Commentary on Micah

The ministry of the prophet Micah spanned 55 years. His preaching ran parallel to the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. He had been ministering for two years when King Uzziah died, the same year Isaiah saw the vision of God the King in the temple (Isaiah 6).

Micah preached from Judah, but he also kept an eye on the northern kingdom, Israel. In fact, Micah would be a historical witness to the capture and destruction of Samaria by the Assyrians in 722 BC. This was, therefore, an intense period of admonition, teaching, application of God's Law to national life, dialogues, and discussions. Tragedy fell like a whip on the northern kingdom, which was not a cause for joy. This was an important portion of the nation under covenant with God.

Micah's ministry marked a "breaking point" with an urgent character for the southern kingdom. The Assyrians even attacked Judah in retaliation for the political move by Ahaz, king of Judah, who sought the help of the Assyrians using the treasury of the royal palace and the temple as payment (2 Kings 16:8).

King Hezekiah, who succeeded Ahaz, learned the lessons of the historical moment and implemented a series of reforms that gave Judah new life. Undoubtedly, the preaching of Micah and Isaiah influenced his ability to understand and interpret the circumstances he lived through.

Amidst this political and religious turmoil, the place from which "the one who will be ruler over Israel" will come is announced with hopeful brilliance (Micah 5:2). History will continue to turn, rulers will come and go, but God's plan will continue to advance and will triumph victoriously, bringing eternity to the temporal.