Micah. The word means “Who is like Jehovah”.

Micah. He lived around the time of Isaiah and lived during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. Since the fall of Samaria has not yet occurred, we assume the book was written before 722 B.C. Micah was a country boy from Morash in Judah. His ministry is concerned mostly with the Southern Kingdom.

It is the same as Isaiah. Isaiah is in the southern Kingdom. He prophesied during the reigns of four Kings; Uzziah, Jothan, Ahaz & Hezekiah (790 – 686 B C) Also at this time there was Micah in the south and Hosea in the north. Isaiah will be prophesying at the time the Northern Kingdom fell.

Present judgement but future blessing.

There are three major divisions in this book:-

• An announcement of judgement upon the nations, Israel, Judah and the leaders. (Chapters 1 & 2).
• The establishment of the Messianic Kingdom (Chapters 3 – 5).
• The Lord’s controversy with Israel and His promise of future blessing. (Chapters 6 & 7)

• Micah 1:10. There is a play on words in this verse (See 1:11,13). “At Beth-le-aphrah” (the house of dust), roll yourself in dust – part of the mourning process. You people in the house of dust better start rolling in the dust. You better start mourning, because you are going to be taken away in captivity.
• Micah is the Old Testament equivalent of the book of James. “…and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).
• The symptoms that are right for the judgement of God. (Micah 1-3).
• D. The faithfulness and mercy of God. (Micah 7:18-20).
• E. Predictions.

1. The fall of Samaria (1:6,7) This happened in 722 B.C.
2. The invasion of Judah by Sennacherib (1:9-16).
3. The fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. (3:12 & 7:13) This happened in 586 B.C.
4. The exile in Babylon, the return from captivity and the future peace of Israel. (4:1-8, 10, 13 & 7:11, 14-17).
5. The place of the birth of Jesus. (5:2).