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Micah – Prophet of Uncompromising Principles (1 of 4)

Focus Text: Micah 1.8-12

The focus text (Micah 1.8-12) has been called by some the Lamentations of Micah. We will examine this text, the circumstances that surrounded it, and gain significant insight into Micah’s character at the same time.

The situation in the land of the Jews was bleak! Idolatry had made tremendous strides into the hearts and practices of “God’s people.” They had been warned about idolatrous worship from of old, yet many of the descendents of Abraham plunged headlong into these heathen practices. Micah prophesied to both the northern and the southern kingdoms (Samaria and Jerusalem; Micah 1.1). His ministry was concurrent with that of Isaiah and in some places their words are similar or almost identical. The times of Micah and Isaiah were hard, hard times. One of the kings of Judah during this time period, Ahaz, was a weak and compromising leader; he sought refuge and help everywhere except where he should have, i.e. Jehovah God. Many of Micah’s prophecies are set against the backdrop of Ahaz’s compromising spirit and by contrast they glisten like a diamond against a black velvet cloth.

Now to Micah’s Lamentations: “Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked; I will make a wailing like the jackals And a mourning like the ostriches, For her wounds are incurable. For it has come to Judah; It has come to the gate of My people—To Jerusalem. Tell it not in Gath, Weep not at all; In Beth Aphrah Roll yourself in the dust. Pass by in naked shame, you inhabitant of Shaphir; The inhabitant of Zaanan does not go out. Beth Ezel mourns; Its place to stand is taken away from you. For the inhabitant of Maroth pined for good, But disaster came down from the LORD To the gate of Jerusalem.” (Micah 1.8-12). Notice Micah’s emotional reaction to God’s revelation of the fact of Israel and Judah’s downfall; “I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked; I will make a wailing like the jackals And a mourning like the ostriches…”

Some prophets seemed to take pleasure in the impending destruction of Jerusalem and other of the cities of God’s people; not Micah! He genuinely mourned the fact that death and destruction were soon to move into Israel and that to stay for many, many years. His heart was literally broken by the pronouncements that he had to make to his countrymen. Yet in spite of his own genuineness AND the wickedness of the people surrounding him, Micah found no pleasure in predicting the destruction of Jerusalem and its environs; he genuinely lamented the fate of the cities and people that would be destroyed in God’s judgments upon Israel.

In this attitude, Micah truly reflected the heart of God. Some see God as a mean and spiteful being who just waits for sin to enter our lives so He can swiftly and severely focus His energies on us and out punishment. This idea flies in the face of a number of passages but also common sense; why would God find pleasure in destroying that which He created? To ask the question is to answer it. Micah genuinely wanted the erring to repent – so should we!

Questions:

1. Why would Micah 1.8-12 sometimes be called the Lamentations of Micah?

2. Characterize king Ahaz?

3. What other prophet or prophets ministered contemporary with Micah?

4. What is God’s attitude toward the death of the wicked (see Ezekiel 33.11). What other passages point out the fact that God wants all men to be saved?

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