After the first lawsuit, God abruptly switches tones from doom to hope, addressing the reestablishment of the Kingdom of God in the end times. This section starts with a general declaration that God will reestablish Jerusalem as the preeminent city in the whole earth. Then God personally promises to restore David’s Kingdom to greater glory. In a later section, before the second lawsuit, Micah focuses back on the reestablishment of the nation in its homeland. But this time, Micah focuses on how Israel will destroy all their enemies. Then God personally promises to rid Jacob of his enemies. But, instead of listing nationalities and political entities, God lists several society-wide sins which He will cut off. In the very center of the book, Micah weaves together both themes of judgment and restoration into one poem with four separate stanzas. Micah uses this structure to emphasize the theme that God will reestablish Israel despite its current situation. The poem starts with only judgment but builds through each stanza until hope and restoration become the sole focus of the poem. And that hope is realized in a coming King, which the New Testament reveals as Jesus the Christ. In light of this coming ruler, Micah presents to us the Kingdom of God, even though he is surrounded by the oppression of the Assyrians. He was looking for a King who will bring a Kingdom which will be militarily strong, and which will cause the whole world to be in peace.
Outline of Micah:
| A: The Lawsuit Against the Kingdom | B: The Future of the Kingdom | C: The King of the Kingdom |
| Aa: Sentencing Samaria (1:2-7) | ||
| Ab: Lament for Jerusalem (1:8-16) | ||
| Ac: Response of Disbelief (2:1-3:12) | ||
| Ba: The Nations Coming to Jerusalem (4:1-5) | ||
| Bb: God Promises Restoration (4:6-8) | ||
| C1: The Agony of Zion (4:9-10c) | ||
| C2: The Rescue of Zion (4:10d-i) | ||
| C3: The Conquest by Zion (4:11-13) | ||
| C4: The Leader of Zion (5:1-5a) | ||
| ‘Ba: The Nations Defeated by Judah (5:5b-9) | ||
| ‘Bb: God Promises to Defeat Judah’s Enemies (5:10-15) | ||
| ‘Aa: Sentencing of Jerusalem (6:10-16) | ||
| ‘Ab: Lament for Jerusalem (7:1-6) | ||
| ‘Ac: Response of Trust (7:7-20) |
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