Micah 1:1 The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth.
The prophet Micah lived in the little town of Moresheth, about twenty-two miles southwest of Jerusalem. Approximate dates for his ministry are 735 to 700 BC, with his book being written near the latter. Micah reminded God’s people of the kindness and sternness of God (Romans 11:22), with messages of both doom and hope.
Micah 2:11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says, I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer, that would be just the prophet for this people!
True prophets were often opposed by false prophets, who preached a message of prosperity. False prophets got an audience by telling people what they wanted to hear, and little has changed over time. The most popular preachers are often those who preach health, wealth and happiness through faith in Jesus Christ.
But, In this world you will have trouble (John 16:33), said Jesus. And the early church experienced plenty of it. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions (Hebrews 10:34), says Hebrews. The gospel of Jesus Christ isn’t always good news for the present age, but is the best possible news for the age to come.
If believers are taught to expect too much in the present age, they’ll soon be disappointed, and may conclude that God’s word isn’t true. But if they’re taught to expect hardship, they won’t be surprised when it comes, and will trust God all the way to eternal glory. Life in a fallen world isn’t easy for anyone, even Christians. But God is our God for ever and ever [and] he will be our guide even to the end (Psalm 48:14), wrote the Psalmist.
Micah 3:8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression.
Contrary to the false prophets, Micah was empowered by the Spirit to confront God’s people with their sins. He accused the judges of bribery, the priests of serving for money, and the prophets of telling fortunes (Micah 3:11). The indictments were so many, and severe, that few could avoid their sting.
The prophet didn’t attribute his courageous preaching to the strength of his personality, but to the Spirit of the Lord. We see this again in the Apostle Peter, who preached with the Spirit’s power to those who crucified Jesus. God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36), he said. Spirit-empowered preachers aren’t afraid to confront people with their sin, in order to bring them to repentance.
Micah 4:1-2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains . . . . Many nations will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.
The prophet foresaw a time, after God’s judgment, when Jerusalem will be exalted above all other cities, and the mountain of the Lord above all other mountains. He spoke of a glorious age of prosperity when Messiah will rule the world (Micah 4:3).
Prophecy is best understood after it comes to pass, but many believe the Bible teaches a golden age of a thousand years, that’ll occur after the return of Christ, and before the eternal age. This idea is made explicit in the last book of the Bible.
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended (Revelation 20:2-3). This makes sense of passages that speak of a glorious age in the future, that’s not entirely perfect.
Never again will there be . . . an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child (Isaiah 65:20), wrote Isaiah. This doesn’t describe the present age, since many people die young. And it doesn’t describe the eternal age since, then, There will be no more death (Revelation 21:4), wrote John. There seems to be a time between the present age and the eternal age when Christ will rule for a thousand years. This is known as the Millennium, and Micah develops this idea even further.
Micah 4:3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
When Christ returns to rule, there will still be many nations, but not any war. Nations will disagree, but they’ll take their concerns to Jerusalem, where their disputes will be settled by Christ. There will be no more need for weapons of war, which will be converted into equipment for farming.
War is so common in this age, that it’s hard to imagine a world without it. But under the rule of Christ, there won’t even be the fear of war, since nations won’t have armies. This will result in national savings, lower taxes, and greater wealth for everyone. Instead of working long hours to pay the rent, Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid (Micah 4:4), wrote Micah.
Reflection and Review
How was Micah different from the false prophets?
How will the world change when Christ returns?
How will the eternal age be even better?
The prophet Micah lived in the little town of Moresheth, about twenty-two miles southwest of Jerusalem. Approximate dates for his ministry are 735 to 700 BC, with his book being written near the latter. Micah reminded God’s people of the kindness and sternness of God (Romans 11:22), with messages of both doom and hope.
Micah 2:11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says, I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer, that would be just the prophet for this people!
True prophets were often opposed by false prophets, who preached a message of prosperity. False prophets got an audience by telling people what they wanted to hear, and little has changed over time. The most popular preachers are often those who preach health, wealth and happiness through faith in Jesus Christ.
But, In this world you will have trouble (John 16:33), said Jesus. And the early church experienced plenty of it. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions (Hebrews 10:34), says Hebrews. The gospel of Jesus Christ isn’t always good news for the present age, but is the best possible news for the age to come.
If believers are taught to expect too much in the present age, they’ll soon be disappointed, and may conclude that God’s word isn’t true. But if they’re taught to expect hardship, they won’t be surprised when it comes, and will trust God all the way to eternal glory. Life in a fallen world isn’t easy for anyone, even Christians. But God is our God for ever and ever [and] he will be our guide even to the end (Psalm 48:14), wrote the Psalmist.
Micah 3:8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression.
Contrary to the false prophets, Micah was empowered by the Spirit to confront God’s people with their sins. He accused the judges of bribery, the priests of serving for money, and the prophets of telling fortunes (Micah 3:11). The indictments were so many, and severe, that few could avoid their sting.
The prophet didn’t attribute his courageous preaching to the strength of his personality, but to the Spirit of the Lord. We see this again in the Apostle Peter, who preached with the Spirit’s power to those who crucified Jesus. God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36), he said. Spirit-empowered preachers aren’t afraid to confront people with their sin, in order to bring them to repentance.
Micah 4:1-2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains . . . . Many nations will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.
The prophet foresaw a time, after God’s judgment, when Jerusalem will be exalted above all other cities, and the mountain of the Lord above all other mountains. He spoke of a glorious age of prosperity when Messiah will rule the world (Micah 4:3).
Prophecy is best understood after it comes to pass, but many believe the Bible teaches a golden age of a thousand years, that’ll occur after the return of Christ, and before the eternal age. This idea is made explicit in the last book of the Bible.
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended (Revelation 20:2-3). This makes sense of passages that speak of a glorious age in the future, that’s not entirely perfect.
Never again will there be . . . an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child (Isaiah 65:20), wrote Isaiah. This doesn’t describe the present age, since many people die young. And it doesn’t describe the eternal age since, then, There will be no more death (Revelation 21:4), wrote John. There seems to be a time between the present age and the eternal age when Christ will rule for a thousand years. This is known as the Millennium, and Micah develops this idea even further.
Micah 4:3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
When Christ returns to rule, there will still be many nations, but not any war. Nations will disagree, but they’ll take their concerns to Jerusalem, where their disputes will be settled by Christ. There will be no more need for weapons of war, which will be converted into equipment for farming.
War is so common in this age, that it’s hard to imagine a world without it. But under the rule of Christ, there won’t even be the fear of war, since nations won’t have armies. This will result in national savings, lower taxes, and greater wealth for everyone. Instead of working long hours to pay the rent, Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid (Micah 4:4), wrote Micah.
Reflection and Review
How was Micah different from the false prophets?
How will the world change when Christ returns?
How will the eternal age be even better?