The book of micah consists of three serious prophetical speeches each beginning with hear. This man should not to be confused with the prophet micah. The narrative of micahs idol, recounted in the book of judges, concerns the tribe of dan, their. The events here recorded must have taken place closely following the death of joshua.
Michael olmstedtoday marks our fifth sunday in the book of judges. First, it is clear that worshiping idols stands in opposition to gods commands. Micah 3 niv bible then i said, listen, you leaders of. Isaiah was a prophet in judah and hosea in israel at the same time. Judges 17 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Ostensibly, it records the sayings of micah, whose name is mikayahu hebrew. And he said to his mother, the eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from. Each has the same pattern of sin, punishment, hope. Top 5 commentaries on the book of micah ligonier ministries. Author the author of the book is micah of moresheth 1. Most of us dont decide daily to cut people down or find ways to carry out injustice. Much of micah s prophecy is very severe in tone, though it does contain much poetic beauty similar to that of isaiah. Frank cioffi, times literary supplement the outstanding contribution of this book is that it both defines and helps to solve the difficulties surrounding the notion of idolatry on the one hand, while using this discussion to shed light on the multiple developments of the notion throughout our history on the other.
Study guide for micah 1 by david guzik blue letter bible. The book of micah was likely written between 735 and 700 b. Book of micah, the sixth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, grouped together as the twelve in the jewish canon. So in spite of its difficulties, here are four reasons to preach the book of micah. In many ways the book of micah is a sister book to isaiah.
Micah s career began a little later than his contemporaries, isaiah and hosea isaiah 1. It was a time of prosperity and military expansion see introduction to amos. Micah the two horizons old testament commentary thotc dempster, stephen g. We meet a man named micah not to be confused with the prophet of the. Many of us feel idol atry has been extinguished, certainly amongst israelites.
His fathers name is not recorded leaving some to think he was of low birth, from a peasant family. Sermons on the book of micah by benjamin wirt farley. The poetic book of micah is most noted for the famous prophecy of the birth of the messiah in bethlehem micah 5. An idol is an image, a representation of anything, or a symbol that is an object of passionate devotion, whether material or imagined. The narrative of micahs idol, recounted in the book of judges, concerns the tribe of dan, their conquest of laish, and the sanctuary that was subsequently created there. The message of the prophet micah contains dire warnings, but also hope of restoration. On the one hand, the prophecies announce judgment upon israel for social evils, corrupt leadership and idolatry. What can we learn from the account of micah and the idol in judges. Micah also stresses that god hates idolatry, injustice, rebellion and empty. He prophesied under king jothams, ahazs, and hezekiahs reigns.
Micah prophesied during the days of jotham, ahaz and hezekiah, kings of judah micah 1. This man should not to be confused with the prophet. Little is known about the prophet micah beyond what can be learned from the book. Despite his clear idolatry, micah was not treated as a completely negative figure, and was highly praised for his hospitality. And in those days the tribe of the danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in. This book consists of a collection of speeches, proclamations of punishment and of salvation, attributed to the prophet micah. Micahs career began a little later than his contemporaries, isaiah and hosea isaiah 1. Micah probably spent years putting it all together. Reading plans shop legacy books download the app subscribe read.
Micahs idolatry now there was a man from the mountains of ephraim, whose name was micah. Today citizens of some nations may reason that because they are in a. The beginning of idolatry in israel, micah and his mother. Micahs hometown of moresheth is probably the same town identified later as moreshethgath in the shephelah rolling hills of judah. The book of micah confronts idolatry, superstition, con. Judges 1718 nkjv micahs idolatry now there was a bible. But also because i had forgotten, however briefly, that its often in brutality and darkness that the grace and brightness of jesus shines most brightly.
Following its superscription, the book has two major sections, each with two parts. Micah intro to micah biblica the international bible society. Today i continue my teaching on the minor prophets with micah. Micah s impassioned plea for gods chosen people to repent will cut many of us to the quick. Micah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The mirror of micahs narrative in judges is a haunting reminder of this. Apparently micah died in peace in the days of good king hezekiah jer. The book of micah is the sixth book of the 12 minor prophets. Should you not embrace justice, 3 who eat my peoples flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces. Micah prophesies the coming judgment on samaria, the capital city of israel.
The organization of the material is thematic, moving from judgment to salvation in both major sections. The narrative, as it stands in judges 17, states that a man named micah, who lived in the region of the tribe. Now even judah was on the verge of catching the spiritual disease from samaria. Jotham and hezekiah were good kings, but ahaz was very wicked. Book of micah overview insight for living ministries. The book of micah is the sixth of the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible old testament. Sin micah comes down hard on the people of god regarding injustice. Now there was a man from the mountains of ephraim, whose name was micah. Little is known about the personal life of the prophet micah. This village was one of many that was captured by sennacherib in his attack on judah in 701 bc. Micah is an eighth century prophet who ministered in the southern kingdom judah along with his contemporary, isaiah.
Generally speaking, idolatry is the veneration, love, worship, or adoration of an idol. Introduction to micah shippensburg university bible. He also calls the people out regarding their idolatry. He came from a town called moreshet, and was therefore called morashti. What is related in this, and the rest of the chapters to the end of this book, was done soon after the. In his earlier years he does not appear to have an understanding of the law although he was intent on honouring god in his own way. The following diagram shows how many times and where in micah words of comfort and hope are used compared to words of warning and judgment.
The same type of idolatry was also happening during the book of judges between micah and the levite. The prophet micah confronted idolatry, superstition, confusion. But it is cast here into the latter part of the book that it might not interrupt the history of the judges. Samaria, says the prophet, has been destroyed by god because of its crimes of idolatry, oppression of the poor, and misuse of power. To do justice, to love kindness, to walk humbly bible.
The book of micah, in our present hebrew copies and in the latin vulgate, stands sixth among the minor prophets. The commentary, at 637 pages, is exhaustive, touching on every aspect of the book. Read todays scripture and the daily devotional in the he reads truth app. He is considered one of the twelve minor prophets of the hebrew bible and was a contemporary of the prophets isaiah, amos and hosea. He is the last great prophet of the 8th century, the century which gave us amos and hosea and isaiah. According to the superscription, this judaean prophet was active during the last half of the 8th century bc. In this time, as often before him and after him, the people of. The message of the book of micah is a complex mixture of judgment and hope. He witnessed idolatry, evil business practices, dishonesty, cheating, bribery and.
He lived during the reign of king jotham of judah, and succeeding kings, about 150 years before the destruction of jerusalem by the babylonian hosts. The idolatry of micah in the book of judges conform to jesus. David guzik commentary on judges 17 describes the idolatry of micah, a man from. The people who were crippled by captivity will be restored to the land, and the lord. Micah combines the ideas of idolatry and spiritual adultery. Judges 17 commentary the beginning of idolatry in israel, micah. Then follows the announcement of gods judgment over samaria capital of the northern kingdom and over jerusalem capital of judah. The rich oppressed the poor, and the laws of the torah were rejected. What is related in this, and the rest of the chapters to the end of this book, was done soon after the death of joshua. That it might appear how happy the nation was under the judges, here is showed how unhappy they were when there was no judge. Verse 5 contrasts the idolatry that was practiced in micahs day with the pure worship that will prevail in the millennial kingdom. What can we learn from the account of micah and the idol. He wants israel and us to understand how destructive injustice is to our relationships with other and that it is an abomination in the eyes of god.
The seven chapters of micah mainly give a condemnation of israel, because of their absorption of idolatry. The tribe of dan sends spies to look for land to take among the people of israelin those days there was no king in israel. When preaching through this prophetic book, john calvin had no more difficulty applying micahs prophecies to his sixteenthcentury countrymen than do preachers today. The times of micah micah described his times as times of moral and spiritual corruption, greed and injustice. Ignoring the commands that god gave to israel to worship him in the tabernacle, the ephraimite man, micah, sets up his own private shrine in the hill country v. Micahs idolatry and the migration of the tribe of dan. Lets allow the words of micah to break us out of our apathy about extending justice and kindness to others and press on toward. There was much religious activity, but it was the canaanite fertility cult using yhwhs name. Okay, so look takes all the guess work out of figuring out what the sometimes convoluted language of the bible is actually saying, and still, you want to sound smart when the category comes up on jeopardy, or when that hipster friend you have starts spouting off about the religious idolatry in today.
Although written from a more critical perspective than waltke, the commentary on micah by andersen and freedman is worth consulting by those doing indepth study of the book. The book of micah confronts idolatry, superstition, confusion, alienation, inhumane acts against ones neighbors, and desolation of ones being at the most profound personal and societal level. Collected apparently into one volume in the last year of the prophets life, it contains a number of prophecies uttered, perhaps, at different times, but yet connected together by logical sequence, and. Worse, today s reading does not redeem their reputation but seems to confirm ephraims particular willful rebellion.
The theme that resounds throughout this book is the mercy of which gods people are assured despite their faithlessness, especially the faithlessness of their leaders. This question is the note on which the prophecy of micah ends, and it is also a rough translation of the very name micah. Benjamin wirt farley when john calvin preached through the book of micah in 155051, he addressed a social situation not unlike micahs, or ours today. Judges 17 nkjv micahs idolatry now there was a bible gateway. Read today, it still provides a comprehensive outline of jewish history, and also a view of the telling of history as it evolved over the last century. Micah the two horizons old testament commentary thotc. Sermons on the book of micah jean calvin, john calvin. Jerusalem and samaria, the capitals of the two jewish kingdoms, were centers of idol worship and bad living. Remember the chapter divisions are artificial but even still the diagram enables us to. And he said to his mother, the eleven hundred shekels of. The idolatry had to do with the time back then, but it also has to do with us today. All her pay as a harlot shall be burned with the fire. Judges 17 and 18 record the story of a man named micah who built a shrine and worshiped humanmade idols.
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