Messages for Today from the Minor Prophets



Messages for Today from the Minor Prophets

Micah

Introduction:

Like most of the Old Testament prophets, we would likely be hard pressed to come up with a ready summary of when he lived and what God’s message was through him. But like all the prophets of old, Micah carried God’s message to his people. People have not changed much over time and God’s message has not changed at all.

[Let’s begin with a look at the life and times of Micah]

Background:

← Home- Moresheth-gath, small town on border of Judah and Philistia 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem.

← Date= about 735-700BC

← Contemporaries- Isaiah

← Political-

o Uzziah had brought a level of prosperity to Judah not seen since Solomon

o Ahaz (736-716 BC) was a wicked king

▪ Judah threatened by coalition of Syria and Israel

o Hezekiah succeeded Ahaz (716-687BC)

▪ An exceptionally good king

▪ Assyria laid siege to Jerusalem in 702BC

▪ Claimed 46 Judean cities

← Socially

o Rulers sold the rights of people and took their lands

o Wealthy coveted the lands and robbed the poor

o Corrupt business practices

o Many false prophets controlled people

o People held a corrupt concept of Jehovah and kept statues of Omri

← Religious

o Great religious reforms under Hezekiah

o Heathen alters in Jerusalem destroyed

o Religion had though become a matter of form

▪ Ceremonial observances thought to meet requirements

▪ People thought as long as external acts of worship were scrumptiously performed that people were entitled to divine favor

Outline[1]:

I. Judgement on Samaria and Judah—salvation of a remnant

A. Judgment on Samaria and on Judah

B. Causes that make judgment inevitable

II. Contrast between devastation and future exaltation

A. The sins and crimes of the heads of the nations

B. The Messianic hope in contrast to the present destruction

III. Jehovah and Israel in controversy—the way to salvation

A. The case against Israel

B. Penitential prayer and divine promise

Lessons for Today from Micah:

← As long as Jehovah’s people do right, they will enjoy His favor

← Jehovah’s good will cannot be obtained by careful ritual observance, but by obedience to His divine principles of right manner in life

← A living fellowship with God must be maintained by a spirit of humility towards Him and by loving ones brothers

← Social injustices are sternly rebuked

← Micah gives the clearest presentation of the hope of the coming Messiah of all the prophets

← The key teaching in Micah is found in 6:8- “He has told you, O man, what is good; but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Conclusion:

The prophet Micah Calls out to us even today that we can have hope in the Messiah. He also warns of falling into a pattern of mere ritual religious observance in the place of true worship and obedience to God’s commands.

We too would do well to heed the warning call to do what is good. That is to be just, to be kind to others and to walk in humility with God.

Let’s Pray.

-----------------------

[1] A Commentary on the Minor Prophets, Homer Hailey, Religious Supply, Inc., 1993.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download