:1, 14). He ministered to both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, prophesying the destruction of Samaria (1:5-9) and Jerusalem (1:8-16). He also foresaw the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem (5:2). Micah ministered “in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah” (1:1). And because he saw Samaria’s future judgment, which occurred in 722 BC, the likely time period for his ministry is between 730 and 690 BC.

Historical Background

In Micah’s day, the kingdoms of Judah and Israel were in the midst of positive economic changes. New wealth in the cities, primarily because of a long period of peace, allowed the rich to expand their wealth to the detriment of the lower class. This led to privileges being extended to one group while being denied to the other. With more wealth, people had the wherewithal to indulge other appetites—which sometimes manifested themselves in sin and moral degradation. In both kingdoms, the greater the wealth, the greater the distance there was between the people and their God. Micah called Samaria and Judah to repent and turn back to the Lord.

Message and Purpose

The message of Micah is that God is displeased with social injustice, declining morality, and living without a view to the Messiah’s kingdom reign. Micah wanted his own people in the southern kingdom of Judah to know that God was just as upset with them as he was with the rebellious northern kingdom of Israel. He condemned the social inequities of his day that did not reflect God’s kingdom principles that they were to be living out until the Messiah came. Those in power were practicing bribery, confiscating the fields of the people, oppressing the poor, and abusing women and children. They were disregarding the Mosaic law and its protections for the vulnerable. Personal holiness was also absent as the people lived in decadence.

Micah directly connects the Messiah’s reign with the everyday living of his people. God would not ignore the people’s insensitivity, unrighteousness, and oppression. There is to be a direct connection between our faith and our social concerns. Micah’s message is that the spiritual must not become disconnected from the social. When the spiritual is applied to the social in righteous ways, God blesses.

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