Mic Intro

In 3-5 pages compare and contrast the two prophetic oracles at the center of the book of Micah. Discuss their construction and constituent elements, their place in ministry of Micah and the book that bears his name. Note the "book ends" of Micah: What is the basic theological issue of these two contrasting portraits of God? Use no other resources than those in the syllabus.


When we look at the Micah, we can observe a repeated judgment and restoration of God toward Judah. From chapter 1 to 3, it represents a God’s judgment. Chapter 1 is about God is judging Judah for they had worshiped an idol, and chapter 2 is God will going to punish His people for their sins, and will gather the survivors of Judah. On Chapter 3, God promised to reproach rulers and prophets in Judah not only for they had abused their authority which came from Him, but also they practiced an injustice over the people, I mean, God’s people. In the following chapters from 4 to 5, Micah mentioned a restoration. On chapter 4, after judgment, Judah will turn back to God again, and accordingly, both God’s authority and Judah itself will be recovered. On chapter 5, even though Judah will become totally demolished, but Jesus Christ will come to their land and afterwards, everything will be restored and the peace will come. Micah mentioned again of God’s judgment on chapter 6 that God will rebuke Judah since they had forgotten of God’s presence, and also predicted that they will be devastated both in physically and spiritually.(v.14-15) The last chapter is about restoration - again – hoping that after Judah fell down, they will rise up again through the endless love and mercy of God. Likewise, Micah prophesied judgment against Judah interspersed with restoration over times on the book of Micah. At the same time, Micah had illustrated an answer of, “Who is God?”, and, “What does God want?” not only to Judah but to us as well. Interestingly, the name, Micah, stands for ‘Who is like God?’

Then, let’s find the answer of the first question: “Who is God?” Micah presented an answer for the question at the end of the last chapter. From chapter 7, verse 18 to 20, he pictured God as whom does not retain anger forever, because God delights in unchanging love. And also God will again have compassion to people. In this respect, the judgment and punishment from God is not because he hates His people but to save us from the ignorance of God and to enlighten us that He is the true happiness and peace in the world. This kind of God’s will had been revealed in many parts in the whole chapters in Micah, but I would like to pick, especially, the chapter 4, verse 11 to 13. This scene is about God strengthened over Judah’s enemies enabling them pulverize many people. It was a quite impressive to witness that the enemies did not know the thoughts of the Lord, and they did not understand His purpose, but enjoyed their power to invade and dominate Judah as if they were meant to overpower them not knowing God had permitted them to do so. God had planned and practiced to devastate Judah to punish them and root out their ignorance of God. However, when we look at the next chapter, it contains that Messiah - Jesus Christ, God’s only son – will come and recover God’s authority and Judah itself as well. Judah, at the period when they were invaded and persecuted from the enemy, they would have no idea in their mind that God is preparing His only Son, Jesus Christ, for them. How miraculous and wondrous it is. We also have the same experience. Sometimes, when we undergo the deadly agony circumstances, we seek God first and complain our situation to Him crying out, “Why are YOU giving me such a difficulty? Why me?” In later, however, after we overcome from the hardship, we find ourselves that it was a blessing that we not only could restore the relationship with God but gained abundant tangible growth as well. And we believe that God must have planned everything for us. However, as times goes by, the memory of God’s presence become faint, and at last, people forget about God, and again, live whatever they want to and whatever pleases them. Thus, after God endures and waits to see people turn back to Him with their freewill, but if the situation becomes worse and worse, then God again show his sticks toward His people. When we look at the chapter 2, verse 2, we can see the justice of God’s decision of His judgment: "Is it being said, O house of Jacob: 'Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient? Are these His doings?' Do not My words do good To the one walking uprightly?” Then, we came up with another question. “Why God gives us an opportunity sometimes with a carrot, sometimes with a stick?”, or “What does God want?”

The answer for this question is in the chapter 6. According to Micah, God want us to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God. That is the only way that we can acquire a true pleasure, happiness, and peace. We all witnessed that in spite of the human ancestors chased for the truth, happiness throughout their whole lives, they have failed but all have seen the death at the end of their efforts. As a Christian, we know with our brain that Jesus is the only way but many failed because people does not know with their hearts. “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life”(Pro.4:23)

In conclusion, to make it simple of what God want, I think God want an order. We human beings, social creatures, definitely need an order in every part of our livings. Like we need an order in house, school, army, society and country, the entire universe need an order as well. When we have an order, the member can get a peace, security, and based on that, we can obtain happiness as well. Accordingly, we, human beings, must get out of the arrogance that we can be like God, but admit God as a creator of whole creature, superintendent of an entire universe, and my savior, and follow His words and order. I believe that is what God hope for the entire human race. Like in the movie, Ocean, newly released, ended with this line, “Before we ask “What is the Ocean?”, we should ask, “who are we?”, I want to ask myself and challenge others to ask themselves too that “Who are we?”