And he said to his mother, the eleven hundred shekels of. Generally speaking, idolatry is the veneration, love, worship, or adoration of an idol. He lived during the reign of king jotham of judah, and succeeding kings, about 150 years before the destruction of jerusalem by the babylonian hosts. This man should not to be confused with the prophet. The book of micah was likely written between 735 and 700 b. The theme that resounds throughout this book is the mercy of which gods people are assured despite their faithlessness, especially the faithlessness of their leaders. And he said to his mother, the eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from. Micah intro to micah biblica the international bible society. What is related in this, and the rest of the chapters to the end of this book, was done soon after the. To do justice, to love kindness, to walk humbly bible.
Judges 17 nkjv micahs idolatry now there was a bible gateway. Study guide for micah 1 by david guzik blue letter bible. In this time, as often before him and after him, the people of. The narrative of micahs idol, recounted in the book of judges, concerns the tribe of dan, their conquest of laish, and the sanctuary that was subsequently created there. First, it is clear that worshiping idols stands in opposition to gods commands. Sermons on the book of micah jean calvin, john calvin. The organization of the material is thematic, moving from judgment to salvation in both major sections. Judges 17 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. So in spite of its difficulties, here are four reasons to preach the book of micah. He is the last great prophet of the 8th century, the century which gave us amos and hosea and isaiah. Sin micah comes down hard on the people of god regarding injustice. Micahs idolatry and the migration of the tribe of dan. The book of micah is the sixth book of the 12 minor prophets. Each has the same pattern of sin, punishment, hope.
Worse, today s reading does not redeem their reputation but seems to confirm ephraims particular willful rebellion. The book of micah consists of three serious prophetical speeches each beginning with hear. Frank cioffi, times literary supplement the outstanding contribution of this book is that it both defines and helps to solve the difficulties surrounding the notion of idolatry on the one hand, while using this discussion to shed light on the multiple developments of the notion throughout our history on the other. Jerusalem and samaria, the capitals of the two jewish kingdoms, were centers of idol worship and bad living. It was a time of prosperity and military expansion see introduction to amos. The idolatry had to do with the time back then, but it also has to do with us today. On the one hand, the prophecies announce judgment upon israel for social evils, corrupt leadership and idolatry. Many of us feel idol atry has been extinguished, certainly amongst israelites. The beginning of idolatry in israel, micah and his mother. Despite his clear idolatry, micah was not treated as a completely negative figure, and was highly praised for his hospitality. The seven chapters of micah mainly give a condemnation of israel, because of their absorption of idolatry. Verse 5 contrasts the idolatry that was practiced in micahs day with the pure worship that will prevail in the millennial kingdom. Micah probably spent years putting it all together.
Collected apparently into one volume in the last year of the prophets life, it contains a number of prophecies uttered, perhaps, at different times, but yet connected together by logical sequence, and. Michael olmstedtoday marks our fifth sunday in the book of judges. Lets allow the words of micah to break us out of our apathy about extending justice and kindness to others and press on toward. The book of micah confronts idolatry, superstition, con. In many ways the book of micah is a sister book to isaiah.
The times of micah micah described his times as times of moral and spiritual corruption, greed and injustice. Micah s career began a little later than his contemporaries, isaiah and hosea isaiah 1. He wants israel and us to understand how destructive injustice is to our relationships with other and that it is an abomination in the eyes of god. The narrative of micahs idol, recounted in the book of judges, concerns the tribe of dan, their. This man should not to be confused with the prophet micah. What can we learn from the account of micah and the idol. The same type of idolatry was also happening during the book of judges between micah and the levite. And in those days the tribe of the danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in. Reading plans shop legacy books download the app subscribe read. Now even judah was on the verge of catching the spiritual disease from samaria.
Read today, it still provides a comprehensive outline of jewish history, and also a view of the telling of history as it evolved over the last century. His fathers name is not recorded leaving some to think he was of low birth, from a peasant family. Micah the two horizons old testament commentary thotc. The narrative, as it stands in judges 17, states that a man named micah, who lived in the region of the tribe. Sermons on the book of micah by benjamin wirt farley. According to the superscription, this judaean prophet was active during the last half of the 8th century bc.
Judges 1718 nkjv micahs idolatry now there was a bible. Micah prophesied during the days of jotham, ahaz and hezekiah, kings of judah micah 1. Judges 17 and 18 record the story of a man named micah who built a shrine and worshiped humanmade idols. Micah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. There was much religious activity, but it was the canaanite fertility cult using yhwhs name. In his earlier years he does not appear to have an understanding of the law although he was intent on honouring god in his own way. Apparently micah died in peace in the days of good king hezekiah jer. Today citizens of some nations may reason that because they are in a.
When preaching through this prophetic book, john calvin had no more difficulty applying micahs prophecies to his sixteenthcentury countrymen than do preachers today. Micahs idolatry now there was a man from the mountains of ephraim, whose name was micah. Judges 17 commentary the beginning of idolatry in israel, micah. Book of micah, the sixth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, grouped together as the twelve in the jewish canon. The rich oppressed the poor, and the laws of the torah were rejected. The book of micah is the sixth of the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible old testament. The book of micah, in our present hebrew copies and in the latin vulgate, stands sixth among the minor prophets.
The message of the prophet micah contains dire warnings, but also hope of restoration. Following its superscription, the book has two major sections, each with two parts. Okay, so look takes all the guess work out of figuring out what the sometimes convoluted language of the bible is actually saying, and still, you want to sound smart when the category comes up on jeopardy, or when that hipster friend you have starts spouting off about the religious idolatry in today. The prophet micah confronted idolatry, superstition, confusion. The message of the book of micah is a complex mixture of judgment and hope. Much of micah s prophecy is very severe in tone, though it does contain much poetic beauty similar to that of isaiah. Then follows the announcement of gods judgment over samaria capital of the northern kingdom and over jerusalem capital of judah. Micah 3 niv bible then i said, listen, you leaders of. We meet a man named micah not to be confused with the prophet of the. Should you not embrace justice, 3 who eat my peoples flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces. Benjamin wirt farley when john calvin preached through the book of micah in 155051, he addressed a social situation not unlike micahs, or ours today. This question is the note on which the prophecy of micah ends, and it is also a rough translation of the very name micah. Author the author of the book is micah of moresheth 1.
The book of micah confronts idolatry, superstition, confusion, alienation, inhumane acts against ones neighbors, and desolation of ones being at the most profound personal and societal level. Micahs career began a little later than his contemporaries, isaiah and hosea isaiah 1. The mirror of micahs narrative in judges is a haunting reminder of this. Micah the two horizons old testament commentary thotc dempster, stephen g. Now there was a man from the mountains of ephraim, whose name was micah.
Samaria, says the prophet, has been destroyed by god because of its crimes of idolatry, oppression of the poor, and misuse of power. But also because i had forgotten, however briefly, that its often in brutality and darkness that the grace and brightness of jesus shines most brightly. This book consists of a collection of speeches, proclamations of punishment and of salvation, attributed to the prophet micah. Book of micah overview insight for living ministries. Top 5 commentaries on the book of micah ligonier ministries. He is considered one of the twelve minor prophets of the hebrew bible and was a contemporary of the prophets isaiah, amos and hosea. All her pay as a harlot shall be burned with the fire. The poetic book of micah is most noted for the famous prophecy of the birth of the messiah in bethlehem micah 5. Today i continue my teaching on the minor prophets with micah. The idolatry of micah in the book of judges conform to jesus. The people who were crippled by captivity will be restored to the land, and the lord. David guzik commentary on judges 17 describes the idolatry of micah, a man from.
Ignoring the commands that god gave to israel to worship him in the tabernacle, the ephraimite man, micah, sets up his own private shrine in the hill country v. The following diagram shows how many times and where in micah words of comfort and hope are used compared to words of warning and judgment. He witnessed idolatry, evil business practices, dishonesty, cheating, bribery and. What can we learn from the account of micah and the idol in judges. This village was one of many that was captured by sennacherib in his attack on judah in 701 bc. Ostensibly, it records the sayings of micah, whose name is mikayahu hebrew. Remember the chapter divisions are artificial but even still the diagram enables us to. Introduction to micah shippensburg university bible. The commentary, at 637 pages, is exhaustive, touching on every aspect of the book. Micah combines the ideas of idolatry and spiritual adultery. What is related in this, and the rest of the chapters to the end of this book, was done soon after the death of joshua. Read todays scripture and the daily devotional in the he reads truth app. Micah prophesies the coming judgment on samaria, the capital city of israel.
Jotham and hezekiah were good kings, but ahaz was very wicked. Although written from a more critical perspective than waltke, the commentary on micah by andersen and freedman is worth consulting by those doing indepth study of the book. Most of us dont decide daily to cut people down or find ways to carry out injustice. Little is known about the prophet micah beyond what can be learned from the book. He prophesied under king jothams, ahazs, and hezekiahs reigns. The tribe of dan sends spies to look for land to take among the people of israelin those days there was no king in israel. Micah is an eighth century prophet who ministered in the southern kingdom judah along with his contemporary, isaiah. The events here recorded must have taken place closely following the death of joshua. An idol is an image, a representation of anything, or a symbol that is an object of passionate devotion, whether material or imagined. Micahs hometown of moresheth is probably the same town identified later as moreshethgath in the shephelah rolling hills of judah. He came from a town called moreshet, and was therefore called morashti. He also calls the people out regarding their idolatry. That it might appear how happy the nation was under the judges, here is showed how unhappy they were when there was no judge. Micah also stresses that god hates idolatry, injustice, rebellion and empty.
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