Micah 5-7

The "narrative" of Micah follows the following pattern:

• Judgment of Jerusalem and Samaria.
• Judgment of those in authority who oppress the common man.
• Judgment of the rulers, priests, and false prophets.
• The restoration of God's people and prophecy of peace.
• The coming of the Shepherd-King.
• The preservation of a remnant of faithful followers.
• Final reminders that the wicked will perish and the faithful will find salvation.

I like Micah because it gives us a little snapshot of "the bigger picture." We can't get tripped up by the individual chapters, when we know that the whole story ends with God saving the faithful through the sacrifice of Jesus. Good stuff!

In the New Testament, Matthew uses Micah in his gospel to point out that it was prophecied that the Savior would come from Bethlehem (Matt. 2:6 refers to Micah 5:2,4), and Jesus refers to Micah 7:6 when he tells his listeners that those who follow him will not always experience peace, but division (Matt. 10:35-36; Luke 12:53).

I like this one, though:

Micah 7:18-19 (ESV)

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity

and passing over transgression

for the remnant of his inheritance?

He does not retain his anger forever,

because he delights in steadfast love.

He will again have compassion on us;

he will tread our iniquities underfoot.

You will cast all our sins

into the depths of the sea.