MICAH 1-3

Micah receives visions of God's grief over Judah's and Israel's evil deeds, their coming destruction and later deliverance, the capture of Jerusalem, and the future arrival of the Son of Man.

THE DEPRAVITY OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL (2:1-2, 6-11; 3:1-5, 8-11)

Among the laity (2:1-2, 6-10)

They continually plot evil (2:1).

They practice fraud and violence (2:2).

They reject the Holy Spirit (2:6-7).

They are insolent thieves (2:8).

They mistreat widows and orphans (2:9-10).

Among the leaders (2:11; 3:1-5, 8-11)

They are drunken liars (2:11).

They hate good and love evil (3:1).

They devour the sheep (3:2-5).

They despise justice (3:8-9).

They shed innocent blood (3:10).

They accept bribes (3:11).

THE DESTRUCTION OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL (1:1-16; 2:3-5; 3:6-7, 12)

The Judge (1:1-4):

Using fearful, poetic language, Micah describes an angry God coming from his Temple in judgment.

The judged (1:5-16)

Samaria (1:5-8)

Judah (1:9-16)

The judgment (2:3-5; 3:6-7, 12)

Israel and Judah will be rewarded evil for evil (2:3).

Their enemies will mock them (2:4-5).

God will refuse to communicate with them (3:6-7).

Both Jerusalem and the Temple will be destroyed (3:12).

THE DELIVERANCE OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL (2:12-13)

They will be regathered (2:12).

They will be restored (2:13).

MICAH 4-5

Micah discusses two key events: the capture of the City of David and the coming of the Son of David.

THE CAPTURE OF THE CITY OF DAVID (4:9-10a; 5:1)

The defeat (5:1):

Jerusalem will be taken and its king (Zedekiah) humbled.

The deportation (4:9-10a):

The people will suffer much and will be carried off as captives to Babylonia.

THE COMING OF THE SON OF DAVID (4:1-8, 10b-13; 5:2-15)

Christ's first coming (5:2-3)

His birth in Bethlehem (5:2)

His rejection by Israel (5:3)

Christ's second coming (4:1-8, 10b-13; 5:4-15)

The Temple will become the universal worship center (4:1).

All nations will learn the Word of God (4:2).

Wars will cease (4:3-5).

The exiles will be strengthened (4:6-7).

Israel will be reestablished in the land (4:8, 10b).

Israel's enemies will be destroyed (4:11-13; 5:5b-15).

King Jesus will meet all human needs (5:4-5a).

MICAH 6-7

As Micah addresses God's case against Israel-and his compassion for the people-his confidence in God grows.

THE LORD AND ISRAEL (6:1-16; 7:1-6, 11-20)

God's case against Israel (6:1-2, 10-12; 7:1-6)

The witnesses (6:1-2):

God calls upon the mountains and hills as witnesses.

The wickedness (6:10-12; 7:1-6)

III-gotten gain (6:10-11)

Violent lying (6:12)

Nonexistent goodness (7:1)

Shedding of innocent blood (7:2)

Taking of bribes (7:3)

As harmful as briars and thorns (7:4)

Betrayal by family and friends (7:5-6)

God's compassion for Israel (6:3-9)

In the past (6:3-5)

At the present (6:6-9):

He desires for them to "do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly."

God's chastening of Israel (6:13-16; 7:13) 1.

Their land will become empty and desolate (7:13).

They will fail at whatever they do (6:14-15).

Misery will become their close companion (6:13).

Their enemies will treat them with contempt (6:16).

God's conversion of Israel (7:11-12, 14-20)

The Millennium of God (7:11-12, 14-17)

Their cities will be rebuilt (7:11).

Honor will come to them from the nations (7:12).

Peace and prosperity will be their lot (7:14).

Their foes will tremble before them (7:15-17).

The God of the Millennium (7:18-20):

Micah ends his book with a fivefold description of the awesome God of Israel:

He is unique (7:18a).

He does away with sin (7:18b).

He is merciful (7:18c).

He is compassionate (7:19).

He is faithful (7:20).

THE LORD AND MICAH (7:7-10)

Micah's confession to God (7:9):

"I will be patient as God punishes me."

Micah's confidence in God (7:7-8, 10):

"I wait confidently for God to save me."