Bible study course
An advanced, collegiate, six-lesson academic study of the Book of Micah, examining the sovereign descent of Yahweh melting the mountains, the paronomasia lament over the lowland towns, the predatory land seizures and the Messianic Breaker who goes before His flock, the cannibalistic rulers and commercial prophets contrasted with Micah Spirit-empowered boldness, the historic decree of Zion plowed as a field, the eschatological elevation of Mount Zion with swords beaten into plowshares, the immortal messianic nativity prophecy of the eternal Shepherd from Bethlehem Ephrathah, the cosmic courtroom lawsuit before the mountains, the timeless covenant standard of Micah 6:8, and the ocean of sovereign mercy casting all our sins into the depths of the sea.
An academic exegesis of Micah 1:1 to 16, examining the prophet eighth-century historical horizon, his rustic identity as Micah of Moresheth, the cosmic theophany of Yahweh descending from His holy temple to melt the mountains, the catastrophic destruction of Samaria, and the tour de force of paronomasia (Hebrew wordplays) in the lament over the cities of the Shephelah.
A collegiate analysis of Micah 2:1 to 13, deconstructing the predatory land barons who scheme robbery on their beds at night and seize ancestral farms by morning light, the silencing of true prophets by hireling preachers, the eviction of vulnerable women and children, the divine declaration that this is no place of rest (lo-zot ha-menuchah), and the climactic messianic revelation of the Breaker (ha-Poretz) leading the gathered flock through the city gate.
An advanced collegiate exegesis of Micah 3:1 to 12, examining the shocking anatomical metaphor of political cannibalism (rulers skinning the flock and chopping their bones for the pot), the indictment of mercenary prophets who preach peace for a meal but declare war on the empty handed, the prophetic apologia of Micah being filled with power by the Spirit of Yahweh, and the historic sentence of doom that Zion shall be plowed as a field, which saved the life of Jeremiah a century later.
An academic exegesis of Micah 4:1 to 13, analyzing the glorious eschatological vision of the mountain of Yahweh house established as the highest of mountains, the universal pilgrimage of nations to learn God Torah, the beating of swords into plowshares (the cessation of war), the idyllic peace of sitting under vine and fig tree, the gathering of the lame and driven away, the tower of the flock (Migdal Eder), the agonizing birth pangs leading to Babylonian exile, and the threshing of hostile nations with bronze hoofs.
A collegiate theological study of Micah 5:1 to 15, examining the humiliation of Judah current ruler, the world changing messianic prophecy of the Shepherd-King born in insignificant Bethlehem Ephrathah whose origins are from ancient days (quoted in Matthew 2:6), the period of travail until she who is in labor gives birth, the cosmic security of His flock, the mystery of the seven shepherds and eight princes defeating the Assyrian invader, the remnant of Jacob as refreshing dew and tearing lion, and the complete purging of military idolatry and carved images.
A collegiate capstone exegesis of Micah 6:1 to 7:20, tracing the formal covenant lawsuit (rib) convened before the ancient mountains and enduring foundations of the earth, the divine rehearsal of saving acts from Egypt to Gilgal, the classic answer to human religious excess in Micah 6:8 ("to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God"), the lament over pervasive social treachery where a man enemies are in his own household (quoted in Matthew 10:36), the triumphant resolve of waiting upon Yahweh, and the climactic doxology of unfathomable divine pardon: "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and casting all our sins into the depths of the sea?"