Module 27: The Need for a Teacher - God's Authority
Isaiah - The Prophet of the Theocracy; and Micah - Authority, False and True
Micah Chapter 1
PART A: TO THE NATIONS - CONCERNING THE CHOSEN - 1:1-2:13
Title Page - 1:1
1 The LORD's word that came to Micah the Morashtite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
A.1. The Summons - 1:2-1:4
2 Hear, you peoples, all of you. Listen, O earth, and all that is therein: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
3 For, behold, the LORD comes out of his place, and will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.
4 The mountains melt under him, and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like waters that are poured down a steep place.
A2. The Proclamation of Jehovah - 1:5-1:7
5 "All this is for the disobedience of Jacob, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the disobedience of Jacob? Isn't it Samaria? And what are the high places of Judah? Aren't they Jerusalem?
6 Therefore I will make Samaria like a rubble heap of the field, like places for planting vineyards; and I will pour down its stones into the valley, and I will uncover its foundations.
7 All her idols will be beaten to pieces, and all her temple gifts will be burnt with fire, and all her images I will destroy; for of the hire of a prostitute has she gathered them, and to the hire of a prostitute shall they return."
A.3. The Prophetic Message - 1:8-2:5
1. Lamentations of the Prophet - 1:8-1:10
8 For this I will lament and wail; I will go stripped and naked; I will howl like the jackals, and moan like the daughters of owls.
9 For her wounds are incurable; for it has come even to Judah. It reaches to the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.
10 Don't tell it in Gath. Don't weep at all. At Beth Ophrah I have rolled myself in the dust.
2. A wailing Description of the Judgment - 1:11-1:16
11 Pass on, inhabitant of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame. The inhabitant of Zaanan won't come out. The wailing of Beth Ezel will take from you his protection.
12 For the inhabitant of Maroth waits anxiously for good, because evil has come down from the LORD to the gate of Jerusalem.
13 Harness the chariot to the swift steed, inhabitant of Lachish. She was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
14 Therefore you will give a parting gift to Moresheth Gath. The houses of Achzib will be a deceitful thing to the kings of Israel.
15 I will yet bring to you, inhabitant of Mareshah. He who is the glory of Israel will come to Adullam.
16 Shave your heads, and cut off your hair for the children of your delight. Enlarge your baldness like the vulture; for they have gone into captivity from you!
Footnotes
- Verse 1 (LORD)
- When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, "LORD" or "GOD" is the translation of God's Proper Name.
- Verse 2 (Lord)
- The word translated "Lord" is "Adonai."
- Verse 3 (Behold)
- "Behold" means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
- Verse 10 (Beth Ophrah)
- Beth Ophrah means literally "House of Dust."