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DECEMBER 20
like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths 20 But the rest of mankind, who were not
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came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these killed by these plagues, did not repent of the
three plagues a third of mankind was killed— works of their hands, that they should not wor-
by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone ship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass,
which came out of their mouths. For their stone, and wood, which can neither see nor
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power is in their mouth and in their tails; for hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their
their tails are like serpents, having heads; and murders or their sorceries or their sexual
with them they do harm. immorality or their thefts.
DAY 19:Who was the prophet Micah, and what was his message?
The first verse establishes Micah as the author. Beyond that, little is known about him. His
parentage is not given, but his name suggests a godly heritage. He traces his roots to the town of
Moresheth (1:1,14), located in the foothills of Judah, approximately 25 miles southwest of
Jerusalem, on the border of Judah and Philistia, near Gath. From a productive agricultural area, he
was like Amos, a country resident removed from the national politics and religion, yet chosen by
God (3:8) to deliver a message of judgment to the princes and people of Jerusalem.
Primarily, Micah proclaimed a message of judgment to a people persistently pursuing evil.
Similar to other prophets (Hos. 4:1; Amos 3:1), Micah presented his message in lawsuit/courtroom
terminology (1:2; 6:1,2). The prophecy is arranged in 3 oracles or cycles, each beginning with the
admonition to “hear” (1:2; 3:1; 6:1). Within each oracle, he moves from doom to hope—doom
because they have broken God’s law given at Sinai; hope because of God’s unchanging covenant
with their forefathers (7:20).One-third of the book targets the sins of his people;another third looks
at the punishment of God to come; and another third promises hope for the faithful after the judg-
ment.Thus,the theme of the inevitability of divine judgment for sin is coupled together with God’s
immutable commitment to His covenant promises. The combination of God’s 1) absolute consis-
tency in judging sin and 2) unbending commitment to His covenant through the remnant of His
people provides the hearers with a clear disclosure of the character of the Sovereign of the uni-
verse.Through divine intervention, He will bring about both judgment on sinners and blessing on
those who repent.

December 20 To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us His ways,
And we shall walk in His paths.”
For out of Zion the law shall go forth,
Micah 4:1–5:15
And the word of the LORD from
Jerusalem.
4 Now it shall come to pass 3 He shall judge between many peoples,
in the latter days
That the mountain of the LORD’s house And rebuke strong nations afar off;
Shall be established on the top of the They shall beat their swords
mountains, into plowshares,
And shall be exalted above the hills; And their spears into pruning hooks;
And peoples shall flow to it. Nation shall not lift up sword against
Many nations shall come and say,
2 nation,
“Come, and let us go up to the mountain Neither shall they learn war anymore.
of the LORD, 4 But everyone shall sit under his vine
and under his fig tree,
And no one shall make them afraid;
For the mouth of the LORD of hosts
4:1 In a reversal of 3:12, Micah shifted from has spoken.
impending judgment to prophecies of the 5 For all people walk each in the name of
future millennial kingdom (“the latter days”) in his god,
which Mt. Zion (v. 3), the center of Messiah’s
But we will walk in the name of the LORD
coming earthly kingdom, shall be raised both our God
spiritually and physically (Zech. 14:9,10). This Forever and ever.
discussion continues to 5:15.
6 “In that day,” says the LORD,

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