THE PROPHESY OF MICAH

The prophesy of Micah singles out two rival cities, Samaria and Jerusalem. Micah addresses the entire Earth through these two cities(Micah 1;2,3). He prophesies of impending judgement even to the high places of the earth. This refers to principalities. Thus the prophet shifts his prophesy into spiritual high places as well. Most prophets associate mountains (which in the past made great placements for castles and forts) with the spiritual powers over certain places/nations. Most shrines were located in the high places too. This remains true for communities that openly practice idolatry in the current times.

According to the prophet, while Judah would seem to have been the law abiding child of Israel, especially after the transgression of the North, they had turned even the good temple into a god in itself (Micah 1:5). This is not a strange concept. It is a fact that the line between admiration and worship is very thin. Even a good thing can be misused. Judah did cross this line. This had the eventual effect that though they had all the trappings of the law and religion, they were not, in the spirit, any different from the North, which made an idol in defiance and called it their god. For this reason, both the kingdoms earn a rebuke, and a warning of an impending doom at the same breath(Micah 1:12, 3:12). The same is also a true comparison between the church and the world today.

Micah, in his prophesy, oscillates between the physical and the spiritual, casually referring to both at the same time. This is a seal that creates a challenge in the study of the book.

Like the rest, the prophesy of Micah deals with restoration after the impending destruction(Micah 4:1), specifically of the mountain of God. He also prophesies a coming reign of a supernatural peace that will follow after the restoration(Micah 4:3.) Micah 4:8-13 is a synonym of our current time. Therein is the long awaited Kingdom of God over the earth and the birth pangs preceding, the tribulation and bondage under the yoke of Babylon, from which deliverance is promised. Micah 8:11 prophesies of of the famed rising of many nations against the elect. He refers to their aim as to defile Zion. As is the end of the stories in other prophesies, the gathering of the nations in the end works to their disadvantage. This is unfortunate predicament is referred to as the prepared feast before the elect nation. Compare:

Revelation 19:17 

And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

Chapter 5 of the prophesies continues with the picture of the hour of darkness. There is too a mystery of seven shepherds and eight principal men (Probably a reference to princes, as in angels of the status of the cherubim, Micah 5:5,6) who are raised specifically for the hour of darkness, this hour. Their purpose is to visit the sword upon the the offending nations. Chapter 6 of the prophesy is God reasoning with His people. It is not about the sacrifice of cattle, which the people did religiously. It is about justice, love, mercy and humility before God(Verse 8). All these are what all the law foreshadows. These are the true living sacrifices. These sacrifices we can now offer in our spirit, and are required.

As most prophets do, Micah ends with hope. The hope is the power/ability of God to forgive(Micah 7:18). The days of redemption from the powers of this age shall be like the days of the redemption of Israel from Egypt(Micah 7:15). For the same Egypt is a sign. The prophet Micah thus says to this generation.

(All references made are to the King James version of the Bible.)