Micah chapter 6 1 -8 www joelteethinthewind com

Micah chapter 6: 1 -8 www. joelteethinthewind. com A court setting -- God versus the people This court setting is reinforced by legal language, for example: – Verse 1“contend thou” (margin “bring charges against”) – Verse 2 “The LORD hath a ‘controversy’ and ‘pleads’ with Israel” – Verse 3 “testify against me” – Verses 4 -5 “make your defense if you can” – Verses 6, 7 Israel had no defense – Verse 8 The way back

Court called to order, verses 1&2 • Micah 6: 1 Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. 2 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. • The mountains and hills are the jury who are called upon to witness for they have always been there through the ages. • A court setting is common in scripture i. e. Isa. 43: 22 -26; Joel 3: 1 -5) In Joel however God pleads (reproves) the nations. – Joel 3: 12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen around about.

Micah 6: 2 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy <7379> with his people, and he will plead <3198> with Israel. • The LORD is the complainant against the sons of Israel. – This “controversy” of God with Israel carries the idea of “reprove, ” as verified by the Hebrew word “yakach” being usually translated “reprove” or “rebuke”. • “controversy” 7379 riyb; n m AV - cause 24, strife 16, controversy 13, contention 2, misc 7; 62 • “plead” 3198 “yakach” AV - reprove 23, rebuke 12, correct 3, plead 3, reason 2, chasten 2, misc 14; 59

The focus? • Micah 6: 3 O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me. • God begins His case with three pointed questions: – What have I done to you? – How have I wearied you? – Make your defense if you can! The sons of Israel couldn’t make a defense for God had done everything for them.

Micah 6: 4 For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD. • God uses the Exodus to support His case: – He had brought them out of Egypt – He had redeemed out of the house of bondage – He had sent Moses, Aaron and Miriam to lead them – He had turned Balaam’s curses into a blessing – He had brought them from Shittim across the Jordan to Gilgal a new beginning. In all God acted in mercy and given them every opportunity to know Him.

Micah 6: 6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? • Judah had not only followed the sins of Ahab and the ten tribes but also had deceived themselves having kept the ritual of the law. • All offerings were useless at this point.

Micah 6: 8 He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? • The N. T. confirms justice, and mercy and adds faith for with the life work of Jesus came justification. – Romans 3: 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. – Romans 3: 24 Being justified freely by his grace … – Romans 5: 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood …

Micah 6: 9 The LORD'S voice crieth unto the city (Jerusalem) and the man of wisdom shall see (know) thy name: hear ye the rod, (4294) and who (God) hath appointed it. – “rod” 4294 “matteh” staff [a correcting instrument]. – God’s purging rods: Assyrians/Babylonians/Romans, etc. – Jesus, God’s correcting rod and purging rod, Eze. 20: 37. • Ezekiel 20: 37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: 38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels …

Micah 6: 10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? 11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? 12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. • After the words of Micah, the homes of the wicked were still full of ill-gotten riches • People were still cheating in business • The rich were still using the club of violence • Jerusalem was full of lying, deceit and violence and there was no repentance or change.

Micah 6: 13 Therefore also will I make thee sick [weak] in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins. 14 Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold [with thine arms], but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword. • Judah unfortunately adopted the sins of Israel for many of Israel had fled to Judah because of the Assyrians. • Judah would try to “take hold” of their children but couldn’t deliver. For example 20 years after Israel went into captivity, Sennacherib came into Judah and carried over 200 thousand captive, 2 Ki. 18: 13. This scene would be repeated by the Babylonians, Romans and through history.

Micah 6: 15 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine. 16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore YE shall bear the reproach of my people. • Omri a supporter of Jeroboam (1 Ki. 16: 16 -28) who caused Israel to sin corrupted their religion and Ahab (1 Ki. 21: 25, 26) his son who added the idolatry of the calves and promoted the worship of Baal which he and his family practiced; and the same works were now done by the people of Judah therefore they also be led captive. • The inhabitances of Judah had followed the doctrine of Omri and manifested the works of Ahab. Those who fled Israel to Judah when Shalmaneser invaded had in twenty years corrupted Judah. • “YE” = Their leaders but also Micah/Jesus would “bear the reproach” and we have Micah’s reaction in the next verse.

Micah 7: 1 Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit. 2 The good man <2623> is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. • (2623 chaciyd {khaw-seed'}; adj AV - saints 19, holy 3, merciful 3, godly 2, good 1, godly man 1, Holy One 1, holy one 1, ungodly + 3808 1; 32. • The timing here goes well beyond Micah to who cried “woe is me” for even the good man is perished out of the earth. ” This pointed to Jesus who is no longer on earth. (cp V. 1 NRSV) – Micah 7: 1 (NRSV) “there is no first-ripe fig for which I hunger”. This fits well Mt. 21: 18 -20 when Jesus came looking for fruit on the fig tree (Judah) and found none, being “the good man”.

Micah 7: 3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince (Harod Mt. 2: 1) asketh, and the judge (Pilate Jn. 18: 4) asketh for a reward; and the great (high) man, (Caiaphas) he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. • Making evil to appear good is how they wrapped it up. This would have many fulfillments but especially to the “good man” seen in v. 2.

Micah 7: 4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation (punishment) cometh; now shall be their perplexity (confusion). • This especially describes the leadership during Jesus’ day as seen in v. 3. • Their “watchman” = God’s true prophets including Jesus warned what would happen. • AD 70 is the context -- but also is Micah’s day, Jesus’ day and our day

Micah 7: 5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. 6 For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. • In times of sever trial this warning especially applied to Micah’s day when Assyria came, and Jesus’ first and 2 nd coming, i. e. . – AD 70 -- Deu. 28: 53 And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons … in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee: • Jesus also warned in Mt. 10: 16 -18, 21, 35, 36 to beware that a Mt. 10 man’s foes shall be his own household. – Matthew 10: 16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men: …

Micah 7: 7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. • Micah exhorts when all human help fails to turn to God with a willingness to suffer and wait for God to answer. • This same exhortation will in the future be given by Elijah who will prepare Israel to accept Jesus, Mal. 3: 1. • Malachi 3: 1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come ….

10 yrs 30 yrs 1. Jesus’ return as a thief Rev. 16: 15 2. Resurrection & Judgment Dan. 12: 2 3. Marriage of Christ/saints Rev. 19: 7 * Elijah preaches to Judah Lk. 1: 17; Mic. 3: 1 4. Armageddon Joel 2: 1 -10; Eze. 38 5. Jesus king, Gog buried. Joel 2: 20; Eze 39 6. Gospel preached, Joel 2: 23; Rev. 14: 6 * Elijah to the ten tribes; Mal. 4: 5; Eze. 20: 35 7. Spirit gifts given Joel 2: 28, 29 8. Jesus seen as Antichrist Psa. 2: 2 * Hour of God’s judgment Rev. 18: 10. 9. Great & terrible day Joel 2: 31; Mal. 4: 5 10 Millennium Joel 3: 18; Rev. 20: 4 Points 1 -9 = 50 years a Jubilee period (Lev. 25: 10); Points 7 -8 = 30 years - hour of Judgment (Rev. 18: 10); Points 5 -9 = 40 years, Mic. 7: 15)

Mal. 4: 4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, (that they would be a special people Ex. 19: 5) with the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: – Joel 2: 20 But I will remove far off the northern army … 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. • So “the great and terrible day of the LORD” is after Armageddon in Mic. 4: 1 and after the Holy Spirit is poured out and the work of Elijah with the ten tribes. It is just before the Millennial Age begins.

Malachi 4: 1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble (Armageddon = heap of sheaves) : and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness (Jesus) arise with healing in his wings; and ye (Israel) shall go forth, (after the long Gentile night) and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet (Mic. 4: 13) in the day (Rev. 18: 10) that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. • Micah 4: 13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: … • Rev. 18: 10 … Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

Micah 7: 8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. • The immediate enemy Mic. 7: 10 was the Assyrian Sennacherib whom God delivered Hezekiah from, Isa. 37: 36. • The coming enemy is Gog (Eze. 38) whom Jesus will deliver from. This however is after the work of Elijah to the Jews in the land but 2/3 still reject and die, Zec. 13: 8. • The ultimate enemy is death but through the darkness of death there is the light of the resurrection to those who have believed, believed obeyed, repented, and with patience put their trust in God.

Micah 7: 9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. light righteousness • Hezekiah fits this context who pleaded, bearing the sin of his people and then waited with faith for God to execute judgment on the Assyrians. • And us ? – We also must bear a sinful world and acknowledge our mortal sin prone nature and plead with patience and faith that we will be brought forth to “behold” Jesus in bringing peace to our world in the kingdom age to come and we will behold Jesus and “his righteousness”. righteousness

Micah 7: 10 Then she (Assyria/Gog) that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets. • The Assyrian enemy saw Israel blessed under a recovered Hezekiah. This types the latter day Assyrian who will come against Israel and see their army destroyed and Israel blessed. • “Her” is Israel which has been “trodden down” until “in that day” - v. 11.

• Micah 7: 11 In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed. 12 In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified (4693“matsor” a name for Egypt) cities and from the fortress (Egypt 4693 “matsor” ) even to the river (Euphrates), and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain (whole earth). • “In the day” when the promises to Abraham come to pass and Jesus is king in Jerusalem (Gen. 13: 15; Jer. 3: 17; Amos 9: 11). – Amos 9: 11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: • Israel would be protected and her boundaries extended and there would be a highway from Egypt to Assyria and Israel a blessing, (Isa. 19: 23 -25).

Micah 7: 13 Notwithstanding the land Micah 7: 13 (NRSV, NIV = “earth”- not Israel) shall be Notwithstanding desolate because of them that dwell the land (NRSV, therein, for the fruit of their doings. NIV = “earth”- not • Context, shall be that day” when Jesus returns, Israel) vs. 11, 12 “in the “earth” will reap God’s judgment while Israel is desolate built including the ten tribes being first brought into because of them Bashondwell that and Gileed and then led by Jesus (“the breaker”) into the promised land, Mic. 2: 12, 13. therein, for the fruit of their

Micah 7: 14 Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. • This is Mic. 2: 13, 14 which described the ten tribes who are brought back to Israel during the gospel proclamation which will be after Armageddon but before Babylon the Great falls, Eze. 20: 33 -38. • The “rod” (Eze. 20: 37) is the Great Shepherd’s staff which will be used to bring them under the new covenant, Jer. 31: 31. • “Carmel” – Rotherham translates as “fruitful field” and “Bashan and Gilead” are regions E. of the Jordan and N. of Arnon. It is here the ten tribes will be brought (Eze. 20: 35) to feed on the spirit word until they come into the bond of the covenant & Jesus/Joshua leads over Jordan, Mic. 2: 14. Ezekiel 20: 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will people I plead with you face to face. 37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I rod will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

Micah 7: 15 According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I show unto him marvelous things. • The coming out of Egypt took forty years, Acts 7: 36. • The “him” include the kings in Psa. 48: 4, 5 which will see Ezekiel’s temple and marvel. Unfortunately they have been deceived by a “strong delusion) to receive God’s judgments. – Psalm 48: 4 For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. 5 They saw it, and so they marveled: they were troubled, and hasted away.

10 yrs 40 yrs 30 yrs 1. Jesus’ return as a thief. 2. Resurrection & Judgment 3. Marriage of Christ/saints 4. Armageddon Joel 2: 1 -10 Jesus king, Gog buried, v. 20 6. Gospel preached, Joel 2: 23. * Ezekiel’s temple built – Psa. 48: 5 * 10 tribes brought back – Mic. 7: 14 7. Spirit gifts given Joel 2: 28, 29 Jesus seen as the Antichrist Psalm 2: 1 -3 ; 2 Th. 2: 11 5. 8. * 9. Great and terrible day, Mic. 7: 17 10 Millennium – Psa 72; Joel 3: 18 Points 1 -9 = 50 years a Jubilee period (Lev. 25: 10); Points 7 -8 = 30 years - hour of Judgment (Rev. 18: 10); Points 5 -9 = 40 years, Mic. 7: 15)

Mic. 7: 16 The nations shall see and be confounded at all their (Israel) might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf. • God here uses Israel as His battle axe, Jer. 51: 20; Micah 4: 13. This will confound the nations. – Micah 4: 13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: … and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: • This takes place over a 30 year period (Rev. 18: 10) in which the image (Dan. 2: 34) will fall. This includes the 10 fingers (Psa. 83) the 10 toes (Dan. 2: 42), the city Rome (Rev. 18: 2) and finally the “beast” and “false prophet” (pope) who will be cast into the “lake of fire”, Rev. 19: 20.

Micah 7: 17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee (Israel). • The nations will be troubled (Psa. 48: 5, 6) with a strong delusion (2 Th. 2: 11) believing a lie that Jesus who has returned and ruling upon David’s throne, (Lk. 1: 32; Psa. 2: 6) is the Antichrist. • Isaiah 2: 19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Micah 7: 18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. • God’s marvelous plan of salvation through His beloved son opened the way for our all righteous Heavenly Father to righteously pardon iniquity for “He delighteth in mercy”.

Micah 7: 19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us (Israel); he will subdue (NIV – “hurl”) our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. • The age is coming when Israel will be the first to repent and finally the whole world, (Mic. 4; Isa. 11; Psa. 72. ). – Hab. 2: 14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Micah 7: 20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old. • God’s truth was His covenant to the fathers which began with His mercy to Abraham. This involved the promises to Abraham, Gen. 13: 15; to Isaac, Gen. 26: 3, 4; and to Jacob, Gen. 28: 13 and to US, Gal. 3: 27 -29. • These promises will happen for God has “sworn unto the fathers from the days of old” and books like Micah give us evidence for our faith and keeps us watching for this New World is Coming soon!

10 yrs 30 yrs 1. Jesus’ return as a thief Rev. 16: 15 2. Resurrection & Judgment Dan. 12: 2 3. Marriage of Christ/saints Rev. 19: 7 * Elijah preaches to Judah Lk. 1: 17; Mic. 3: 1 4. Armageddon Joel 2: 1 -10; Eze. 38 5. Jesus king, Gog buried. Joel 2: 20; Eze 39 6. Gospel preached, Joel 2: 23; Rev. 14: 6 * Elijah to the ten tribes; Mal. 4: 5; Eze. 20: 35 7. Spirit gifts given Joel 2: 28, 29 8. Jesus seen as Antichrist Psa. 2: 2 * Hour of God’s judgment Rev. 18: 10. 9. Great & terrible day Joel 2: 31; Mal. 4: 5 10 Millennium Joel 3: 18; Rev. 20: 4 Points 1 -9 = 50 years a Jubilee period (Lev. 25: 10); Points 7 -8 = 30 years - hour of Judgment (Rev. 18: 10); Points 5 -9 = 40 years, Mic. 7: 15)

1. Armageddon Joel 2: 1 -10; Eze. 38 2. Resurrection & Judgment Dan. 12: 2 3. Marriage of Christ/saints Rev. 19: 7 4. Jesus’ return as a thief Rev. 16: 15 5. Spirit gifts given Joel 2: 28, 29 6. Jesus seen as Antichrist Psa. 2: 2 7. Great & terrible day Joel 2: 31; Mal. 4: 5 8. Jesus king, Gog buried. Joel 2: 20; Eze 39 9. Gospel preached, Joel 2: 23; Rev. 14: 6 10. Millennium Joel 3: 18; Rev. 20: 4

1. Armageddon Joel 2: 1 -10; Eze. 38 =4 2. Resurrection & Judgment Dan. 12: 2 =2 3. Marriage of Christ/saints Rev. 19: 7 =3 4. Jesus’ return as a thief Rev. 16: 15 =1 5. Spirit gifts given Joel 2: 28, 29 =9 6. Jesus seen as Antichrist Psa. 2: 2 =8 7. Great & terrible day Joel 2: 31; Mal. 4: 5 = 9 8. Jesus king, Gog buried. Joel 2: 20; Eze 39 = 5 9. Gospel preached, Joel 2: 23; Rev. 14: 6 = 6 10. Millennium Joel 3: 18; Rev. 20: 4 =10

1. Jesus’ return as a thief Rev. 16: 15 2. Resurrection & Judgment Dan. 12: 2 3. Marriage of Christ/saints Rev. 19: 7 4. Armageddon Joel 2: 1 -10; Eze. 38 5. Jesus king, Gog buried. Joel 2: 20; Eze 39 6. Gospel preached, Joel 2: 23; Rev. 14: 6 7. Spirit gifts given Joel 2: 28, 29 8. Jesus seen as Antichrist Psa. 2: 2 9. Great & terrible day Joel 2: 31; Mal. 4: 5 10. Millennium Joel 3: 18; Rev. 20: 4

The peace and safety cry, * Isaiah 17 Damascus laid heaps, * Isaiah 19 Egypt * World chaos * Ezekiel’s temple built 1. Jesus’ return as a thief Rev. 16: 15 2. Resurrection & Judgment Dan. 12: 2 3. Marriage of Christ/saints Rev. 19: 7 4. Armageddon Joel 2: 1 -10; Eze. 38 5. Jesus king, Gog buried. Joel 2: 20; Eze 39 6. Gospel preached, Joel 2: 23; Rev. 14: 6 7. Spirit gifts given Joel 2: 28, 29 8. Jesus seen as Antichrist Psa. 2: 2 9. Great & terrible day Joel 2: 31; Mal. 4: 5 10. Millennium Joel 3: 18; Rev. 20: 4