We turn to Micah, who I’ve always thought of as a mini Isaiah. Let’s see what’s distinctive about him.
Vengeance is threatened
Isaiah 66:1-4
Jerusalem’s future glory
Final ruin of the ungodly
Isaiah 66:15-24
A kingdom of peace
Micah 4:1-8
Final triumph of Israel
Micah 4:9-13
Christ’s birth prophesied
Micah 5:1-6
Deliverance and punishment
Micah 5:7-15
God’s controversy with Israel
Micah 6:1-5
The duties God requires
Micah 6:6-8
The wickedness of Israel
Micah 6:9-16
Isaiah rounds off his book with a chapter that reads like a summary. New heaven, new earth, new order - this time there will be obedience and righteousness. But - Israelites will have been scattered all over the place, telling about God’s glory wherever they find themselves. This is part of their punishment, but also serves to spread God’s renown.
And so we turn to Micah, and it sounds very similar - chapter 4 is almost identical to passages in Isaiah. But in chapter 5 it’s clear that Micah belongs to the time of Hezekiah - the Assyrians are the arch-enemy, and the Babylonians haven’t been heard of yet.
Micah 6 again warns people against thinking that oodles of sacrifices will make God happy with them, and beautifully and simply sums up what is closest to God’s heart: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (6:8)
Vengeance is threatened
Isaiah 66:1-4
Jerusalem’s future glory
Final ruin of the ungodly
Isaiah 66:15-24
A kingdom of peace
Micah 4:1-8
Final triumph of Israel
Micah 4:9-13
Christ’s birth prophesied
Micah 5:1-6
Deliverance and punishment
Micah 5:7-15
God’s controversy with Israel
Micah 6:1-5
The duties God requires
Micah 6:6-8
The wickedness of Israel
Micah 6:9-16
Isaiah rounds off his book with a chapter that reads like a summary. New heaven, new earth, new order - this time there will be obedience and righteousness. But - Israelites will have been scattered all over the place, telling about God’s glory wherever they find themselves. This is part of their punishment, but also serves to spread God’s renown.
And so we turn to Micah, and it sounds very similar - chapter 4 is almost identical to passages in Isaiah. But in chapter 5 it’s clear that Micah belongs to the time of Hezekiah - the Assyrians are the arch-enemy, and the Babylonians haven’t been heard of yet.
Micah 6 again warns people against thinking that oodles of sacrifices will make God happy with them, and beautifully and simply sums up what is closest to God’s heart: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (6:8)
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