Chapter 1

1:7 - Other cultures' religious beliefs and symbols are associated with prostitutes, and should be destroyed.

* This word was to Micah about Samaria and Jerusalem.  See Micah 1:1.  God didn't say that modern Christians should destroy the religious symbols of others.  This was a statement given by God to Micah.

* Embracing idols is spiritual prostitution.

1:8 - God will "wail and howl" and "go stripped and naked."

* This is a metaphorical statement.  This is also a statement made by Micah and not God.

1:12 - "Evil came down from the Lord." This conflicts with other verses that say God is good.

* This Hebrew word for "evil" is better translated "disaster" or "adversity."  This verse is referring to the judgment of God on an unrepentant people.

Chapter 2

2:1 - Micah says "woe" to those that devise evil here, but only two verses later, God says he is devising evil against "this family!"

* Micah is speaking about the nations that devise evil.  He was referring to the unrepentant people that were rejecting God.

* God is telling people about His impending and righteous judgment.  This Hebrew phrase for "devise evil" is better translated "forecast judgment (adversity)."

2:3 - God devises evil against a family. Again, calling into question whether or not God is good.

* This was just explained.

2:11 - Micah says some prophets are playing to the people's desires by only prophesying good things, like wine and "strong drink." I guess Judah liked to party in those days.

* Micah is warning about false, lying prophets.

Chapter 3

3:2-3 - Plucking off skin, flesh from bones, eating human flesh, flaying off skin, breaking bones, chopping bodies in pieces, making human stew.

* According to verse 2, this is the description of the people that God is going to judge.  Their sin is being explained quite clearly.

3:4 - When they "cry unto the Lord ... he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time."

* God's mercy, patience, and grace were coming to an end for these unrepentant sinners.  The end of Micah 3:4 explains why these people are being judged.  It reads, ". . . . because they have been evil in their deeds."

3:5 - Some of God's prophets tell lies. God says that they bite (with their teeth).

* The prophets were not perfect people.  When they were righteous, they spoke under God's inspiration.  When they sinned, they spoke their own words and they were lies.

3:9-12 - Because the leaders of the nation were corrupt, God is going to punish everyone.

* Their judgment was a direct result of the corrupt leadership.  When corrupt leaders are ruling because of the people that want them in office, the people are also held accountable.

3:11 - "The prophets thereof divine for money." Some things never change.

* God was foretelling the judgment on the wicked prophets that used their gifts for gaining money.

* Incidentally, if an unbeliever uses their gifts and talents for money, they are called smart and successful.  God wanted a higher standard for His prophets.

Chapter 4

4:3 - "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Well, it's a nice thought, but Joel 3:10 says just the opposite. But what do you expect from a "God of Peace" (Rom.15:33, Heb.13:20) who calls himself a "man of war"? (Ex.15:3)

* This is a prophecy that will be fulfilled in the Millennium reign of Jesus Christ (and thereafter).

* Joel 3:10 is a different prophecy, in a different book of the Bible, by a different person who is describing a different event.

* God is both a God of peace and a God of war.  It depends if you are on His side or not.  It depends on whether you are obeying Him or not.

4:4 - Where did Moses receive the Ten Commandments? On Mount Horeb.

* This verse doesn't say that Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Horeb.

4:5 - So, Micah says we can have our gods, but they'll keep theirs. Well, how many gods are there?

* There are numerous idols and things that people worship as gods.  However, there is only one, uncreated God: the triune God; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

4:13 - God will strengthen the Israelites so they can "beat in pieces many peoples" and give the booty to God.

* Many times, God led the Israelites into battle. They often had to fight because pagans attacked them. The Israelites also engaged in war as a method of God's Divine judgment on pagan nations.

Chapter 5

5:2 - "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."  The gospel of Matthew (2:5-6) claims that Jesus' birth in Bethlehem fulfils this prophecy. But this is unlikely for two reasons.  "Bethlehem Ephratah" in Micah 5:2 refers not to a town, but to a clan: the clan of Bethlehem, who was the son of Caleb's second wife, Ephrathah (1 Chr.2:18, 2:50-52, 4:4).  The prophecy (if that is what it is) does not refer to the Messiah, but rather to a military leader, as can be seen from verse 5:6. This leader is supposed to defeat the Assyrians, which, of course, Jesus never did.  It should also be noted that Matthew altered the text of Micah 5:2 by saying: "And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda" rather than "Bethlehem Ephratah" as is said in Micah 5:2. He did this, intentionally no doubt, to make the verse appear to refer to the town of Bethlehem rather than the family clan.

* Bethlehem Ephratah is simply the place of Bethlehem.  This can be verified by Psalm 132:6 because it uses "Ephratah" as a place name.  It is another word for Bethlehem.

* Jesus unequivocally fulfilled verses 4 and 5.  However, verse 6 is a prophetic verse that will be fulfilled in the future.  "The Assyrian" refers to the Anti-Christ who will come from "Mystery Babylon."  Assyria refers to Iraq (also called Babylon).  For more on "Mystery Babylon," see Revelation chapter 17.

5:6-15 - More ranting from a demented god. He plans to destroy cities, tear gentiles in pieces, and "execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard." Praise God.

* The Creator God warns unrepentant sinners about His judgment.  The righteous God has the right to enact judgment on sinners.

5:12-13 - "Burn more witches! Destroy the images of gods who aren't me!" sayeth the Lord.

* These verses never command people to burn witches.  However, these verses do mention God's anger and impending judgment for these people and idols.

5:15 - Speaking of that "fury," is God supposed to get furious?

* God's judgment is not peaceful.  God is angry at sinners who reject Him.  This is consistent with many other scriptures.

Chapter 6

6:2 - The earth is set upon strong foundations and therefore does not move.

* This verse doesn't mention anything about the Earth not moving.

6:3 - God dares ask, "What have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee?" Ha! Where do I begin?! We'll start with the Flood, there's the famine in II Kings 8:1, King David's deadly census in I Chronicles 21:7 and many, many more. If you want to read a good bit of them check out the list of Injustices.

* This verse simply indicates God's desire for the people to face the facts.  God has not led them into evil.  He has given them commands to keep them safe.  However, the people have transgressed and injured themselves and others.

6:8 - "O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Well, it's a nice thought, but there are a few things more that Micah forgot to mention. Like you must believe certain unlikely things or you will be tormented forever in hell (Mk.16:16, Jn.3:18, 36); you must kill witches Ex.22:18, homosexuals Lev.20:13, those who believe differently than you Dt.13:6-10, disobedient children Dt.21:18-21, etc.

* The verses in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy were given by God to the Israelites.  They clearly reveal God's hatred and intolerance for sin.

* Mark and John reveal the New Covenant and God's one way of salvation.  These passages also reveal the consequences of rejecting God and His one way of forgiveness and redemption.

6:13-16 - In the same chapter that God asks, "What have I ever done to you?", God says he going to punish his supposed "chosen people" with more destruction. And he wonders why the Israelites keep turning away from him.

* Verse 13 clearly says that the Israelites will be punished for their sins.  God's desire is for people to obey and live.  However, like children, people sometimes make mistakes and instead of leaving them in their sinful errors, God punishes with the intent on teaching people to live righteous lives.

* When Israel repented, they had huge success.  When Israel rejected God, they became slaves of other nations, hurt themselves, were scattered, etc.  This can be verified all throughout the Old Testament.  It was and still is a simple equation.  Obedience = blessings.  Disobedience = punishment.

Chapter 7

7:16-17 - Thanks to God's intervention, Judah's enemies and neighbors will become powerless and dumbfounded and submit to God only in fear.

* This passage is simply saying that God will judge the wicked sinners, somewhat like He did to Egypt, and people will see His judgment and be in awe.  They will fear Him.

* Children that don't fear (respect) their parents get into lots of trouble.  The same is true for the human relationship with God.  Thank God that He cares enough to punish people in hopes they will choose to turn from their wickedness.

7:18 - This verse claims that God's anger does not last forever, "because he delighteth in mercy." But Jesus says that God punishes some people mercilessly forever in hell (Mt.25:46). And he "delighteth in mercy," then why does God act without mercy?

* Micah was referring to his time period where God was not dealing the final, white throne judgment on people and condemning sinners to Hell.  Micah was saying that God would judge the people, then have mercy on them, again.