God Speaks
1 The Lord gave this message to Micah of Moresheth during the years when Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. The visions he saw concerned both Samaria and Jerusalem.
2 Attention! Let all the people of the world listen!
Let the earth and everything in it hear.
The Sovereign Lord is making accusations against you;
the Lord speaks from his holy Temple.
3 Look! The Lord is coming!
He leaves his throne in heaven
and tramples the heights of the earth.
4 The mountains melt beneath his feet
and flow into the valleys
like wax in a fire,
like water pouring down a hill.
5 And why is this happening?
Because of the rebellion of Israel—
yes, the sins of the whole nation.
Who is to blame for Israel’s rebellion?
Samaria, its capital city!
Where is the center of idolatry in Judah?
In Jerusalem, its capital!
6 “So I, the Lord, will make the city of Samaria
a heap of ruins.
Her streets will be plowed up
for planting vineyards.
I will roll the stones of her walls into the valley below,
exposing her foundations.
7 All her carved images will be smashed.
All her sacred treasures will be burned.
These things were bought with the money
earned by her prostitution,
and they will now be carried away
to pay prostitutes elsewhere.”
8 Therefore, I will mourn and lament.
I will walk around barefoot and naked.
I will howl like a jackal
and moan like an owl.
9 For my people’s wound
is too deep to heal.
It has reached into Judah,
even to the gates of Jerusalem.
10 Don’t tell our enemies in Gath;
don’t weep at all.
You people in Beth-leaphrah,
roll in the dust to show your despair.
11 You people in Shaphir,
go as captives into exile—naked and ashamed.
The people of Zaanan
dare not come outside their walls.
The people of Beth-ezel mourn,
for their house has no support.
12 The people of Maroth anxiously wait for relief,
but only bitterness awaits them
as the Lord’s judgment reaches
even to the gates of Jerusalem.
13 Harness your chariot horses and flee,
you people of Lachish.
You were the first city in Judah
to follow Israel in her rebellion,
and you led Jerusalem into sin.
14 Send farewell gifts to Moresheth-gath;
there is no hope of saving it.
The town of Aczib
has deceived the kings of Israel.
15 O people of Mareshah,
I will bring a conqueror to capture your town.
And the leaders of Israel
will go to Adullam.
16 Oh, people of Judah, shave your heads in sorrow,
for the children you love will be snatched away.
Make yourselves as bald as a vulture,
for your little ones will be exiled to distant lands.
2 What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night,
thinking up evil plans.
You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out,
simply because you have the power to do so.
2 When you want a piece of land,
you find a way to seize it.
When you want someone’s house,
you take it by fraud and violence.
You cheat a man of his property,
stealing his family’s inheritance.
3 But this is what the Lord says:
“I will reward your evil with evil;
you won’t be able to pull your neck out of the noose.
You will no longer walk around proudly,
for it will be a terrible time.”
4 In that day your enemies will make fun of you
by singing this song of despair about you:
“We are finished,
completely ruined!
God has confiscated our land,
taking it from us.
He has given our fields
to those who betrayed us.”
5 Others will set your boundaries then,
and the Lord’s people will have no say
in how the land is divided.
6 “Don’t say such things,”
the people respond.
“Don’t prophesy like that.
Such disasters will never come our way!”
7 Should you talk that way, O family of Israel?
Will the Lord’s Spirit have patience with such behavior?
If you would do what is right,
you would find my words comforting.
8 Yet to this very hour
my people rise against me like an enemy!
You steal the shirts right off the backs
of those who trusted you,
making them as ragged as men
returning from battle.
9 You have evicted women from their pleasant homes
and forever stripped their children of all that God would give them.
10 Up! Begone!
This is no longer your land and home,
for you have filled it with sin
and ruined it completely.
11 Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you,
“I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!”
That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!
12 “Someday, O Israel, I will gather you;
I will gather the remnant who are left.
I will bring you together again like sheep in a pen,
like a flock in its pasture.
Yes, your land will again
be filled with noisy crowds!
13 Your leader will break out
and lead you out of exile,
out through the gates of the enemy cities,
back to your own land.
Your king will lead you;
the Lord himself will guide you.”
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Micah 1 and 2:
- What does Micah 1 and 2 tell me about God?
- What does Micah 1 and 2 tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions for each chapter. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Micah 1
1. Although God’s patience is infinite, He will not let His people continue to sin and defame His glorious name. In this case God was using Micah to warn both Samaria and Jerusalem that He was about to act against their rebellion. He would use various forms of discipline to bring them back in line with His wonderful plan for them.
2. Even the people God has specifically chosen and blessed as His people don’t always obey Him but instead rebel against Him and His ways.
* The author of this blog is indebted to the people at NavPress who compiled the Life Change Bible Study series: Minor Prophets 1 study guide, particularly pages 119-120 for the following explanation of the names of various cities mentioned in Micah 1 and 2.
“Tell it not in Gath (1:10). ‘Micah did not want the pagan people of Gath to gloat over the downfall of God’s people.’
Beth Ophrah (1:10) meaning “House of Dust”
Shaphir (1:11) the word sounds like a related word for ‘beautiful’ and contrasts with ‘nakedness and shame’ [in verse 11]
Zaanan (1:11) similar to the Hebrew word for “come out”
Beth Ezel (1:11) meaning “House of Taking Away”
Maroth (1:12) similar to the Hebrew word for “bitter”
Lachish (1:13) similar to the Hebrew word for “team”
Moresheth-Gath (1:14) literally, “Possession of Gath”
Akzib (1:14) meaning “deception” or “lie”
Mareshah (1:15) literally, “inheritance,” or “conquered”
Adullam (1:15) literally, “refuge”
Micah 2
1. God continually warns people of impending judgment. He longs for them to repent and return to Him so that He can bless them.
2. Even people who claim to be the “people of God” are plotting against the innocent and/or needy. God will give them their comeuppance and pay them back in kind for what they have done to others if they do not repent.
Prayer:
- How might I pray regarding Micah 1 and 2?
Dear LORD, thank You that You care enough to confront us, Your people, about our sinful rebellion. Your purpose is always to draw us back to a proper relationship with You. Holy Spirit, please convict us of our sins, compel us to repent, convince us of the righteousness of Christ. and compassionately take control of our lives. Only You can cause me to live the way I should, for the glory of the LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Micah 1 and 2?
- I will confess (to myself, God, and other people) my inability to live God’s way.
- I will ask God to apply the forgiveness won for me by Jesus’ blood and rely on Him to help me change.
- I will ask another believer if they would like to partner with me to help each other grow in faith and righteousness.
- I will take courage and trust God to help me speak up for the truth.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.