High Expectations
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Key Verse: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Selected Scripture: |
MICAH WAS A PROPHET to Judah and a contemporary of Isaiah who served during the reign of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. (Mic. 1:1) He was given prophecies pertaining to Samaria (the northern ten-tribe kingdom) and to Judah (the two-tribe kingdom). He describes in the first chapter of the prophecy the stately steppings of Jehovah, as he comes to judge the earth. The pronouncement against Samaria is, “I will make Samaria as an heap of the field;” (Mic. 1:6) and against Judah, “Her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.” (vs. 9) The reasons for the judgments are given in Micah, chapters one and two. Micah then places the responsibility for both Israel’s (Samaria) and Judah’s (Jerusalem) failure with the heads of state in the third chapter of his prophecy, saying, “Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?”—Mic. 3:1
The indictment of these leaders is astounding! They are accused of torture, greed, bribery, lack of justice and equity, and utter disregard for the laws of the Lord. Their prophets are false and their priests take bribes. A pitiful situation existed and judgments were due. As we know, the immediate punishments were captivity of Israel by the Assyrians and captivity of Judah by Babylon. The failings of the people are recorded in the sixth chapter of Micah’s prophecy.
In this prophecy (chapters four and five) are given the final outcome of these punishments of Israel and Judah and of all nations. The establishment of God’s kingdom brings an end to their trials. “In the last days [of this present evil world] it shall come to pass, that the mountain [kingdom] of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains [over all other kingdoms], and it shall be exalted above the hills [above every other nation]; and people shall flow unto it.”—Mic. 4:1
This glorious establishment of God’s kingdom will be welcomed by all nations who will recognize the true God as the God of Jacob and be desirous of walking in his ways and paths. War will end; true security will be available for everyone.
In chapter five, Micah makes clear that the judge of Israel, the chosen ruler of Israel, our Lord Jesus, would be born in Bethlehem and be mistreated. After enduring the abuse of man he would be exalted to a position where he will put an end to all false religious worship, and help his associates overcome their enemies and restore Israel. Thus, in the middle of the pronounced judgments against the leaders and sinners of Israel and Judah, we have this beautiful prophecy concerning God’s kingdom.
The standard for those who will be in that kingdom is given in our theme text, ‘He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.”—Mic. 6:8
This has been God’s standard throughout all generations. Many of the judgments that came upon Israel and Judah could have been avoided if their leaders and people had tried to put these words into practice.