Micah 1-3, Job 34:21-27, John 18:19-27, Revelation 11 Micah 1-3: The first three chapters of Micah have little by way of positive feel-good vibe—interspersed only occasionally with promises of the future Redeemer (the promise of which is more clearly in view in chapter 4). Micah prophesied during a time of prosperity, and warned God’s people against their rebellion and its consequences; the northern kingdom fell during his ministry, and the southern kingdom also came close to dissipating too. In this context they are to “hear” God’s word (1:2). For there is judgment coming (1:6). It is such a serious judgment that Micah conjures up one of the famous poems in Israel, written to mourn the death of Saul by none other than David: “Tell it not in Gath” (1:10; 2 Samuel 1:20). Micah preaches against their misuse of their prosperity (2:1) and violent economic aggression (2:2). For such plain speaking he is told to keep quiet and no longer preach such controversial messages (2:6). Indeed, the kind of preacher they really want is one who will preach of wine and strong drink (2:11). For all such debauchery, there is a penalty—“They will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them” (3:4). But Micah is a different kind of prophet, and he keeps on preaching:

But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin (3:8)

But his words are ignored—they assume they can do no wrong:

“yet they lean on the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us” (3:11)

And so:

Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height (3:12)

In the midst of all this doom and gloom there is still hope—hope resting in God’s faithfulness (not his people’s faithlessness):

I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men (2:12)

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