The word of the Lord came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz
(see Ahaz of Judah), and Hezekiah (see King Hezekiah of Judah), kings of of the southern kingdom (Judah) (Mic 1:1a). He was contemporary with Hosea, see
The Book of Hosea, and Isaiah, see The Prophecies of Isaiah. He prophesied over Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom (Israel), and over Jerusalem,
the capital of the southern kingdom (Judah) (Mic 1:1b). Shortly after Micah's prophesies ended, Israel was taken by the Assyrian Empire.
Micah gave a clear warning, but the people wouldn't listen to his prophesies.
The word of the Lord was offensive to them, they had no pleasure in it (Jer 6:10). "Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice." (Ecclesiastes 4:13). God wanted the people to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with their God (Micah 6:8), see
The Golden Rule in The Sermon on the Mount.
Since Israel had committed adultery with temple prostitutes, Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom (Israel), would be conquered by the Assyrian army
(Micah 1:6–7). Even their children would be taken (Micah 1:16). This also occurred
(2 Kings 17:5–6). The people of Israel had worshiped other gods and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them
(2 Kings 17:7–18, 20–23). They were given over to the lifestyle of Assyria when they were brought there and worshiped other gods. In our time, people are given over to the belief of the theory of evolution, when people have rejected God as the Creator, see "The Godless" in The Wrath of God Revealed in The Book of Romans.
If a person doesn't accept the living God, see Salvation, God will eventually
give over that person for eternity to a place without God, see
What Does the Bible Say about Hell?
The same rejection of God that was seen in Israel also came to Judah
(Micah 1:9, 2 Kings 17:19), see Prophet Jeremiah.
Those in charge misused their power (Micah 2:2–11), because they had
the opportunity to benefit from the power they had (Micah 2:1).
The leaders of Israel and Judah had become corrupt (Micah 3:1–3, 9–11a, 7:3).
(The verses 3:2b–3 contain symbolic language that means taking advantage of people.) God therefore plans disaster for these people (Micah 2:3), see principle 3 in The book of Obadiah. Their prophets had become false prophets
(Micah 3:5–7, 11b), see Beware of false prophets in The Sermon on the Mount.
Therefore Jerusalem would become a heap of ruins (Micah 3:12, Jer 26:18).
The people of Judah would be taken to Babylon, but there they will be rescued
(Micah 4:10).
Micah gave the following prophesy about the birth of the coming Messiah:
"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days" (Micah 5:2, Mat 2:3–6).
Israel would be abandoned later (happened in 70 AD) after the birth of Messiah,
but not forever (Micah 5:3). Israel became a nation in 1948, see
Israel Becomes a Country in The Prophecies of Isaiah.
God also promises to gather a remnant of the people back to Israel and to make Israel a great nation (Micah 2:12–13, 4:1–4, 6–7),
see The Millennial Kingdom in The Prophecies of Isaiah.
Our God has Love and Compassion (Mica 7:18–20, John 1:29), see God's Attributes.
See also The Prophet Books in the Old Testament.
