MICAH INTRO 

Micah (‘who resembles God’) was sent to the Southern Kingdom of Israel (Judah) during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah and would have seen Isaiah around town.  A thought from our teacher in Bible college is that Isaiah ministered to the royal upper crust of society and Micah ministered to the country folks… at the same time.  While his ministry was going on, he saw the downfall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC.  

This would have been quite a warning for God’s people to repent and worship Him.  

The place where Micah is from is only mentioned twice in the Old Testament.  In Micah 1:1 and in Jeremiah 26:18 referencing Micah who ministered in the days of Hezekiah.  It is a small town in southern Judah.   

MICAH CHAPTER 1: Sin, No! 

The book of Micah begins with an important command from the prophet.  He says to the people [Hebrew: qashab, 46x in the OT] what the Lord will say through him.  This is a word that means ‘to give high regard’ and ‘pay close attention.’  What Micah is about to share is not something to be heard and tossed away, but to be heard and acted upon.  The sense is that Micah gets out a bullhorn to address the people and get their attention. 

He tells them of coming destruction because of their treatment of God. 

The result of God coming down in judgment (verse 3) is that mountains melt away and valleys split open because when God enters our realm to do His business, we are inferior to His might and holiness and majesty.  We are left as a heap of nothing in His presence (verse 6).  God is mighty in His anger against sinful people.  There is nakedness (shame) (verse 8) and laments (sadness) (verse 8) and wounds (harm) (verse 9) which are all a result of turning away from God Almighty. 

He tells them of coming destruction because of their treatment of God.  It is indeed for sin and transgression that God is sending His message through Micah:  

Verse 13: sins [Hebrew: chattath]  

Verse 13: transgressions [Hebrew: pesha]. 

THE POINT 

We need to hear the emphasis that sin is bad.  We think we know this truth, but it often gets put away from our minds and hearts. Sin is a big deal, but we often do not think so by our attitudes and actions. By the time we read Micah chapter 7, we will see that the people also did not see their sin as a big deal.  Sin is not a pattern of living for God’s People.  Worship and following Him would be a pattern for God’s People. 

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