Micah, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 33 - Micah 

Micah was a prophet in the southern kingdom of Judah.  During his career, the northern kingdom of Israel was captured and the southern kingdom was threatened (though it did not fall until decades after Micah's death).  Consistently, Micah prophesied to the leaders in Jerusalem to change their ways so that such a defeat could be avoided.

After opening with a short description of God's frustration with the northern kingdom of Israel (here identified by its major city, Samaria), Micah turns attention to the problems in Judah.  Ultimately, it is a question of justice -- the people are not living fairly with each other, but instead are lying and cheating to try to get ahead.  Worse, the political and religious leaders in Jerusalem participate in such behavior and do nothing to help the people repent and follow God's teaching.

The leaders believe that God will be satisfied as long as worship and sacrifices in the Temple continue regularly; however, God's concerns are much larger than what happens in the Temple alone.  Such attitudes have thoroughly corrupted the people; in fact, the few who try to be faithful to God still sin a great deal due to this environment.  Drastic steps will be necessary to restore the situation so that they can live up to the special covenant with God to be God's people.