Micah 2 - Introduction

A Promise of Punishment and Hope

Micah Two

Micah chapter two describes the sins of covetousness and the sin of pride among God's people, Israel. God hates all sin; He especially hates premeditated sin. The people to that Micah spoke to were guilty of the sin of devising iniquity. Their greed and covetousness caused them to oppress their brethren. God had freed Israel from oppression but now they abused and enslaved each other. Many do their evil deeds under the cover of night. The evil of Micah's day was in broad day light and even in the courts of the land.

Micah gave us some deep insight into the nature of sin. Some do not practice sin because it is not in their power to sin. They are not in the place where they could commit the sin. The "faithfulness test" comes when it is our power to sin but we honor God anyway.

The people devised iniquity against God. As a result of the iniquity that they devised against God, He would bring disaster upon them. The pride of the people or their haughtiness led to their rebellion against God. The evils of the people would bring God's judgment upon them. The people would be brought low and they would no longer walk haughtily. The judgment that would come on Israel would be that they would be conquered by Assyria. Their land would be taken from them just as they had taken the land from others.

Sadly, the people looked at the words of God's prophet as mere babbling. He preached for around twenty years with little or no results. Finally during the reign of Hezekiah the leaders and the people finally repented. Micah exposed both the sins of the people and the lies of the false prophets. Following the message that he delivered for God would bring the people peace, rest, and restoration to the Creator. The remnant of Israel would enjoy God's promises of restoration.