This past Sunday was week 3 in my class on the Gospel according to the Minor Prophets. Since I was filling the pulpit, my student Trent Crofts filled in for me, and worked his way through Micah. Micah ministered during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (750-686), though scholars tend to narrow the range of his ministry to 730-701. As such he saw the destruction of the northern kingdom Israel in 722 B.C. While sharing some of the same emphases as Amos and Hosea, Micah focuses on the corruption within the leadership of God’s people.
Among the many biblical-theological themes in Micah are the uniqueness of Yahweh (7:18-20), the restoration of the temple (4:1-3), and the promise of a Davidic Messiah (5:2-5a).
How can we as God’s people today benefit from Micah? What is it that God has to say to us today through this Minor Prophet?
I believe the starting point is determining the theological big idea, which I would summarize as follows: Because our sin has been judged at the cross and we live in the last days, we must walk humbly with our truly unique God in heartfelt obedience.
Of course, we see the uniqueness foremost in the person of Jesus Christ, who was Yahweh in the flesh. We have the privilege of living in the last days when people from every tribe and tongue are streaming to the mountain of the house of the Lord to learn to walk in the ways of the God of Jacob. At the same time, we we should heed well Micah’s reminder of what God requires of us. That has not changed in the new covenant; if anything it has intensified. We have seen the embodiment of the person who did justice, who loved kindness, and walked humbly with his God in the person of Christ. Think of his perfect life of justice, obeying the Law of God with his whole heart down to the very last detail of what was required. Think of his love of kindness, shown in his compassion on the lost and his faithful obedience to the Father, even to the point of death on a cross. Think of how humbly he walked with God, submissively following the Father’s plan to the cross. But Christ is more than the example of these qualities. He has granted us his Spirit to live within us, and empower us to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. How great a Savior we have who would embody these things perfectly on our behalf and then grant us his Spirit so that we might do the same.
Want to hear more? You can check out the audio and the handout below:
Week 3 – Micah (Trent Crofts) (Audio)