Micah: Introduction

Micah Introduction and outline

The following chart highlights the time-period of the Prophet Micah according to his own words in Micha 1:1. The total years these three kings ruled over Judah is well over 60 years; 66 years to be exact. We can deduce from this that Micah started his prophetic years sometime during King Jotham, through the reign of King Ahaz, and finished or died sometime during the reign of King Hezekiah. Ahaz is considered a bad king of Judah. He was not in the will of HaShem; G-d, and did evil in God’s eyes.

Note if you will, this list of kings over Judah were all related descending from King David from the Tribe of Judah.

Micah came from Moresheth sometimes spelled Moresheh. It is west south-west of Bethlehem inside the borders of the Kingdom of Judah. His prophecy was to both the northern and southern kingdoms, primarily to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Note that since Israel to the north was conquered by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. Micah’s prophecy years overlap the ruin and destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of Ahaz, King of Judah..

We at aha bible moments suggest Micah 6:8 as the central message to Micah’s prophecy challenges.

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” [NJKV]

Like Isaiah, Micah’s contemporary living about the same time, Micah admonished his people to return to God. He was especially descriptive of the ruling classes, who used their positions of power to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor. Micah describes the sins of the people, and especially of their leaders and judges, “who make crooked all that is straight.” He has harsh words for the judges that can be bribed and the priests that can be hired, saying to themselves, “Evil cannot befall us.”

The following is an outline of the entire Book of Micah as presented by Bible Outlines on the Web. Keep it handy as we delve into our commentary studies of Micah. It will be a good study format, reminder, and insight as to where we will be going in our commentary articles.

Outline of Micah

Micah chapter 1
Micah 1:1.	The time when Micah prophesied.
Micah 1:2-9.	He shews the wrath of God against Jacob for idolatry.
Micah 1:10-16.	He exhorts to mourning.
Micah chapter 2
Micah 2:1-3.	Against oppression.
Micah 2:4-6.	A lamentation.
Micah 2:7-11.	A reproof of injustice and idolatry.
Micah 2:12-13.	A promise of restoring Jacob.
Micah chapter 3
Micah 3:1-4.	The cruelty of the princes.
Micah 3:5-7.	The falsehood of the prophets.
Micah 3:8-12.	Israel’s and Judah’s ill-grounded security.
Micah chapter 4
Micah 4:1-4.	The glory,
Micah 4:5.	and the peace of Christ’s kingdom.
Micah 4:6-10.	The restoration,
Micah 4:11-13.	and victory of the church.
Micah chapter 5
Micah 5:1-3.	The birth of Christ.
Micah 5:4-7.	His kingdom.
Micah 5:8-15.	His conquest.
Micah chapter 6
Micah 6:1-5.	God’s controversy for ingratitude;
Micah 6:6-9.	for ignorance,
Micah 6:10-15.	for injustice;
Micah 6:16.	and for idolatry.
Micah chapter 7
Micah 7:1-2.	The church, complaining of her small number,
Micah 7:3-4.	and the general corruption,
Micah 7:5-7.	puts her confidence not in man, but in God.
Micah 7:8-13.	She triumphs over her enemies.
Micah 7:14.	She prays to God.
Micah 7:15-17.	God comforts her by promises of confusion to her enemies;
Micah 7:18-20.	and by his mercies.