AUTHOR

Micah was an eighth century BC prophet who came from Moresheth-gath (1:14). This village was located about twenty-five miles southwest of Jerusalem in the tribe of Judah. Micah, however, may have lived in Jerusalem during his ministry. He worked in the reigns of Jotham (750–732 BC), Ahaz (735–715 BC), and Hezekiah (715–686 BC) who were kings of Judah. The identification of these kings does not mean that he was active from 750–686 but that his ministry spanned parts of each reign. Since he predicted the fall of Samaria (722 BC), the bulk of his ministry probably took place between about 750 and 725 BC. Jeremiah 26:17-18 refers to Micah as prophesying during the time of Hezekiah. Determining exact dates, however, for each of the prophecies contained in the book is difficult. Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah, Hosea, and possibly Amos. His prophecies addressed Samaria and Jerusalem. Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom (Israel) and Jerusalem of the southern kingdom (Judah). Even though Micah ministered in Judah, some of his messages were directed toward Israel.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MICAH

Early in Micah’s time the kingdom of Judah under Jotham was strong, but there were signs of a need for religious reforms, a need that became more evident during the reign of Jotham’s son, Ahaz. Conditions in Judah deteriorated considerably during Ahaz’s reign, both religiously and politically.

It is surprising that a wicked king like Ahaz would have a son, Hezekiah, who would turn the nation back to serving the Lord. Perhaps Micah and Isaiah had some influence on the young prince even before he became sole ruler when his father died. Hezekiah, unlike his predecessors, tore down the high places and other symbols of idolatry (2Kg 18:4). Unfortunately, the religious reformation did not reach deeply into the hearts of the people, and Hezekiah’s own son, Manasseh, quickly reversed all the good his father had done.

THE MEANING OF MICAH’S MESSAGE

Micah’s book has two cycles that describe God’s judgment of sin followed by a future restoration. The first cycle focuses more specifically on Samaria (Israel) and Judah, while the second cycle addresses the people of the Lord more generally. The first cycle is notable for its prediction of the birthplace of the Messiah (5:2), while the great statement about mankind’s responsibility before God occurs in the second cycle (6:8).

Micah had a strong sense of the need for justice in society, whether through the proper administration of justice in the courts (3:11; 7:3), through fairness in the marketplace (6:10-11), or through dealing with authority and power in a responsible manner (2:1-2,8-9; 3:1-3,9-10; 6:12; 7:2-6). A person’s relationship with God is primary and determines all others (6:8). Since justice and mercy are the Lord’s requirements, “to walk humbly with” him must entail fair dealings with others. And what is fair shouldm be measured only against the standard that God has already showed mankind to be “good.” The issue of social justice brings Micah alive as a prophet who has much to say to all generations.

Another key theme in Micah is the proper worship of the Lord. Like Amos, Micah deplored a religious system that had much ritual but little repentance. He admonished people to commit themselves totally to the Lord. This meant “to walk humbly with” God, to forgo the worship of other gods (1:6-7; 5:13), and to forgo anything that might become a source of confidence for the believer other than the Lord (5:10-12).

Even though Micah spent a lot of time preaching about judgment to come (also a topic of present-day relevance), he was above all a prophet of hope for the future. God would bring a ruler who would allow the people to live in peace (5:1-5). Micah gave many details about the coming kingdom of God and its blessings for the entire world. In the final chapter of his book, Micah expressed trust that the Lord will accomplish his purposes in the world even when society is filled with corruption and violence. Matthew saw in Micah’s hope for a new ruler a description of Christ (Mt 2:6).