LIVING FAITHFULLY IN TURBULENT TIMES
Twelve Voices #6, The Book of Micah
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
(Jeremiah 26:17–19, NLT) “Then some of the wise old men stood and spoke to all the people assembled there. They said, “Remember when Micah of Moresheth prophesied during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. He told the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field; Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins! A thicket will grow on the heights where the Temple now stands.’ But did King Hezekiah and the people kill him for saying this? No, they turned from their sins and worshiped the Lord. They begged him for mercy. Then the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had pronounced against them. So we are about to do ourselves great harm.”
Repentance followed Micah’s sermons and 100 years later Jeremiah’s life was spared.
600 years later as Micah prophesied, the Messiah was born in Bethlehem.
(Matthew 2:6, NLT) “‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’ ”
(John 7:42, NLT) “For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.”
1. A Message to the Capital Cities.
(Micah 1:5, NLT) “And why is this happening? Because of the rebellion of Israel— yes, the sins of the whole nation. Who is to blame for Israel’s rebellion? Samaria, its capital city! Where is the center of idolatry in Judah? In Jerusalem, its capital!”
2. A Message to the Leaders.
(Micah 3:1–2, NLT) “Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong, but you are the very ones who hate good and love evil.”
3. A Message to the People.
(Micah 6:2, NLT) “And now, O mountains, listen to the Lord’s complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel.”
4. A Message of Judgment and Salvation.
(Micah 4:1–4, NLT) “In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. The Lord will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise!”
(Micah 7:7–8, NLT) “As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.”
God’s hatred is real; burning, consuming, and destroying. He hates sin, and he stands as the righteous Judge, ready to mete out just punishment to all who defy his rule. God’s love is also real. So real that he sent his only Son, the Messiah, to save and accept judgment in the sinner’s place. In God, love and hate are together—both unending, irresistible, and unfathomable.
In seven short chapters, Micah presents this true picture of God—the almighty Lord who hates sin and loves sinners. – From the Life Application Bible, Introduction to Micah
God lists ten sins of the nation.
1. Fraud – (Micah 2:1–2, NLT) “What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night, thinking up evil plans. You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out, simply because you have the power to do so. When you want a piece of land, you find a way to seize it. When you want someone’s house, you take it by fraud and violence. You cheat a man of his property, stealing his family’s inheritance.”
2. Theft – (Micah 2:8, NLT) “Yet to this very hour my people rise against me like an enemy! You steal the shirts right off the backs of those who trusted you, making them as ragged as men returning from battle.”
3. Greed – (Micah 2:9, NLT) “You have evicted women from their pleasant homes and forever stripped their children of all that God would give them.”
4. Debauchery – (Micah 2:11, NLT) “Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you, “I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!” That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!”
5. Oppression – (Micah 3:3, NLT) “Yes, you eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin, and break their bones. You chop them up like meat for the cooking pot.”
6. Hypocrisy – (Micah 3:4, NLT) “Then you beg the Lord for help in times of trouble! Do you really expect him to answer? After all the evil you have done, he won’t even look at you!”
7. Heresy – (Micah 3:5, NLT) “This is what the Lord says: “You false prophets are leading my people astray! You promise peace for those who give you food, but you declare war on those who refuse to feed you.”
8. Injustice – “Listen to me, you leaders of Israel! You hate justice and twist all that is right.” (Micah 3:9, NLT)
9. Extortion and Lying – (Micah 6:10–12, NLT) “What shall I say about the homes of the wicked filled with treasures gained by cheating? What about the disgusting practice of measuring out grain with dishonest measures? How can I tolerate your merchants who use dishonest scales and weights? The rich among you have become wealthy through extortion and violence. Your citizens are so used to lying that their tongues can no longer tell the truth.”
10. Murder – (Micah 7:2, NLT) “The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth. They are all murderers, setting traps even for their own brothers.”
HOW TO LISTEN WELL
(Micah 1:1–2, NLT) “The Lord gave this message to Micah of Moresheth during the years when Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. The visions he saw concerned both Samaria and Jerusalem. Attention! Let all the people of the world listen! Let the earth and everything in it hear. The Sovereign Lord is making accusations against you; the Lord speaks from his holy Temple.”
1. Prepare myself spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
a. Read the Bible daily.
b. Listen to what God has to say in the Bible.
c. Pray for your Pastor.
d. Listen to the message.
e. Don’t get finished before your Pastor.
2. Apply and act upon the message.
(James 1:22, NLT) “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”
GROWTHWORK
God will make me a blessing to others as I humbly walk with Him.
(Micah 6:8, NLT) “The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
1. Do what is right.
2. Show kindness to others.
3. Walk humbly with God.