The Analysed Bible, Volumes 1, 2, 3, by Rev. G. Campbell Morgan: The Book of Micah - Analysed and Explained in Detail (Full Text and PDF).

A detailed analysis of the book of Micah: Authority False and True.

To the best of our knowledge we are of the understanding that this book, being published in 1907, and freely available elsewhere on the internet is in the public domain.

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The Book of Micah - Analysed and Explained in Summary - Volumes 1, 2, and 3 of "The Analysed Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.

To the best of our knowledge we are of the understanding that this book, taken from Volumes 1, 2, & 3 of the "Analysed Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan published in 1907, and freely available elsewhere on the internet is in the public domain.

MICAH - AUTHORITY FALSE AND TRUE

PART A: TO THE NATIONS - CONCERNING THE CHOSEN - Micah 1:1-2:13

Title Page - 1:1

A1. The Summons - Mic. 1:2-1:4

A2. The Proclamation of Jehovah - Mic. 1:5-1:7

A3. The Prophetic Message - Mic. 1:8-2:5

  1. Lamentations of the Prophet - 1:8-1:10
  2. A wailing Description of the Judgment - 1:11-1:16
  3. The Cause Stated - 2:1-2:5

A4. The False Prophets - Mic. 2:6-2:11

A5. The Promise of Deliverance - Mic. 2:12-2:13

Part B: TO THE RULERS - CONCERNING THE COMING ONE - Micah 3:1-5:15

B1. Sin and consequent Judgment - Mic. 3:1-3:12

  1. The Princes - 3:1-3:4
  2. The Prophets - 3:5-3:8
  3. All Ruling Classes - 3:9-3:12

B2. Jehovah's Summons - Mic. 4:1-5:15

  1. The Vision of restored Order - 4:1-5:1
  2. The Deliverer and the Deliverance - 5:2-5:15

Part C: TO THE CHOSEN - CONCERNING THE CONTROVERSY - Micah 6:1-7:20

C1. The Prophet - Mic. 6:1-6:2

  1. The Summons

C2. Jehovah - Mic. 6:3-6:5

  1. A plaintive Appeal

C3. The People - Mic. 6:6-6:7

  1. Questions of Conviction

C4. The Prophet - Mic. 6:8-6:9

  1. The Answer

C5. Jehovah - Mic. 6:10-6:16

  1. A terrible Charge

C6. The People - Mic. 7:1-7:10

  1. Confession and Hope

C7. The Prophet - Mic. 7:11-7:13

  1. The Answer of Hope

C8. The People - Mic. 7:14

  1. At Prayer

C9. Jehovah - Mic. 7:15

  1. The Answer of Peace

C10. The Prophet - Mic. 7:16-7:17

  1. Faith expressing the Promise

C11. The People - Mic. 7:18-7:20

  1. The Final Doxology

Introduction

Micah prophesied in the early part of the reign of king Hezekiah. He was contemporary with Isaiah. He began his ministry after Uzziah's death, and it must have closed in the early part of Hezekiah's reign, for the idolatries which he rebuked were done away at Hezekiah's reformation. His message was peculiarly to the cities, as centres affecting the national thought and action. This he distinctly affirmed in his opening words. The prophecy is a declaration of a Divine programme, and consists of three addresses, each beginning with a call to hear. Micah declared to those in authority in the cities, which were centres of authority, the messages of the One Whose authority is supreme.

The book may thus be divided: A Message to the Nations concerning the Chosen (1-2); a Message to the Rulers concerning the Coming One (3-5); a Message to the Chosen concerning the Controversy (6-7).

A. To the Nations concerning the Chosen - Micah 1:1-2:13

This first message consists of a summons, a proclamation of Jehovah, and a prophetic message based upon the proclamation. This division ends with an account of the interruption of the false prophets, and finally the promise of ultimate deliverance.

In the summons the prophet had clearly in mind the attitude of Jehovah toward the whole earth. All peoples were called upon to attend. Israel was Jehovah's medium of teaching, if not in blessing, then in judgment. He witnessed among the nations by His dealings with Israel. The description of His coming forth from His place is full of poetic beauty. Under the figure of a great upheaval of nature the prophet described the advent of God.

The proclamation of Jehovah first declared the cause of judgment. It was "For the transgression of Jacob ... for the sins of the house of Israel." The reason of judgment was declared to be the apostasy of the whole nation as evidenced in the cities. He next described the course of judgment, commencing with the destruction of the city, and the destruction of false religion. The city wherein was gathered the wealth and wherein authority was exercised, was to be demolished, and the religion of apostasy swept out.

Upon the basis of this proclamation the prophet delivered his message. This opens with a personal lamentation expressive of his own grief concerning the incurable wounds of the people. This is followed by a wailing description of the judgment. The passage is a strange mixture of grief and satire. At the calamity he was grieved. Because of the sin he was angry. This merging of agony and anger flashes into satire. The connection or contrast is not easy to discover. A translation of the proper names appearing in this section may enable the reader to discover the remarkable play upon words which runs through it.

Following this, the prophet stated the cause of the imminent judgment. The sin consisted in the devising of evil at night, the practising of it in the morning, and the abuse of authority. Covetousness, expressing itself in oppression, was the peculiar sin of the rulers. Against this Jehovah proceeds in just retribution: "I devise an evil." The prophet then described the mockery of observers who would imitate their sorrow, and finally declared that they would be utterly dispossessed.

Micah was interrupted by the false prophets, who protested against his message, basing their objection upon the goodness of God. To them Jehovah's answer was that the changed and rebellious attitude of His people accounted for the change in His attitude toward them. Against the people misled by false prophets Micah indulged in indignant satire. The first message, delivered in the hearing of the nations, closes with words spoken to Jacob. It is an indefinite promise of deliverance yet to come.

B. To The Rulers concerning the Coming One - Micah 3:1-5:15

Addressing himself directly to the rulers of the people, in this second message the prophet described their peculiar sin, and announced the coming judgment. He then foretold the coming of the one true Ruler, and the consequent deliverance.

In dealing with the sins of the rulers, he first addressed the heads or princes, charging them with being corrupt. As to character, they hated the good, and as to conduct they spoiled the people.

Turning to the prophets he declared that their sin consisted in the fact that they made the people to err, exercising their sacred office for their own welfare. If they were fed they were prepared to cry peace; if they were not fed they made war. Judgment must overtake them in kind. Micah defended his own ministry by putting it into contrast with others.

He finally dealt with all the ruling classes, and his summary of their sin is forceful. The heads judge for reward; the priests teach for hire; the prophets divine for money. As a result of their sin, judgment must fall on Zion and Jerusalem.

From this scene of a corrupt people governed by corrupt rulers, the prophet lifted his eyes, and looking into the future, saw the day when, under true government, deliverance should be wrought and the Divine order established. In this look ahead he saw the mountain of Jehovah's house established, and the peoples flowing into it. Out of Zion the Lord would come forth, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. The result of this establishment of Divine authority would be the cessation of war, and peaceful possession of the land with all its benefits. In the light of this future deliverance the prophet addressed himself to the present. In the midst of affliction there was assurance. Even while the cry of pain and travail was heard there was hope. He declared that there was to be yet further pain and suffering, but that the day of deliverance was certain.

Having thus described the coming deliverance, Micah uttered the wonderful prophecy concerning the Deliverer and the deliverance under His administration. The Person of the Deliverer is first described. He is One Whose goings forth are from of old, and when He comes it will be to Bethlehem Ephratah. His programme is next described. Its first movement will be that of abandoning the people, and the second that of gathering and feeding them. The central declaration of the whole prophecy is found in this connection: "This Man shall be peace." The local application of the foretelling is seen in the fact that Micah described the victory as one over Assyria. Its far-reaching value has become perfectly evident by the literal and local fulfilment. Concerning this coming deliverance the prophet then uttered the word of Jehovah which declared that in that day there will be the destruction of all the false confidence which had ruined the people through the period of their sin and unbelief.

C. To The Chosen concerning the Controversy - Micah 6:1-7:20

This closing section is dramatic and magnificent. The prophet summoned Israel to hear, and the mountains to the controversy of Jehovah with His people. The key-word is "Jehovah ... will plead." From there the address falls into dramatic form. It sets forth the controversy in which Jehovah, the prophet, and the people take part. Jehovah utters a plaintive appeal in which He asks His people what He has done to weary them. In answer to this the people inquire how they may appear before Him in view of the complaint made against them in His appeal. This inquiry of the people the prophet then answers, telling them what Jehovah requires of them. Immediately the voice of Jehovah is heard crying to the city and describing its sins, declaring them to be the reason of His visitation. This constitutes a terrible charge against them. Following it, the people break forth into a lamentation which is of the nature of a confession, submission to judgment, and hope. The prophet then breaks out into an answer of hope, which yet ends with the consciousness of the necessity for judgment. Following this the people offer prayer for the guidance of Jehovah; and Jehovah answers with a promise that He will guide them as of old. Then the prophet in faith repeats the promise Jehovah has made. The last movement is that of a great final doxology uttered by all the people, which celebrates the patience of God, and His certain restoration of His people.