Anyone Anywhere

O. T. #2176 "Anyone Anywhere"

April 22, 2022

Introduction to Micah

According to verse 1, the Word of the LORD came to Micah so he would prophesy what God was about to do to Israel, the Northern Kingdom and Jerusalem.

The Author

Micah was a country boy, like Hosea, called by God to a specific purpose. He lived about 25 miles south of Jerusalem at Moresheth-gath, being from Judah, which was the Southern Kingdom. This was a productive agricultural area.

Micah's name means Who is like the LORD/Jehovah? He uses a play on words in his writings, indicating the question, Who is like unto God, in prophesying, proclaiming, pleading, pardoning?

Date of the Book

Micah prophesies during their reigns of 3 kings in Judah: Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, from 750 BC to 686 BC. There was social injustices and religious corruption during that time.

Micah's words of judgment were spoken shortly before Israel was captured by Assyria in 722 BC.

Background

What was happening in Israel and Judah during that time?

King Jotham, son of Uzziah, continued the same policies as his father, but failed to remove the centers of idolatry. Worship of the Canaanite fertility god Baal was integrated with the OT sacrificial systems under Ahaz.

Syria and Israel invaded Judah, taking the wicked King Ahaz captive. After Assyria had overthrown Syria and Israel, the good king Hezekiah withdrew his allegiance to Assyria, causing Sennacherib to besiege Jerusalem in 701 BC. The Lord then sent His angel to deliver Judah killing 185,000 soldiers. Hezzekiah was used by the Lord to lead Judah back to true worship.

Israel fell to Assyria in 722 BC. When Samaria, its capital, fell, thousands of refugees swarmed into Judah, bringing their religious syncretism with them.

Micah predicted Babylon, then under Assyrian rule, would conquer Judah.

Theme

The theme of Micah's book was the inevitable divine judgment for sin couple with God's immutable commitment to His covenant promises. God's judgment and redemption is Micah's theme, as God hates sin, but loves sinners.

Micah's 3 messages moved from doom to hope (they broke God's Law given at Sinai; hope sin God's unchanging covenant was with their forefathers; the sins of the people was coming, but there was hope for the faithful. A Messiah was coming to reign as king of the earth during his millennial rule. All will worship Him and Jerusalem would be restored. 

[Resource: The MacArthur Bible Commentary, the Prophets Jonah and Micah by J. Vernon McGee]

We see that God can use any kingdom person to proclaim His Word of Truth. He can use anyone anywhere to do His will and accomplish it through their life.

Is there something God wants to use you in order to accomplish His will? What blessings will come when we surrender to the will of our God!