PROPHET OVERBOARD

1. PROPHET OVERBOARD

2. MICAH • Micah was an early pre-exilic prophet during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (see 2 Kings 15-20). This time period extends from about 735 to 700 B.C. • Micah, the Morasthite (from Moresheth near Gath, about 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem), was a contemporary of Isaiah and his book is a miniature of Isaiah’s. • Micah was Judaean like Isaiah; however, unlike Isaiah, Micah was from a poor family in a small village that came to the city of Jerusalem. Therefore, many of his prophecies explore the injustices done to these people.

3. MICAH • Micah is the prophet usually quoted at Christmas for prophesying the birth of Christ while Isaiah is remembered for the prophecy of the death of Jesus (Isaiah 53). • Isaiah was a well-educated man while Micah was a man of the fields. • Micah means “Who is like Jehovah.” • Micah was a prophet to Judah, though he often included Israel (the 10 tribes) and Samaria, its capital. • Micah is not a story, but a collection of prophecies written as poetry.

4. Moresheth

5. Why Was Micah Written? The Historical Purpose: The Book of Micah shows God’s hatred of His people’s passionless ritual and sin (6:7) and His offer of pardon to them. The Doctrinal Purpose: Several important teachings are stressed including God’s hatred of empty formal religion (6:7), His concern for social justice (6:8), His pardoning grace (7:18), and His faithfulness to His covenants (7:20). The Christological Purpose: This book presents Christ as the God of Jacob (4:2), the Judge of the nations (4:3), and the Ruler in Israel who will be born in the city of Bethlehem (5:2; Matt. 2:1-6).

6. To Whom Did Micah Write? The Lord gave this message to Micah of Moresheth during the years when Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. The visions Micah saw concerned both Israel (Samaria) and Judah (Jerusalem); however, the primary audience is Judah, since only three Southern kings are mentioned in the address (1:1). A large section of the Book of 2 Kings reveals much of what happened during the reigns of the three kings to whom Micah ministered.

7. Background to Micah’s Day I. The Reigns of Two Kings in Judah: A Sharp Contrast Between Righteousness and Wickedness – 2 Kings 15:32-16:20 (2 Kings 15:32-38; see 2 Chr. 27:1-9; 2 Kings 16:1- 20; see 2 Chr. 28:1-27) II. The Righteous Reign of Hezekiah (Part 1) – Assyria’s Invasion of Judah : A Man Who Trusted and Held Fast to the Lord – 2 Kings 15:18-1-37 III. The Righteous Reign of Hezekiah (Part 2) – Judah’s Deliverance from Assyria: God’s Power to Rescue His People – 2 Kings 19:1-37 IV. The Righteous Reign of Hezekiah (Part 3) – His Terminal Illness and Miraculous Healing: The Power of Prayer and the Danger of Pride – 2 Kings 20:1-21

8. JOTHAM: A RULER WHO WORSHIPPED GOD AS INSTRUCTED Background to Micah’s Day I. The Reigns of Two Kings in Judah: A Sharp Contrast Between Righteousness and Wickedness – 2 Kings 15:32-16:20 (2 Kings 15:32-38; see 2 Chr. 27:1-9; 2 Kings 16:1- 20; see 2 Chr. 28:1-27) 2 Kings 15:32-38 (The Message) 32-35 In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah became king in Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. He acted well in God’s eyes, following in the steps of his father Uzziah. BUT he didn’t interfere with the traffic to the neighborhood sex-and-religion shrines; they continued, as popular as ever. The construction of the High Gate to The Temple of God was his work. 36-38 The rest of the life and times of Jotham, the record of his work, is written in The Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. It was during these years that God began sending Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah to attack Judah.

9. Background to Micah’s Day I. The Reigns of Two Kings in Judah: A Sharp Contrast Between Righteousness and Wickedness – 2 Kings 15:32-16:20 (2 Kings 15:32-38; see 2 Chr. 27:1-9; 2 Kings 16:1- 20; see 2 Chr. 28:1-27) 2 Kings 16:1-20 (The Message) 1-4 In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham became king of Judah. Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king and he ruled for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He didn’t behave in the eyes of his God; he wasn’t at all like his ancestor David. Instead he followed in the track of the kings of Israel. He even indulged in the outrageous practice of “passing his son through the fire”—a truly abominable act he picked up from the pagans God had earlier thrown out of the country. He also participated in the activities of the neighborhood sex-and-religion shrines that flourished all over the place.

10. AHAZ: A RULER WHO LOOKED FOR A SAVIOR OTHER THAN THE LORD Background to Micah’s Day I. The Reigns of Two Kings in Judah: A Sharp Contrast Between Righteousness and Wickedness – 2 Kings 15:32-16:20 (2 Kings 15:32-38; see 2 Chr. 27:1-9; 2 Kings 16:1-20; see 2 Chr. 28:1-27) 2 Kings 16:1-20 (The Message) 5 Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliahking of Israel ganged up against Jerusalem, throwing a siege around the city…7-8 Ahazsent envoys to Tiglath-Pileserking of Assyria with this message: “I’m your servant and your son. Come and save me from the heavy-handed invasion of the king of Aram and the king of Israel. They’re attacking me right now.” Then Ahaz robbed the treasuries of the palace and The Temple of God of their gold and silver and sent them to the king of Assyria as a bribe.9 The king of Assyria responded to him. He attacked and captured Damascus. He deported the people to Nineveh as exiles. Rezin he killed. 10-11 King Ahaz went to meetTiglath-Pileserking of Assyria in Damascus. The altar in Damascus made a great impression on him… Uriah the priest built the altar to the specifications that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus. 12-14 The minute the king saw the altar he approached it with reverence... But the old bronze Altar that signaled the presence of God he displaced from its central place and pushed it off to the side of his new altar. 17-18 Then King Ahaz proceeded to plunder The Temple furniture of all its bronze. Finally, he removed any distinctive features from within The Temple that were offensive to the king of Assyria.

11. Background to Micah’s Day II. The Righteous Reign of Hezekiah (Part 1) – Assyria’s Invasion of Judah: A Man Who Trusted and Held Fast to the Lord – 2 Kings 18:1-37 2 Kings 18:1-37 (The Message) 1-4 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz began his rule over Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king and he ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. In God’s opinion he was a good king; he kept to the standards of his ancestor David. He got rid of the local fertility shrines, smashed the phallic stone monuments, and cut down the sex-and-religion Asherah groves. As a final stroke he pulverized the ancient bronze serpent that Moses had made; at that time the Israelites had taken up the practice of sacrificing to it—they had even dignified it with a name, Nehushtan (The Old Serpent). 5-6 Hezekiah put his whole trust in the God of Israel. There was no king quite like him, either before or after. He held fast to God—never loosened his grip—and obeyed to the letter everything God had commanded Moses. And God, for his part, held fast to him through all his adventures. 7-8He revolted against the king of Assyria; he refused to serve him one more day. And he drove back the Philistines…

12. Background to Micah’s Day II. The Righteous Reign of Hezekiah (Part 1) – Assyria’s Invasion of Judah: A Man Who Trusted and Held Fast to the Lord – 2 Kings 18:1-37 2 Kings 18:1-37 (The Message) 9-11 In the fourth year of Hezekiah and the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked Samaria. He threw a siege around it and after three years captured it… The king of Assyria took Israel into exile and relocated them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in towns of the Medes. 12 All this happened because they wouldn’t listen to the voice of their God and treated his covenant with careless contempt. They refused either to listen or do a word of what Moses, the servant of God, commanded. 13-14 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the outlying fortress cities of Judah and captured them. King Hezekiah sent a message to the king of Assyria at his headquarters in Lachish: “I’ve done wrong; I admit it. Pull back your army; I’ll pay whatever tribute you set.”

13. Background to Micah’s Day II. The Righteous Reign of Hezekiah (Part 1) – Assyria’s Invasion of Judah: A Man Who Trusted and Held Fast to the Lord – 2 Kings 18:1-37 2 Kings 18:1-37 (The Message) 14-16 The king of Assyria demanded tribute from Hezekiah king of Judah—eleven tons of silver and a ton of gold. Hezekiah turned over all the silver he could find in The Temple of God and in the palace treasuries... Hezekiah even took down the doors of The Temple of God and the doorposts that he had overlaid with gold and gave them to the king of Assyria. 17So the king of Assyria sent his top three military chiefs… with a strong military force to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem...18 They called loudly for the king... 28-32 …he stepped forward and spoke in Hebrew loud enough for everyone to hear, “Listen carefully to the words of The Great King, the king of Assyria: Don’t let Hezekiah fool you; he can’t save you. And don’t let Hezekiah give you that line about trusting in God, telling you, ‘God will save us—this city will never be abandoned to the king of Assyria.’ Don’t listen to Hezekiah—he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Listen to the king of Assyria—deal with me and live the good life; I’ll guarantee everyone your own plot of ground—a garden and a well! I’ll take you to a land sweeter by far than this one, a land of grain and wine, bread and vineyards, olive orchards and honey. You only live once—so live, really live! 32-35 “No. Don’t listen to Hezekiah. Don’t listen to his lies, telling you ‘God will save us.’ Has there ever been a god anywhere who delivered anyone from the king of Assyria?

14. Background to Micah’s Day III. The Righteous Reign of Hezekiah (Part 2) – Judah’s Deliverance from Assyria: God’s Power to Rescue His People– 2 Kings 19:1-37 2 Kings 19:1-37 (The Message) 1-3 When Hezekiah heard it all, he too ripped his robes apart and dressed himself in rough burlap. Then he went into The Temple of God. He sent Eliakim, and the senior priests, all of them dressed in rough burlap, to the prophet Isaiah… They said to him, “A message from Hezekiah: ‘This is a black day, a terrible day—doomsday! 6-7 Isaiah answered them, “Tell your master, ‘God’s word: Don’t be at all concerned about what you’ve heard from the king of Assyria’s bootlicking errand boys—these outrageous blasphemies. Here’s what I’m going to do: Afflict him with self-doubt. He’s going to hear a rumor and, frightened for his life, retreat to his own country. Once there, I’ll see to it that he gets killed.’” 8-13  …Then Sennacherib heard that Tirhakah king of Cush was on his way to fight against him. So he sent another envoy with orders to deliver this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: “Don’t let that god that you think so much of keep stringing you along with the line, ‘Jerusalem will never fall to the king of Assyria.’ 14-15 Hezekiah took the letter from the envoy and read it. He went to The Temple of God and spread it out before God. And Hezekiah prayed—oh, how he prayed! 35 And it so happened that that very night an angel of God came and massacred 185,000 Assyrians. When the people of Jerusalem got up next morning, there it was—a whole camp of corpses! 36-37 Sennacherib king of Assyria got out of there fast, headed straight home for Nineveh, and stayed put. One day when he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer murdered him and then escaped to the land of Ararat.

15. Background to Micah’s Day • The Righteous Reign of Hezekiah (Part 3) – His Terminal Illness and Miraculous Healing: The Power of Prayer and the Danger of Pride – 2 Kings 20:1-20 2 Kings 20:1-20 (The Message) 1 Some time later Hezekiah became deathly sick. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz paid him a visit and said, “Put your affairs in order; you’re about to die—you haven’t long to live.” 2-3 Hezekiah turned from Isaiah and faced God, praying: Remember, O God, who I am, what I’ve done!I’ve lived an honest life before you,My heart’s been true and steady,I’ve lived to please you; lived for your approval. And then the tears flowed. Hezekiah wept. 4-6 Isaiah, leaving, was not halfway across the courtyard when the word of God stopped him: “Go back and tell Hezekiah, prince of my people, ‘God’s word, Hezekiah! From the God of your ancestor David: I’ve listened to your prayer and I’ve observed your tears. I’m going to heal you. In three days you will walk on your own legs into The Temple of God. I’ve just added fifteen years to your life; I’m saving you from the king of Assyria, and I’m covering this city with my shield—for my sake and my servant David’s sake.’”

16. HEZEKIAH: A RIGHTEOUS RULER WHO BECAME PRIDEFUL Background to Micah’s Day • The Righteous Reign of Hezekiah (Part 3) – His Terminal Illness and Miraculous Healing: The Power of Prayer and the Danger of Pride – 2 Kings 20:1-20 2 Kings 20:1-20 (The Message) 12-13 Shortly after this, Merodach-Baladan, the son of Baladan king of Babylon, having heard that the king was sick, sent a get-well card and a gift to Hezekiah. Hezekiah was pleased and showed the messengers around the place—silver, gold, spices, aromatic oils, his stockpile of weapons—a guided tour of all his prized possessions. There wasn’t a thing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah didn’t show them. 14 And then Isaiah the prophet showed up: “And just what were these men doing here? Where did they come from and why?” Hezekiah said, “They came from far away—from Babylon.” 15 “And what did they see in your palace?” “Everything,” said Hezekiah. “There isn’t anything I didn’t show them—I gave them the grand tour.” 16-18 Then Isaiah spoke to Hezekiah, “Listen to what God has to say about this: The day is coming when everything you own and everything your ancestors have passed down to you, right down to the last cup and saucer, will be cleaned out of here—plundered and packed off to Babylon. God’s word! Worse yet, your sons, the progeny of sons you’ve begotten, will end up as eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

17. Basic Outline of Micah • God’s Warning of Coming Judgment – 1:1 – 3:12 • The Pronouncement of Judgment, 1:1-16 • The Cause of the Judgment: A Corrupt Society, 2:1-13 • The Cause of the Judgment: A Corrupt Leadership, 3:1-12 • The Promise of a Future Great Hope: The Messiah’s Kingdom – 4:1-5:15 • The Hope for the Messiah’s Kingdom, 4:1-13 • The Coming Ruler of God’s Kingdom: The Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, 5:1-15 • God’s Case Against His People and His Great Promise of Salvation – 6:1-7:20 • God’s Case Against His People, 6:1-16 • The Corruption of Society and God’s Great Promise of Salvation, 7:1-20

18. God’s Message as it came to Micah of Moresheth. It came during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. It had to do with what was going on in Samaria and Jerusalem. 2 Listen, people—all of you.    Listen, earth, and everyone in it:The Master, God, takes the witness stand against you,    the Master from his Holy Temple. 3-5 Look, here he comes! God, from his place!    He comes down and strides across mountains and hills.Mountains sink under his feet,    valleys split apart;The rock mountains crumble into gravel,    the river valleys leak like sieves.All this because of Jacob’s sin,    because Israel’s family did wrong.You ask, “So what is Jacob’s sin?”    Just look at Samaria—isn’t it obvious?And all the sex-and-religion shrines in Judah—    isn’t Jerusalem responsible? • God’s Warning of Coming Judgment – 1:1 – 3:12 • The Pronouncement of Judgment, 1:1-16 (The Message)

19. 6-7 “I’m turning Samaria into a heap of rubble,    a vacant lot littered with garbage.I’ll dump the stones from her buildings in the valley    and leave her abandoned foundations exposed.All her carved and cast gods and goddesses    will be sold for stove wood and scrap metal,All her sacred fertility groves    burned to the ground,All the sticks and stones she worshiped as gods,    destroyed.These were her earnings from her life as a whore.    This is what happens to the fees of a whore.” 8-9 This is why I lament and mourn.    This is why I go around in rags and barefoot.This is why I howl like a pack of coyotes,    and moan like a mournful owl in the night.God has inflicted punishing wounds;    Judah has been wounded with no healing in sight.Judgment has marched through the city gates.    Jerusalem must face the charges. Romans 1:18-32; 1 Colossians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:36; 1 John 5:21; Rev. 21:8) Citizens of the world TODAY, God warns us ALL: idolatry or any form of false worship will doom us. The unrepentant idolater will not inherit the kingdom of God. • God’s Warning of Coming Judgment – 1:1 – 3:12 • The Pronouncement of Judgment, 1:1-16 (The Message)

20. 10-16 Don’t gossip about this in Telltown.    Don’t waste your tears.In Dustville,    roll in the dust.In Alarmtown,    the alarm is sounded.The citizens of Exitburgh    will never get out alive.Lament, Last-Stand City:    There’s nothing in you left standing.The villagers of Bittertown    wait in vain for sweet peace.Harsh judgment has come from God    and entered Peace City.All you who live in Chariotville,    get in your chariots for flight.You led the daughter of Zion    into trusting not God but chariots.Similar sins in Israel    also got their start in you. Go ahead and give your good-bye gifts    to Good-byeville.Miragetown beckoned    but disappointed Israel’s kings.Inheritance City    has lost its inheritance.Glorytown    has seen its last of glory.Shave your heads in mourning    over the loss of your precious towns.Go bald as a goose egg—they’ve gone    into exile and aren’t coming back. Gath (Philistines) Meresheth Gath, Aczib • God’s Warning of Coming Judgment – 1:1 – 3:12 • The Pronouncement of Judgment, 1:1-16 (The Message) Beth Ophrah, Saphir, Zaanan, Beth Ezel Mareshah Maroth, Jerusalem Lachish

21. Judah and Jerusalem were condemned because they allowed the cancer of Samaria’s sin to infect them. God’s Word is clear: we must not follow evil examples or participate in the wicked behavior of this world. Acts 2:40; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 5:9-11; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 2 Timothy 2:4; Hebrews 4:11; Hebrews 11:24-25; 2 Peter 3:17; 1 John 2:15-16; Exodus 23:2; Leviticus 20:23; 2 Kings 17:15; Psalm 1:1; Proverbs 22:24-25; Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:18 • God’s Warning of Coming Judgment – 1:1 – 3:12 • The Pronouncement of Judgment, 1:1-16 (The Message)

22. 1-5Doom to those who plot evil,    who go to bed dreaming up crimes!As soon as it’s morning,    they’re off, full of energy, doing what they’ve planned.They covet fields and grab them,    find homes and take them.They bully the neighbor and his family,    see people only for what they can get out of them.God has had enough. He says,    “I have some plans of my own:Disaster because of this interbreeding evil!    Your necks are on the line.You’re not walking away from this.    It’s doomsday for you.Mocking ballads will be sung of you,    and you yourselves will sing the blues:‘Our lives are ruined,    our homes and lands auctioned off.They take everything, leave us nothing!    All is sold to the highest bidder.’”And there’ll be no one to stand up for you,    no one to speak for you before God and his jury. Sin #1: Planning and Plotting Evil • God’s Warning of Coming Judgment – 1:1 – 3:12 • The Cause of the Judgment: A Corrupt Society, 2:1-13 (The Message) Sin #2: Coveting and Stealing from Others

23. Get out of here, the lot of you.    You can’t take it easy here!You’ve polluted this place,    and now you’re polluted—ruined!If someone showed up with a good smile and glib tongue    and told lies from morning to night—‘I’ll preach sermons that will tell you    how you can get anything you want from God:More money, the best wines . . . you name it’—    you’d hire him on the spot as your preacher! 6-7 “Don’t preach,” say the preachers.    “Don’t preach such stuff.Nothing bad will happen to us.    Talk like this to the family of Jacob?Does God lose his temper?    Is this the way he acts?Isn’t he on the side of good people?    Doesn’t he help those who help themselves?” 8-11 “What do you mean, ‘good people’!    You’re the enemy of my people!You rob unsuspecting people    out for an evening stroll.You take their coats off their backs    like soldiers who plunder the defenseless.You drive the women of my people    out of their ample homes.You make victims of the children    and leave them vulnerable to violence and vice. • God’s Warning of Coming Judgment – 1:1 – 3:12 • The Cause of the Judgment: A Corrupt Society, 2:1-13 (The Message) Sin #3: Persecuting God’s True Prophets Sin #4: Hostile and Violent Sin #5: Abusing Women and Children Sin #6: Following Deceitful Prophets

24. Verse 12: The Lord would be a Shepherd to His people 12-13 “I’m calling a meeting, Jacob.    I want everyone back—all the survivors of Israel.I’ll get them together in one place—    like sheep in a fold, like cattle in a corral—    a milling throng of homebound people!Then I, God, will burst all confinements    and lead them out into the open.They’ll follow their King.    I will be out in front leading them.” • God’s Warning of Coming Judgment – 1:1 – 3:12 • The Cause of the Judgment: A Corrupt Society, 2:1-13 (The Message) Verse 13a: The Lord would be a “Breaker” to His people Verse 13b: The Lord would be the people’s King

25. 4 The time’s coming, though, when these same leaders    will cry out for help to God, but he won’t listen.He’ll turn his face the other way    because of their history of evil. Here is God’s Message to the prophets,    the preachers who lie to my people:“For as long as they’re well paid and well fed,    the prophets preach, ‘Isn’t life wonderful! Peace to all!’But if you don’t pay up and jump on their bandwagon,    their ‘God bless you’ turns into ‘God damn you.’Therefore, you’re going blind. You’ll see nothing.    You’ll live in deep shadows and know nothing.The sun has set on the prophets.    They’ve had their day; from now on it’s night.Visionaries will be confused,    experts will be all mixed up.They’ll hide behind their reputations and make lame excuses    to cover up their God-ignorance.” 1-3 Then I said: “Listen, leaders of Jacob, leaders of Israel:    Don’t you know anything of justice?Haters of good, lovers of evil:    Isn’t justice in your job description?But you skin my people alive.    You rip the meat off their bones.You break up the bones, chop the meat,    and throw it in a pot for cannibal stew.” • God’s Warning of Coming Judgment – 1:1 – 3:12 • The Cause of the Judgment: A Corrupt Leadership, 3:1-12

26. God’s Warning of Coming Judgment – 1:1 – 3:12 • The Cause of the Judgment: A Corrupt Leadership, 3:1-12 8 But me—I’m filled with God’s power,    filled with God’s Spirit of justice and strength,Ready to confront Jacob’s crime    and Israel’s sin. 9-12 The leaders of Jacob and    the leaders of Israel areLeaders contemptuous of justice,    who twist and distort right living,Leaders who build Zion by killing people,    who expand Jerusalem by committing crimes.Judges sell verdicts to the highest bidder,    priests mass-market their teaching,    prophets preach for high fees,All the while posturing and pretending    dependence on God:“We’ve got God on our side.    He’ll protect us from disaster.”Because of people like you,    Zion will be turned back into farmland,Jerusalem end up as a pile of rubble,    and instead of the Temple on the mountain,    a few scraggly scrub pines. God demands justice and righteousness from His people, even more so from His leaders and ministers

27. 1-4 But when all is said and done,God’s Temple on the mountain,Firmly fixed, will dominate all mountains,    towering above surrounding hills.People will stream to it    and many nations set out for it,Saying, “Come, let’s climb God’s mountain.    Let’s go to the Temple of Jacob’s God.He will teach us how to live.    We’ll know how to live God’s way.”True teaching will issue from Zion,God’s revelation from Jerusalem.He’ll establish justice in the rabble of nations    and settle disputes in faraway places.They’ll trade in their swords for shovels,    their spears for rakes and hoes.Nations will quit fighting each other,    quit learning how to kill one another.Each man will sit under his own shade tree,    each woman in safety will tend her own garden.God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so,    and he means what he says. 5 Meanwhile, all the other people live however they wish,    picking and choosing their gods.But we live honoring God,    and we’re loyal to our God forever and ever. 6-7 “On that great day,” God says,    “I will round up all the hurt and homeless,    everyone I have bruised or banished.I will transform the battered into a company of the elite.    I will make a strong nation out of the long lost,A showcase exhibit of God’s rule in action,    as I rule from Mount Zion, from here to eternity. II. The Promise of a Future Great Hope: The Messiah’s Kingdom – 4:1-5:15 • The Hope for the Messiah’s Kingdom, 4:1-13

28. 8 “And you stragglers around Jerusalem,    eking out a living in shantytowns:The glory that once was will be again.    Jerusalem’s daughter will be the kingdom center.” 9-10 So why the doomsday hysterics?    You still have a king, don’t you?But maybe he’s not doing his job    and you’re panicked like a woman in labor.Well, go ahead—twist and scream, Daughter Jerusalem.    You are like a woman in childbirth.You’ll soon be out of the city, on your way    and camping in the open country.And then you’ll arrive in Babylon.    What you lost in Jerusalem will be found in Babylon.God will give you new life again.    He’ll redeem you from your enemies. 11-12 But for right now, they’re ganged up against you,    many godless peoples, saying,“Kick her when she’s down! Violate her!    We want to see Zion grovel in the dirt.”These blasphemers have no idea    what God is thinking and doing in this.They don’t know that this is the making of God’s people,    that they are wheat being threshed, gold being refined. 13 On your feet, Daughter of Zion! Be threshed of chaff,    be refined of dross.I’m remaking you into a people invincible,    into God’s juggernaut to crush the godless peoples.You’ll bring their plunder as holy offerings to God,    their wealth to the Master of the earth. II. The Promise of a Future Great Hope: The Messiah’s Kingdom – 4:1-5:15 • The Hope for the Messiah’s Kingdom, 4:1-13

29. But for now, prepare for the worst, victim daughter!    The siege is set against us.They humiliate Israel’s king,    slapping him around like a rag doll. 2-4 But you, Bethlehem, David’s country,    the runt of the litter—From you will come the leader    who will shepherd-rule Israel.He’ll be no upstart, no pretender.    His family tree is ancient and distinguished.Meanwhile, Israel will be in foster homes    until the birth pangs are over and the child is born,And the scattered brothers come back    home to the family of Israel.He will stand tall in his shepherd-rule by God’s strength,    centered in the majesty of God-Revealed.And the people will have a good and safe home,    for the whole world will hold him in respect—    Peacemaker of the world! 5-6 And if some bullying Assyrian shows up,    invades and violates our land, don’t worry.We’ll put him in his place, send him packing,    and watch his every move.Shepherd-rule will extend as far as needed,    to Assyria and all other Nimrod-bullies.Our shepherd-ruler will save us from old or new enemies,    from anyone who invades or violates our land. II. The Promise of a Future Great Hope: The Messiah’s Kingdom – 4:1-5:15 • The Coming Ruler of God’s Kingdom: The Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, 5:1-15

30. 10-15 “The day is coming”    —God’s Decree—“When there will be no more war. None.    I’ll slaughter your war horses and demolish your chariots.I’ll dismantle military posts    and level your fortifications.I’ll abolish your religious black markets,    your underworld traffic in black magic.I will smash your carved and cast gods    and chop down your phallic posts.No more taking control of the world,    worshiping what you do or make.I’ll root out your sacred sex-and-power centers    and destroy the God-defiant.In raging anger, I’ll make a clean sweep    of godless nations who haven’t listened.” 7 The purged and select company of Jacob will be    like an island in the sea of peoples.They’ll be like dew from God,    like summer showersNot mentioned in the weather forecast,    not subject to calculation or control. 8-9 Yes, the purged and select company of Jacob will be    like an island in the sea of peoples,Like the king of beasts among wild beasts,    like a young lion loose in a flock of sheep,Killing and devouring the lambs    and no one able to stop him.With your arms raised in triumph over your foes,    your enemies will be no more! II. The Promise of a Future Great Hope: The Messiah’s Kingdom – 4:1-5:15 • The Coming Ruler of God’s Kingdom: The Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, 5:1-15

31. 1-2 Listen now, listen to God: “Take your stand in court.    If you have a complaint, tell the mountains;    make your case to the hills.And now, Mountains, hear God’s case;    listen, Jury Earth—For I am bringing charges against my people.    I am building a case against Israel. 3-5 “Dear people, how have I done you wrong?    Have I burdened you, worn you out? Answer!I delivered you from a bad life in Egypt;    I paid a good price to get you out of slavery.I sent Moses to lead you—    and Aaron and Miriam to boot!Remember what Balak king of Moab tried to pull,    and how Balaam son of Beor turned the tables on him.Remember all those stories about Shittim and Gilgal.    Keep all God’s salvation stories fresh and present.” • God’s Case Against His People and His Great Promise of Salvation – 6:1-7:20 • God’s Case Against His People, 6:1-16 • The charges God brought against His people: • They thought God’s Word was a burden • They forgot God’s love and neglected His salvation

32. Verses 6-7: Micah exposed the foolishness and sinfulness of the people’s beliefs and behavior with 3 questions 6-7 How can I stand up before God    and show proper respect to the high God?Should I bring an armload of offerings    topped off with yearling calves?Would God be impressed with thousands of rams,    with buckets and barrels of olive oil?Would he be moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child,    my precious baby, to cancel my sin? 8 But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,    what God is looking for in men and women.It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,    be compassionate and loyal in your love,And don’t take yourself too seriously—    take God seriously. 9 Attention! God calls out to the city!    If you know what’s good for you, you’ll listen.So listen, all of you!    This is serious business. • God’s Case Against His People and His Great Promise of Salvation – 6:1-7:20 • God’s Case Against His People, 6:1-16 Verse 8: The people rejected the teachings of God’s Holy Word (act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God) Verse 9: The people ignored and denied God’s disciplined; they refused to heed His warnings

33. 10-16 “Do you expect me to overlook obscene wealth    you’ve piled up by cheating and fraud?Do you think I’ll tolerate shady deals    and shifty scheming?I’m tired of the violent rich    bullying their way with bluffs and lies.I’m fed up. Beginning now, you’re finished.    You’ll pay for your sins down to your last cent.No matter how much you get, it will never be enough—    hollow stomachs, empty hearts.No matter how hard you work, you’ll have nothing to show for it—    bankrupt lives, wasted souls.You’ll plant grass    but never get a lawn.You’ll make jelly    but never spread it on your bread.You’ll press apples    but never drink the cider.You have lived by the standards of your king, Omri,    the decadent lifestyle of the family of Ahab.Because you’ve slavishly followed their fashions,    I’m forcing you into bankruptcy.Your way of life will be laughed at, a tasteless joke.    Your lives will be derided as futile and fake.” Verses 10-16: Judgment is pronounced: ruin, economic collapse, judged because of wickedness and idolatry • God’s Case Against His People and His Great Promise of Salvation – 6:1-7:20 • God’s Case Against His People, 6:1-16

34. But no longer: It’s exam time.    Look at them slinking away in disgrace!Don’t trust your neighbor,    don’t confide in your friend.Watch your words,    even with your spouse.Neighborhoods and families are falling to pieces.    The closer they are—sons, daughters, in-laws—The worse they can be.    Your own family is the enemy. 1-6 I’m overwhelmed with sorrow!    sunk in a swamp of despair!I’m like someone who goes to the garden    to pick cabbages and carrots and cornAnd returns empty-handed,    finds nothing for soup or sandwich or salad.There’s not a decent person in sight.    Right-living humans are extinct.They’re all out for one another’s blood,    animals preying on each other.They’ve all become experts in evil.    Corrupt leaders demand bribes.The powerful rich    make sure they get what they want.The best and brightest are thistles.    The top of the line is crabgrass. • God’s Case Against His People and His Great Promise of Salvation – 6:1-7:20 • The Corruption of Society and God’s Great Promise of Salvation, 7:1-20 Verses 1-6: The people are spiritually impoverished

35. And my enemy will see it, too,    and be discredited—yes, disgraced!This enemy who kept taunting,    “So where is this God of yours?”I’m going to see it with these, my own eyes—    my enemy disgraced, trash in the gutter. 7 But me, I’m not giving up.    I’m sticking around to see what God will do.I’m waiting for God to make things right.    I’m counting on God to listen to me. 8-10 Don’t, enemy, crow over me.    I’m down, but I’m not out.I’m sitting in the dark right now,    but God is my light.I can take God’s punishing rage.    I deserve it—I sinned.But it’s not forever. He’s on my side    and is going to get me out of this.He’ll turn on the lights and show me his ways.    I’ll see the whole picture and how right he is. • God’s Case Against His People and His Great Promise of Salvation – 6:1-7:20 • The Corruption of Society and God’s Great Promise of Salvation, 7:1-20 Verses 7-10: The prophet remains hopeful

36. 14-17 Shepherd, O God, your people with your staff,    your dear and precious flock.Uniquely yours in a grove of trees,    centered in lotus land.Let them graze in lush Bashan    as in the old days in green Gilead.Reproduce the miracle-wonders    of our exodus from Egypt.And the godless nations: Put them in their place—    humiliated in their arrogance, speechless and clueless.Make them slink like snakes, crawl like cockroaches,    come out of their holes from under their rocksAnd face our God.    Fill them with holy fear and trembling. 11-13 Oh, that will be a day! A day for rebuilding your city,    a day for stretching your arms, spreading your wings!All your dispersed and scattered people will come back,    old friends and family from faraway places,From Assyria in the east to Egypt in the west,    from across the seas and out of the mountains.But there’ll be a reversal for everyone else—massive depopulation—    because of the way they lived, the things they did. • God’s Case Against His People and His Great Promise of Salvation – 6:1-7:20 • The Corruption of Society and God’s Great Promise of Salvation, 7:1-20 Verses 11-17: Restoration, Deliverance

37. 18-20 Where is the god who can compare with you—    wiping the slate clean of guilt,Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear,    to the past sins of your purged and precious people?You don’t nurse your anger and don’t stay angry long,    for mercy is your specialty. That’s what you love most.And compassion is on its way to us.    You’ll stamp out our wrongdoing.You’ll sink our sins    to the bottom of the ocean.You’ll stay true to your word to Father Jacob    and continue the compassion you showed Grandfather Abraham—Everything you promised our ancestors    from a long time ago. • God’s Case Against His People and His Great Promise of Salvation – 6:1-7:20 • The Corruption of Society and God’s Great Promise of Salvation, 7:1-20 Verses 18-20: The Promise of Salvation