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21:15, 14 September 2015 [[Micah]] was a contemporary of [[Isaiah]], and  prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and  Hezekiah. Jotham and Hezekiah were good kings who  helped the nation, but Ahaz was a wicked man who sold  the nation into idolatry. Thus the great [[prophet]] [[Micah]]  saw his nation go through both good and bad times. 
  
The Book of [[Micah]] is composed of three sermons  preached to the people, and each message begins with  the word, "Hear." The theme of chapters 1 and 2 is the  coming [[judgment]] of [[God]]. [[God]] had spoken to [[Micah]] and  warned him that the sins of the people were so great  that He must send [[judgment]]. He names the capital  cities--[[Jerusalem]], the capital of Judah, the Southern  Kingdom; and Samaria, the capital of [[Israel]], the  Northern Kingdom (chapter 1). In fact, in his first  message, [[Micah]] names twelve cities and points out their  sins, which were polluting the whole nation. 
  
In chapter 1:5 [[God]] names the [[sin]] of idolatry  that was being committed by the people. They insisted  on worshiping the works of their own hands. 
  
In chapter 2:1 we see the [[sin]] of covetousness.  The people were not only covetous, but used illegal  means to get what they wanted. Verse 2 says they used  fraud, threats, and violence. The rich took advantage  of the poor, and the rulers did not follow the [[Word]] of  [[God]]. 
  
[[Micah]] 's heart was broken when he heard the  awful message of [[judgment]] from [[God]]. He wept and  mourned, then he sent a personal message to each of the  wicked cities, warning them that the day of [[God]]'s wrath  was imminent. The people reacted to [[Micah]] 's warnings by  trying to stop him from preaching. But [[Micah]] continued  to preach as the [[Spirit]] of [[God]] compelled him to do. He  knew the people did not want to hear his preaching;  they preferred that of their drunken false prophets who  lived as wickedly as they did. 
  
In chapter 4 [[Micah]] 's preaching turns from  [[judgment]] to hope. His message is one of hope for future  [[peace]] on the earth, with righteousness reigning  supreme. He explains in our reading tomorrow that [[peace]]  would be a reality because the Deliverer would come.