Expository - Micah

Micah chapter 1.        Tuesday, 25 March 2008

Introduction (v. 1)

Micah was speaking in uncertain times, during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. It must have been a roller-coaster experience. Jotham was a good king and “became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord His God.” (II Chronicles 27 v 6) However, by his reign the rot had set in nationally for “the people did yet corruptly.” (II Chron. 27 v 2) After Jotham the nation plunged into darkness again as Ahaz followed the ungodly, idolatrous ways of the kings of Israel in the north. He made images to the false gods or Baalim, burnt his children to heathen deities and sacrificed to the gods of Damascus. Then, like a breath of heavenly air, Hezekiah’s godly reign arrived, but by then it was too late for the nation to avoid God’s judgment.

Micah Saw the Word of the Lord (vv. 2 to 9)

As Micah observed the political situation, the advancing activities of the powerful and cruel Assyrian armies, he could see by revelation that God was behind the growing threat of invasion. God was moving in certain judgment upon His people for all their sins and iniquities. He visualised the cataclysmic events that would follow as the wrath of God was poured out upon the wicked, both then and, for him, in the far distant future. Every high place, lifted up in pride and defiance against Him would be brought low. The molten lava pouring forth from the mountains, the earth torn apart by earthquakes, all sure signs that God would be punishing the sins of His people, just as a similar fiery ordeal made Sodom and Gomorrah “an example unto those that after should live ungodly.” (II Peter 2 v 6)

And can we not see by the revelation that the Word of God gives, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, that the political movements in the world around us and the growing fear of cataclysmic upheavals caused by man’s treatment of the environment, also presage the coming judgment of God? Do we also not wonder how evil and iniquity can abound and increase much more without the judgment of God? Surely it is coming.

Two things are cited as the cause of the judgment and two names are given as the responsible parties. Both names were the names of the same person in the history of the nation of God’s people. Jacob, the cheat and supplanter, was the name of the old, self-reliant man; Israel, a prince with God, was his new name. But in both, iniquity was found. Samaria, with all the idolatry and Baal-worship brought in at an earlier stage by Jezebel, was the transgression of godless Jacob, whilst the high-places had found their way into the very heart of God’s people Israel, in Jerusalem itself. No wonder Ezekiel could tell the story of two daughters, Aholah and Aholibah in Ezekiel 23 vv 1 ff. The Lord says concerning them “they were Mine” (v.4) Aholah, in her idolatry and advances towards the Assyrians, was portrayed as a harlot. The same Assyrians turned on her and slew her. Aholah was Samaria. Despite the clear judgment carried out on her sister, Aholibah (which was Jerusalem) did not learn from the lesson, but became much more corrupt and sought after the ungodly ways of the Assyrians and the Babylonians. If judgment came upon Samaria (Aholah), it must certainly fall upon Jerusalem (Aholibah).

When God’s judgment comes it is thorough; it leaves nothing that has not been dealt with. It discovers the foundations (v.6), the very source and support of the ongoing sin and transgressions. Does the world today not see that its increasing grasp on and promotion of ungodliness and immorality, deliberately flying in the face of God’s commands and direction, will eventually lead to its downfall and destruction by that same blaspheming world when God’s judgment falls. Then there will be no pride, no defiance, merely a desperate and vain calling to the “mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.’” (Revelation 6 v 16) Those who gathered the hire of the harlot shall themselves become the hire of a harlot (v. 7), as they are captured, taken away and destroyed by the very system they got pleasure from. The pleasures of sin are but for a season (Hebrews 11 v 25); in the end, the wages of sin are death. (Romans 6 v 23) With no sign of repentance or turning, just as in our own world today, Micah could only mourn concerning his people that “her wound is incurable.” With every opportunity to repent passed by, with God’s goodness spurned, all hope seems to have gone. Judgment and destruction are inevitable.

What’s in a Name? (vv. 10 to 12)

It seems as though, as Micah looks over the land and sees the Word of God coming into reality, that the very names of its towns and cities describe the current conditions. So distressing is the downfall of God’s people that he cries out, “Declare it not at Gath, weep ye not at all.” (v10) Immediately, this calls to mind David’s grieving cry on hearing of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. “The beauty of Israel is slain… how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.” (II Samuel 1 v 20) Judgment must not give the enemy a chance to think that he has got the upper hand. Gath was at the very heart of an ancient enemy’s territory. It had been the home of Goliath who rose against and intimidated the people of God and in open defiance against the Lord. Gath means “treading”, that is, as in the winepress – a symbol of God’s wrath. (Revelation 14 v 19) The enemy is a mere tool in the hand of God; he has nothing and should not be given anything to glory in. The Lord God has made it known that He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. (Ezekiel 33 v 11)

As Micah looks around, he sees Beth–le-Aphrah, the House of Dust. True repentance and godly sorrow, demonstrated by rolling in the dust seems the only appropriate action left to this sinful people. Certainly, there is no beauty to glory in – “the beauty of Israel is slain.” Sapphir means “beautiful”, but all that is left to them is the shame of their nakedness. For a future condition, the Lord warned complacent Laodicea that if they did not avail themselves of the Lord’s provision, the shame of their nakedness would appear. (Revelation 3 v. 18) All will be revealed and open in that day; nothing will be covered up.

The inhabitants of Zanaan, a name referring to the flocks coming out to pasture, would not come out, because in the house of their neighbour, Beth-ezel there was only mourning. In the time of judgment there is nowhere to hide.

And there will be no point in looking for help from elsewhere. Judgment must be faced alone. The inhabitant of Maroth (bitter), might be looking for good to come, but what chance do they have in their bitter state of mind against God, when the judgment (the evil) will come from God right down to the very gate of Jerusalem, the city of peace and the city of righteousness. If judgment must begin at the house of God,… what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God? (I Peter 4 v 17)

The End is at Hand. What Shall We Do? (vv.13 to 16)

Is this the end for Judah? The people themselves could not believe it. Micah’s prophecy would be very unpopular because it seemed so final. Later, when Jeremiah was prophesying at the time judgment actually descended in the form of the armies from Babylon, Micah’s unpopular message was quoted. King Hezekiah, at that earlier time, had obviously listened and acted appropriately. (Jeremiah 26 vv. 18,19)

Lachish was one of the cities of Judah that fell to the Assyrians in the time of Hezekiah, but God delivered Jerusalem at that time. Lachish was undoubtedly involved in trade with Egypt for horses and chariots, a trade which King Solomon had started. (I Kings 10 vv. 28,29) How the Lord had warned of seeking help from Egypt and of trusting in horses and chariots! “Bind the chariots to the swift beast,” calls the prophet. But what help can there be from the enemy? It was this dealing with Egypt and the northern Kingdom of Israel that had introduced sin into the lives of the people of God, the daughter of Zion. What you value as dear and precious, the things of the world, Moresheth-gath, “possession of Gath”, you will say good-bye to, for the presents are parting presents. The world offers nothing that will last. And if the people were to think that they had any defence in what they had built up, then they were deceived. The houses of Achzib literally means the houses of a lie or deceit. In times of future judgment people will believe “the lie” rather than hold to the truth. (II Thessalonians 2 v 11).

Nevertheless, there is hope, even in desperate times. The children may go into captivity as judgment falls, but the Lord says that He will bring an heir to them, one who will conquer. Those that inhabit the chief, or elevated place, will be displaced when the “occupier” or heir comes in the time of judgement. But the glory of Israel will come to Adullam. Adullam is that place of the cave, where David, anointed to be the next king, fled to and had his base while Saul pursued after and sought to destroy him. It was a place of rejection, yet he was the true heir to the throne. The Lord will be in the place where His people are. Who else can the glory of Israel refer to than the Lord Himself, the coming Messiah? Micah is the prophet who tells us of the Saviour’s coming. He tells us where He will be born – not in the magnificence of a palace in Jerusalem, but with no where to lay His head in little, insignificant Bethlehem. (Micah 5 v 2) When, in the fulness of time, He did come, He was despised and rejected of men (Isaiah 53). In this great time of darkness and judgment, God still remembers mercy. If we may do what we are encouraged not to do when reading a book, that is, take a peek at the last page, we will find glorious hope:

“Who is a pardoning God like unto Thee, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgressions of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not His anger for ever, because He delights in mercy.” (Micah 7 v 18)