9.19 Micah 3-5

Steve and Kelli Saindon

9.19.2020

Micah 3-5

SUMMARY

The prophet Micah was a contemporary alongside of Isaiah. He preached in the late 700s BC. Like most of the other prophets Micah prophesies both judgment and hope ( Micah 4:10 ). He predicts the complete destruction of Samaria and the demise of Jerusalem at the hands of the Assyrians ( Micah 1:6, 12 ). Because God is loving, he gives his wayward people plenty of time to repent. However, because God is holy, he also must act in judgment when his people do not respond to his prophets. If God’s people plan and plot sin, God, with a heavy heart, will plan and plot heavy discipline ( Micah 2:1-3, Lamentations 3:33 ). Because Samaria was completely unresponsive, she was destroyed by the Assyrians in 722 BC. Jerusalem, barely escaped the Assyrians, but were later bulldozed over by the Babylonians in 587 BC ( Micah 3:12, 4:10 ). Like Jeremiah, Micah was a hated prophet because he lays most of the blame for the spiritual condition of both Israel and Judah upon its leaders ( Micah 3:5-12 ). The people were also responsible because of their gullibility ( Micah 2:11 ). But our relentless God has a plan through his promised Messiah to carve out a remnant of hope-filled people that will nourish the world back to health.

KEY VERSE- Micah 5:1-8

HOW THIS STUDY ADVANCES MY VISION OF GOD

Both Isaiah and Micah predicted the immediate destruction of Israel and the demise of and eventual destruction of Judah. All this happened because of sinful leaders and the people that followed them. God was orchestrating history according to the spiritual health of his people! Does most of history, or even all of history revolve around God’s people? Does God raise up kings and nations or bring them down according to our covenant faithfulness? It sure appears to be that way according to the prophets. With this in mind, is the COVID-19 pandemic first a wake up call for the people of God? Since “judgment begins with the household of God,” are we falling asleep spiritually or waking up during this challenging time? ( 1 Peter 4:17 )

HOW THIS STUDY ADVANCES MY VISION OF MYSELF AND OTHERS

Since I am a spiritual leader within the family of God I am filled with a good kind of trepidation because of what I have studied in Micah. Leaders are always more ( but not only ) responsible for the advancement or decline of God’s people. A simple solution for leaders it’s not quit and cave into fear, but rather graciously preach the unvarnished truths of the Bible ( 2 Timothy 3:16-4:5, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 ). We leaders are responsible for serving healthy food to the members. It is their responsibility to eat it
up and digest it.

MY RESPONSE….HOW I WILL GO WITH GOD

Throughout history God always has created revival and carved out a willing remnant of people through Spirit filled preachers ( Micah 3:8 ). God NEVER throws down discipline without “revealing his plans to his prophets” who are then called a reveal both judgement and hope-truth and grace to the people ( Amos 3:7 ). My tendency as a younger preacher was to be to judgemental and my tendency as an older preacher is to be to gracious. This study has set off a healthy alarm in my heart to preach the truth unafraid.

MICAH AND THE MESSIAH

The promised messiah will be “struck on the cheek ( crucifixion ) with a rod” by the anemic leaders of his day ( Micah 5:1 ). After his death and resurrection he will “stand and shepherd his flock,” the church, “in the strength of the LORD” and they will live securely under his care. The remnant of the messiah will be “like dew from the LORD” that offers refreshment to our thirsty world ( Micah 5:4-8 ).