Woe and a Promise

Micah begins with woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds. They plan at night and act in the morning, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and seize them, take away houses, and oppress a man and his heritage. In Israel, land was a family's inheritance from God, so stealing it was a deep injustice.

Yahweh answers with his own plan: a disaster from which they will not remove their necks. The people respond by trying to silence God's messengers. Don't prophesy, they say; disgrace won't overtake us. Yahweh asks whether his words do not do good to him who walks blamelessly. Instead, his people have risen up like an enemy, stripping robes from travelers and driving women and children out of their pleasant houses. Micah observes that a prophet promising wine and strong drink would be welcome among them.

Suddenly the tone changes to hope. Yahweh says he will surely assemble Jacob and gather the remnant of Israel, like the sheep of Bozrah, a flock in the middle of their pasture. He who breaks open the way goes up before them, and they break through the gate. Their king passes on before them, with Yahweh at their head. Christians believe this shepherd-king points to the Messiah who leads his people.