Micah 4-6

Micah 4

“In the latter days” בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים be’acharīt hayyāmīm

• Mountain of the LORD elevated above all
• Nations stream upward towards mountain

Zion becomes: center of instruction/law (תּוֹרָה, torah)

• For not just Israel, but all nations

Peace imagery:swords to plowshares, spears to pruning hooks

• God as universal judge

• “Sit under vine and fig tree”
  • security, prosperity, peace
  • No more fear

Contrast:

• nations walk in their gods
• Israel walks in YHWH

“the lame… the outcast”

• God gathers the weak and scattered

Remnant becomes a strong nation

“tower of the flock” (מִגְדַּל־עֵדֶר, migdal-eder)

• kingdom returns to Jerusalem

“Is there no king in you?”

• Exile framed as labor pains

Babylonian exile predicted

• Pain leads to deliverance

Nations gather against Zion but hey do not know God’s plan

Zion will: rise and thresh – Victory 

Micah 5

Siege imagery: humiliation of Israel’s ruler

Bethlehem Ephrathah (this specific Bethlehem)

• Key phrase:“from you shall come forth… whose origin is from of old”
• מוֹצָאֹתָיומִקֶּדֶםמִימֵיעוֹלָם
  • ancient origin
  • possibly eternal (Messianic)
  • Matthew 2:5-6

Israel given up temporarily

Shepherd-king:

• stands and shepherds in strength of YHWH
• secure dwelling
• “He shall be their peace”
• Deliverance through this ruler

Remnant:

• like dew from the LORD- widespread
• blessing among nations
• like a lion will be the judgment

God removes:

• horses (military power)
• cities
• sorcery, idols, Asherah

Judgment on disobedient nations

Micah 6

God brings a legal case

• Creation (mountains) = witnesses
• “What have I done to you?”
  • God questions their accusation

God gives reminder of:

• Exodus
• leadership (Moses, Aaron, Miriam)
• deliverance (Balak/Balaam)

People ask questions : 

• Should we give offerings? 
• thousands of rams?
• even firstborn sacrifice?

God’s answer:“He has told you, O man, what is good…”

Three requirements (sing the song….) 

1. Do justice (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat)

2. Love kindness (חֶסֶד, chesed)

1. Walk humbly (צָנַע, tsana‘) with your God

God says “Hear of the rod!” discipline coming

Sins:

• dishonest scales
• violence
• deceit

God strikes:

• Making you sick 
• eating but not satisfied
• sowing but not reaping

Following Omri & Ahab (northern kingdom sinful Kings) leads to destruction 

Application

Micah 4-6 reminds us that God’s ultimate plan is to restore his people. God at any moment can strip away what we sow on this earth. Many times we forget God during times of provision and do not depend on Him. God calls us to act justly, love, and be humble.