Micah
Micah, a countryman contemporary with Isaiah, denounces the injustice of the powerful and announces that the Messiah will be born in little Bethlehem.
AuthorMicah of Moresheth
DateAround 740-700 BC
AudienceJudah and Samaria
🎯 Learning objective
Understand the message of Micah, its historical setting and its place in the history of salvation.
🏛️ Historical context
He lived through the Assyrian threat and the fall of Samaria. Jerusalem's leaders oppressed the peasants and false prophets promised peace for money.
🔙 Background
Like Amos, he comes from the countryside and speaks for the little ones stripped of their land.
🧭 Structure of the book
Chapters 1-3: judgment on Samaria and Jerusalem
Chapters 4-5: promises of restoration and the Messiah
Chapters 6-7: God's lawsuit with his people and hope
⭐ Key events and teachings
- 1Denunciation of those who seize fields and houses (ch. 2)
- 2The nations will go up to the Lord's mountain and beat their swords into ploughshares (ch. 4)
- 3"But you, Bethlehem... from you shall come forth one who is to rule Israel" (5:2), quoted in Mt 2:6
- 4"Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God" (6:8)
- 5"You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea" (7:19)
🏷️ Main themes
📖 Verses to memorize
- Micah 4:3And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into spades: nation shall not take sword against nation: neither shall they learn war anymore.
- Micah 5:2And thou Bethlehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Juda, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel: and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity.
- Micah 6:8I will shew thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth of thee: Verily to do judgment, and to love mercy, and to walk solicitous with thy God.
- Micah 7:7But I will look towards the Lord, I will wait for God, my saviour: my God will hear me.
- Micah 7:18Who is a God like to thee, who takest away iniquity, and passest by the sin of the remnant of thy inheritance? he will send his fury in no more, because he delighteth in mercy.
💭 For reflection
- How do I live Micah 6:8 today?
- Why did God choose little Bethlehem for the Messiah?
Micah denounces the corruption of the powerful and announces that from Bethlehem will come the one who is to rule Israel. He sums up what God asks: to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with him.