Micah Micah 1:1

“Micah” means “who is like God”, and he was “the 6th in order of the minor prophets and a native of Moresheth. He prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, and was contemporary with the prophets Hosea, Amos, and Isaiah”. “Ahaz” was one of the worst kings in Judah, and “Hezekiah” was one of the best. The timing of “Micah's” prophesies was when the ten tribes of Israel were being defeated by the Assyrians, and the warnings of “Micah” were directed primarily at Samaria and Jerusalem. Although they would go through judgment, “Micah” foretold of the coming of the messiah whose gospel would deliver them. We begin in chapter one and verse one with a small description of “Micah” the author of this book, the timing for his prophesy, and to whom this prophecy was written. We read:

The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

The verse begins, “The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite...” “Micah” begins his book by noting from whom his prophesy came, “The word of the LORD” which meant “from the existing One" whose name in Hebrew is “Yehovah” as we best know it although only the consonants “YHVH” were in the original text. This “word” or “speech, utterance or speaking thing” “of the LORD” “came to Micah the Morashite” which means "possession of Gath", and although “Micah” was the agent through whom this prophesy came, it will help us to keep in mind that it was actually “Yehovah”, God Almighty who was speaking through him.

The verse goes on to say, “...in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah,” “Micah's” next phrase gives us the timing of this prophesy, “in the days” or “during the time of or in the time period when” “Jotham” whose name means “Jehovah is perfect”, “Ahaz” which means “he has grasped”, “and “Hezekiah” or “Jehovah has made strong” were “kings of Judah” or “the ruling and royal authority” over “Judah” whose name means “praised”. This puts the approximate time of the writing of this prophesy between 750-686 b.c.

Finally the verse says, “which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.” After the introduction of the source and timing of this prophesy, “Micah” shares with whom this prophesy is directed, “concerning Samaria” which means “watch mountain” and “Jerusalem” which means “teaching of peace”. It is interesting to note that “Micah” wrote the phrase “which he saw” which means “perceived, looked at, beheld, prophesied and provided” as though this prophesy was a vision from the Lord concerning “Samaria and Jerusalem”. There is no doubt when the LORD desired to share with the people within these places, “Micah” was given the special privilege to do so.

As we take the time to meditate upon the beginning of this book, let us allow ourselves to imagine that we are the ones to whom “Micah” is writing. There were troublesome times in the Northern Kingdom of Israel and a pending threat against Judah who were south of them. More than likely there were reports of the Assyrian assault upon the ten tribes of Israel, and the people of Samaria and Jerusalem were in the proximity of their conquest. Then came the prophet “Micah” with a “word of the LORD”, and as we imagine what it was like for them when they heard this word, we should imagine what it would be like for us as well. Our prayer for this passage should be, “Help us, oh LORD, to hear your words to Samaria and Jerusalem through the prophet Micah as though they were directed toward us, and may we be obedient to whatever it is you have to say. In Jesus' name, Amen.”

Next time we will see “Micah” call out to all the people of the earth, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.