Study From the Book of Micah,1

                            Study From the Book of Micah,1*

The author: is the prophet Micah. The name of Micah means “Who is like the Lord?”

Micah ministry centred on the Assyrian threat to Samaria, the capital of Israel that was destroyed in 722 B.C , and  Jerusalem, the capital of Judah which was later been destroyed by the Babylonians at 586 B.C. 

The Book of Micah has numerous similarities with the longer Book of Isaiah. Both books were written at the same period of time that makes scholars believe that the two books are complementary to each other.

Date of the book: it was from 752-736 B.C, in the days of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekias, kings of Juda. Note that there was a delay in the judgement of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The reason for that is clear. It was attributed to the mercy of God, who waited for the repentance of His people, and when that did not happen His judgement was inevitable. For Jerusalem, it was a much delay. People of Judea thought that they would be spared because they had the temple, so they were relaxed in their sins until the judgment and destruction happened that was much later than that of Samaria at 586 B.C.

The themes: There is interplay of texts of wrath and mercy in the Book of Micah mirrors the character of God, for even in His wrath, He remembers mercy.

Remarkably, Micah prophesied of the coming Messiah, He would be born in Bethlehem (verse 5:2). That gives confidence of the prophecy of the Lord Jesus that was fulfilled (Math.2:1).    

• The introduction is adopted from Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible, Thomas Nelsons publication, 1997.