The Writings of Micah

Sometimes God speaks through prophets with unique visions of the future that need interpretation.  Sometimes God is very clear in giving a picture of the future. Imagine getting a picture of a town called Bethlehem and a shepherd from there who is God’s chosen Messiah to save His people.  This was a clear message for Micah to share with the people. 

Micah was a prophet of the common people and of country life.   He was a prophet who received and communicated clear messages from God to the people.  He was a prophet of hope, filled with power from the spirit of the Lord.  He saw the past judgment and punishment of God and he saw the glorious coming of Christ and His kingdom of peace.  Micah prophesied in a time of oppression in Judah and Israel. Micah reminds us that God is not asleep. He sees the way His people live and He will judge them for their sins of idolatry, violence, dishonesty, social injustice, corruption and unfaithfulness.  Micah felt brokenhearted about God’s judgment upon Judah for the wickedness. God told Micah to tell his people that Jerusalem and its temple will be destroyed and the people of Judah will be taken captive to Babylon.

As well, Micah declared a message of God’s love and mercy. He told them that God would bring His people home from captivity.  He foretold the good news that Jesus, the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, would be born in Bethlehem. He would bring salvation to a world full of people needing a Redeemer.  700 years later the prophecy, together with the star, led the wise men to Bethlehem to seek the new king. 

Micah’s message is clear today.  After the events have occurred we can fully understand his visions.  But we must also understand his message. Micah tells us what God requires of us. Micah taught that God cares how His people live. They are to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. This is to be lived out in our daily lives through our behavior in public as well as in private. God is looking for His people to live this way.  This action hundreds of years ago, would be a picture of how the Messiah would act when He walked this earth.