Micah 1:1-4

The Lord's word concerning Samaria and Jerusalem -- Micah 1:1-4: Micah's message came by revelation of God. It was given to him when Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were the kings of Judah. It was a message concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. The book of Micah is a part of the inspired word of God. Micah understood the message that he had received from God and he delivered it faithfully to the people. Micah gave the order for the entire population of Samaria and Jerusalem to listen careful to what God had spoken. Micah gave the picture of God calling the people of Israel and Judah into court as He accused them from His holy temple. God had made a covenant with Israel but that had not followed his covenant. He asked them and other nations to defend themselves for breaking His law.

God is a living God but many people pay no attention to Him. His coming judgment on these nations should be an example to the entire world. He came down and crushed underfoot every pagan altar. The pagan altars were called "high places." His judgment is described in the words, "And the mountains shall melt under Him and the valleys shall be cleft like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place." The Bible says of Hezekiah, "He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses." (2 Kings 18:4-6) God will come to punish sin and the nations should tremble.