Micah 6 (résumé): The Lord's case against Israel

The literary format of Micah 6 is that of a court of law in which God declares his faithfulness to his people whilst pointing at their unfaithfulness. "The Lord has a charge against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel... what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God... Am I to forget you ill-gotten treasures?... shall I acquit a man with dishonest scales?... her rich me are violent liars... therefore I have begun to destroy you... you will store up but save nothing... you will plant but not harvest... as you have followed Ahab's practices I will give you over to ruin".

Salt

We have a constant battle with salt in the water tanks at Green Pastures owing to the salty water we have from our wells. The salt accumulates in mounds in the 7 water tanks and blocks up the ball valves. Every now and then we have to do a big job shovelling out the salt and disposing of it.

Micah 5 (résumé): A promised ruler from Bethlehem

Micah 5 is a chapter of both judgement and hope pointing to the Messiah and God's final deliverance of his people. "But you Bethlehem... small among the clans of Judah... yet from you will come one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are of old, from ancient times... he will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord... and he will be their peace... he will deliver us from the Assyrian when he invades our land... the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations... your hand will be lifted up against our enemies and all our foes will be destroyed... and in that day I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells... I will destroy your images... and I will uproot your Asherah poles and I will take vengeance on the nations that have not obeyed me".

Micah 4 (résumé): The mountain of the Lord

 Micah 4 is a chapter of hope and the restoration of God's people. "In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established... and peoples will stream to it... God will teach us his ways... he will judge between many peoples... and they will beat their swords into ploughshares... and there will be no more wars... and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever... in that day I will gather the lame and assemble the exiles... and the Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and for ever... and the Lord will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies in Babylon... but how many nations are gathered against you without understanding God's plan and thoughts... rise and thresh O Daughter of Zion, I will give you horns of iron, hoofs of bronze and you will break in pieces many nations... and their wealth will be for the Lord of all the earth". 

Micah 3 (résumé): Leaders and Prophets rebuked

 Micah 3 brings a strong condemnation of corrupt Jewish leaders. "Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel... you hate good and love evil... you tear the skin from my people.... at that time God will hide his face from them because of the evil they've done... the sun will set for the prophets and the day will go dark for them... and they will get no answer from God... but I am filled with the Spirit of the Lord and with justice and might to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin... you rulers despise justice and distort all that is right... you leaders judge for a bribe... her priests teach for a price, her prophets tell fortunes for money... because of you Zion will be ploughed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble and the temple will be overgrown with thickets".

Micah 2 (résumé): Man's plans & God's plans

Micah 2 continues God's condemnation of Judah. "Woe to those who plan iniquity... they covet fields and seize them... they defraud a man of his home... therefore the Lord is planning disaster against his people... it will be a time of calamity... do not prophesy their prophets say... disgrace will not overtake us... but you strip off the rich robe from those who pass by without a care... you take away my blessing from the children for ever... for if a liar and a deceiver comes and says I will prophecy for you plenty of wine and beer, he would be just the prophet for this people!... but I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel... I will bring them together like a flock... their king will pass through before them, the Lord at their head".

Micah 1 (résumé): Judgement against Samaria and Israel

The book of Micah is mainly pointed at the Jews in a time of corruption, injustice and idolatry. Micah warns of God's coming judgement as well as giving hope of restoration and a coming Messiah.

Micah 1 brings a word in vision received from God concerning Samaria and Jerusalem which he received during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah of Judah. "Hear O peoples... that the Sovereign Lord witnessed against you... because of Jacob's transgression and Israel's sins... I will make Samaria a heap of rubble... all her idols will be broken to pieces... I will weep and wail... I will howl like a jackal... her wound is incurable and it has come to Judah... even to Jerusalem itself... disaster has come from the Lord, even to the gate of Jerusalem... and the transgressions of Israel were found in you... I will bring a conqueror against you... make yourself as bald as vultures because your children will go from you into exile".