Weekly Recap #39 - (Part 3) Micah

I wish there was a good way to distinguish all the "minor" Old Testament prophets....so....I did a bit of research.....and as a final wrap-up of the Old Testament, I'll be sharing that with y'all next week.  

I know some of you are printing off the recap each week....and I thought you might want to include that in your notes. 

Anyway....here are a few things about the prophet Micah.

~~~His name means "who is like Jehovah"

~~~Author of the Book of Micah

~~~A young contemporary of the great prophet Isaiah

~~~He spoke out very strongly against those who claimed to be prophets of the land, but who used their position to lead the people of Judah into false hopes.  Micah's love for God wouldn't allow him to offer false hopes to the people.  The Book of Micah was known for his condemnation of the rich because of their treatment of the poor.  The book also contains a clear prediction of the Messiah's birth at Bethlehem.

Chapter 1 - The Lord gives His word to Micah and Micah walked around barefoot and naked mourning.  This was an example of how the people would be stripped of their wealth and power.  He instructed the people to shave their heads "as bald as vultures" in mourning for their sins.

Chapter 2 - The people told Micah to quit prophesying his gloom and doom because such disaster would never happen to them.  Micah answered them.....

Micah 2:7

O Family, should you talk that way of Israel?  Will the Lord's Spirit have patience with such behavior?  If you would do what is right, you would find my words comforting.

Chapter 3 - Micah condemns the ones who are supposed to be in leadership - the ones who should know right from wrong.  But they were the very ones who hated good and loved evil....mistreating the people.  Then, they would beg the Lord for help in times of trouble.  These people were false prophets who were actually leading the people astray.  But the Lord would put them to shame because they had not been called to be a prophet like Micah!  They made decisions based on bribes - teaching God's laws only for money!

Micah 4:12

We don't know the Lord's thoughts, or understand His plan.

Micah 5:2

Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you!

(prophesy of Jesus)

Chapter 6 was presented as a court case against God's people....with God as the judge. 

6:2 - He will bring charges against Israel.

6:3 - "O, my people, what have I done to you?  What have I done to make you tired of me?  Answer me!"

6:8 - "to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your  God".

Chapter 7 - Micah's misery was turned to HOPE!!

Micah 7:7 (perfect numbers!!!)

As for me, I look to the Lord for help.  I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.

Micah 7:19

Once again, you will have compassion on us.  You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!!!

I don't think there's any better way to end the Book of Micah...do you?!?

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!