Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
1:2 Hear, you peoples, all of you, listen, earth and all who live in it, that the Sovereign Lord may bear witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
God bears witness against his people because they were suppose to be light to the nations and show how good it is to live under the government of God. Instead they failed in their calling.
1:2 Hear, you peoples, all of you, listen, earth and all who live in it, that the Sovereign Lord may bear witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
God bears witness against his people because they were suppose to be light to the nations and show how good it is to live under the government of God. Instead they failed in their calling.
2:10 Get up, go away! For this is not your resting place, because it is defiled, it is ruined, beyond all remedy.
The land of Israel was suppose to be a resting place but they had defiled it by their sinfulness and needed to leave. Micah suggested (rather sarcastically) that they leave voluntarily rather than wait for God to take them out of the land in exile.
2:10 Get up, go away! For this is not your resting place, because it is defiled, it is ruined, beyond all remedy.
The land of Israel was suppose to be a resting place but they had defiled it by their sinfulness and needed to leave. Micah suggested (rather sarcastically) that they leave voluntarily rather than wait for God to take them out of the land in exile.
3:11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.”
The prophets were preaching for money and therefore preached good news only to those who would pay for it. Likewise the leaders and priests wanted financial gain and expected the Lord's blessing!
If we want the Lord's blessing, we need to examine our motives.
3:11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.”
The prophets were preaching for money and therefore preached good news only to those who would pay for it. Likewise the leaders and priests wanted financial gain and expected the Lord's blessing!
If we want the Lord's blessing, we need to examine our motives.
4:2 Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
One day the nations will want to know God's ways. They will want to live God's ways because they will know this is the best way to live. One day the nations will realize how wonderful it is to live under God's government.
4:2 Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
One day the nations will want to know God's ways. They will want to live God's ways because they will know this is the best way to live. One day the nations will realize how wonderful it is to live under God's government.
5:4-5 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace.
"Live securely" and "he will be our peace."
(From Constable's Commentary) "His greatness will guarantee his people's security."
Only someone who is powerful and in charge can guarantee the safety of those who trust in them. Only God is truly powerful enough to guarantee the security of the people.
5:4-5 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace.
"Live securely" and "he will be our peace."
(From Constable's Commentary) "His greatness will guarantee his people's security."
Only someone who is powerful and in charge can guarantee the safety of those who trust in them. Only God is truly powerful enough to guarantee the security of the people.