Micah is a book with seven chapters and one hundred and five verses. The name Micah is a shortened form of "Micaiah." The name means "who is like the Lord." Like Amos this prophet was from the country. Some have often called this prophet "a friend to the poor and oppressed." Writer J.M. P. Smith concluded, "He had Amos's passion for justice and Hosea's heart of love." One cannot help to be touched by the deep compassion this prophet shows for the least fortunate in his book.

What were the conditions in Judah during the time of Micah's writing? Political: Uzziah had brought a high degree of prosperity to Judah that they had not enjoyed since the days of Solomon. Yet, with this also came the mindset to forget who made it all possible. Jotham was a good man who followed in the ways of his father, 2 Kings 15:32-38. Ahaz, was the opposite and very, very wicked. Followed the examples of other kings to lead God's people into idolatry, 2 Kings 16:1-20. Hezekiah was an exceptionally good king. He did God's commands and issued many reforms during his reign, 2 Kings 18-20. Social: This is the area where Judah painted a very different picture than one might expect from God's people. How so? Listen carefully...

Wealthy coveted lands for their own personal use. "Woe to those who devise iniquity, and work out evil in their beds! At morning they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and take them by violence, also houses, and seize them. So they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance." {Micah 2:1,2}

Casting women from their homes. "The women of My people you cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children you have taken away My glory forever." {Micah 2:9}

Corrupt business ethics. "Shall I count pure those with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?" {Micah 6:11} Cheating people by having false weights that would charge them more for their goods but getting less actually than what they were paying for.

Control of false prophets. "If a man would walk in a false spirit and speak a lie, saying, I will prophesy to you of wine and drink, even he would be the prattler of this people." {Micah 2:11}

Priests taught for hire. "Her heads judge for a bribe, her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us?" {Micah 3:11} Money and who had it determine the outcome of trials and religious teachings.

Walk in the counsel of Mori and Ahab. "For the statues of Omri are kept; all the works of Ahab's house are done; and you walk in their counsels..." {Micah 6:11} These were two of the very wicked kings in the Northern Kingdom.

What is God going to do about such conduct? God has a controversy with His people. This is discussed in Micah six and seven. Guilty of ingratitude, pleading ignorance, injustice, corruption, and without hope if they kept the same course! How could things be fixed? Israel will repent, (7:7-10), be restored, (7:11-13) Micah's prayer on their behalf, 7:14-17. Yet, he also points to the hope of the future -- the Messiah. Establishment of the church, Micah 4:1-5; Birth of Jesus Christ, Micah 5:2. A return from the captivity, Micah 7:11,12.

One of the most powerful lessons of this book is the danger of corrupt leadership! Micah denounced sin, announced God's judgment on it, grieve rebellion and unfaithfulness, and preach the counsel of God -- its only remedy to fix the problem! Plain talking and plain directions -- Israel must choose what she will do. God had made his choice based on their answers.