{"id":26139,"date":"2020-11-06T13:33:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-06T13:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/2021\/02\/09\/preaching-on-micah\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T16:51:46","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T16:51:46","slug":"preaching-on-micah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/preaching-on-micah\/","title":{"rendered":"Preaching on Micah"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Historical Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first verse of this book establishes that Micah is the author. Little is known about the prophet Micah beyond what can be learned from the book itself. Micah was from the town of Moresheth (1:1, 14) in southern Judah approximately 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem. Along with one other reference (1:1; Jer. 26:18), the book tells us that Micah ministered in the days of Jotham (750-731 BC), Ahaz (731-715 BC), and Hezekiah (715-686 BC), all kings of Judah. Most commentators think his references to the imminent fall of Samaria (1:6) puts him as writing this book just prior to 722 BC. His name is the shortened version of \u201cMicaiah\u201d which means \u201cwho is like the Lord?\u201d (cf. 7:18).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prophecy attests to Micah\u2019s deep sensitivity to the social ills of his day, addressed in particular are Samaria and Jerusalem (1:1). The economic prosperity and peace that marked the days of Jeroboam II (793-753 BC) were coming to a rapid close. Soon Assyria would overthrow Syria and Israel, and would besiege and threaten Jerusalem in 701 BC, until the Lord intervened for Hezekiah and his people (2 Chr. 32:1-26).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, as Amos did for Israel, Micah speaks predominantly to Judah and challenges them in relation to their disintegration in person and social moral values. Full of the power of the Spirit of God (3:8) indicts social injustice and religious corruption, much like his contemporary prophets such as Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah. In essence, Micah reminds the people that it is folly to ignore the law of God as they are called to live in covenant with him (cf. 5:10-15). Micah\u2019s seeming austere messages of judgment and justice rest on the lofty ethical laws of God\u2019s covenant at Sinai (cf. 6:1-8), an ethic that is intrinsically found in a perfectly holy God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet there is hope proclaimed, as Micah notes that the Lord will gather and protect his elect as their king (2:12-13), the Lord will exalt Jerusalem and reassemble the remnant (4:1-8), he will send his Messiah (5:1-14), and the elect remnant will be forgiven and saved by God (7:1-20). It is encouraging to recall that God used Micah\u2019s preaching to bring about revival in king Hezekiah\u2019s life, and therefore Israel\u2019s (Jer. 26:18-19).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chart: Preaching Through Micah<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We know the weekly grind of sermon prep is hard, whether you are in the midst of series or planning a new series. Trying to find key verses you need to highlight in your sermon, finding the historical background to the book, discovering the flow\/structure of book, and even figuring out what is the theme of each section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why we created this chart! This chart is designed to\u00a0save you time<\/strong>\u00a0as you prepare to preach a new sermon series from the Book of Micah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will find a quick visual overview of the movement of the Book of Micah. It will help orient you and your hearers as you preach through the entire book or sections of the book. It provides, at a glance, one way to divide the book into pericopes. The chart includes key verses in the book, an overarching title for the book, the overall message of the book, and some historical background. It is color-coded to highlight certain defining aspects of the book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This chart could be used as a slide in your church service. It could serve as an introduction to a new series or a weekly check-in before you begin preaching. It could even be printed out and given to the members of your church, as a resource to help them grasp the message of the book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a><\/span>
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Sermon Series<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Book of Micah is made up of three cycles, and thus any preaching outline should be aware of that overarching structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Cycle (1:1-2:13)<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n