I can't personally think of a more fitting way to break in the new year than by beginning a new book of God's Word, a new book of the Bible. If you haven't prepared any New Year's resolutions yet, here's one for you: make it your goal not to miss Sundays this year. And if you do miss a service, make sure you back up and listen to the teachings that Dave posts online. Let me also say that this past Sunday night was really amazing, and for those who missed it, I hate they missed it. We're going to be doing a bit more of that in the future, not just waiting until Christmas to have a Sunday night service like we had last Sunday. So, like I said, make it your goal this year to stay on track with our teaching. It's not that Micah is going to take us a full year to get through, though given my pace, it might. Now, as previously stated, we've taught 2 Thessalonians, which was the 24th book of the Bible, in 13 years. Today, we're going to start our 25th book of the Bible, and as you know by now, that's the book of Micah.

As I prepare each week to teach this letter, I ask you to remember me in your prayers. I covet those prayers because, as you may or may not know, the Old Testament letters, especially the prophets, are much more difficult to teach and prepare for than the rest of the Bible, certainly more difficult than the New Testament. Having said that, they're not impossible to teach or prepare for. God wouldn't have included them in the canon of scripture if they were. They just require a bit more focus and study to explain them properly, and not just to explain them, but also to bring them from that context and time into our everyday lives. We will be studying this book in its original context and then applying what we've learned to 2026, nearly 2,000 years later. That's what makes this teaching a bit more difficult. But trust me, this letter, like all scripture, is loaded with what I call everyday application. It's my job to dig it out, to mine it, and bring it into the new, to bring life to it. Let me also say that it is my honor to get to do such a thing. It's a great honor, and there's no greater honor I can think of for a pastor than to teach God's Word. As the pastor, I stand in a unique and unusual position with one foot in the old, in the scriptures themselves, and the other in the new. It's my job to bring them both together. When done correctly, by God's direction, it serves to change the lives of those who hear it.

Without further delay, let's dive into the book or the letter of Micah. We cannot begin to accomplish our goals of standing with one foot in the old and the other in the new if we don't do an introduction to the letter. The introduction is in many ways my favorite part of any new book because it sets the stage for everything we're going to learn as we aspire to journey back in time to a place and culture we've never experienced. Though that experience will teach us more about God, his character, his likes, his dislikes, and his expectations of each believer listening today, both here and online. So let's jump into our introduction by asking ourselves some fitting questions. First, who is Micah? The name Micah is shortened from a Hebrew name meaning "who is like Yahweh." This was appropriate as Micah helped the people he ministered to understand who Yahweh was and what he was like. There are many other Bible characters with the same name. One served as a prophet in the northern kingdom during the reign of King Ahab of Israel. Micah's hometown was called Morseth Gath, about 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem in Judah. It was named Morseth Gath for its proximity to the Philistine town of Gath. Morseth Gath was about six miles north of Lachish, an important Judean town in Micah's day as it stood on an international trade route. I understand that a lot of these places might not mean much to you without a map of Israel, but the center is Jerusalem. Morseth Gath was about a day's walk west of Tekoa, the hometown of another prophet, Amos. Historians believe Micah and Amos may have known or corresponded with one another, though Amos' ministry may have been over by the time Micah came along. Micah was probably a younger contemporary of Hosea, Amos, and Isaiah.

Let's answer a few more questions: what is a prophet, and what was their purpose? And what's the difference between the major and minor prophets? I've mentioned this before, but we'll revisit it as we begin moving forward in the narrative with these first four questions. First, what is a prophet, and what was their purpose? The word prophet in Hebrew, nabi, derives from a root meaning to call or to bubble forth, signifying a called person or spokesperson who declares God's message. It's not just someone who predicts the future, though predicting the future is part of a prophet's job. Nabi means one who speaks for God. Other similar terms include seer, called, and visionary, all highlighting different aspects of seeing or receiving divine revelation. With nabi becoming the dominant term over time, its meanings include spokesperson or announcer, someone who proclaims God's will, like Aaron did for Moses in Exodus 7:1. Nabi also emphasizes being chosen and sent by God to deliver his words. The phrase "bubbling forth" paints an image of divine inspiration. Another Hebrew term, Hesha Elohim, or man of God, is a broader term for a divine messenger. In essence, a Hebrew prophet was primarily a divinely appointed messenger, a speaker of God, and a teacher of his truths, encompassing both future prediction and present moral correction.

Prophets were men and women whom God chose to relay His oracles, instructions, and directions to His people, the Jewish people. Hebrews 1:1-4 explains that God spoke to the fathers and prophets in the past and now speaks to us through His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things. In times past, God spoke through prophets, and today through the Son. A prophet is a person, man or woman, chosen by God to speak instruction to His people, mainly for correction. Few instructions were given without correction, as God's people struggled to follow His directions, resulting in further instruction and correction.

On to the second question: what's the difference between major and minor prophets in the context of a book of the Bible? Major prophets are longer and include books like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel, with content ranging widely in scope. Minor prophets are shorter, such as Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, collectively the 12 minor prophets. Their content focuses on specific calls to repentance, social justice, and hope, often using rich narratives and poetry. Next, why did God choose people to be prophets? Is there a super-spiritual reason? Truly, he used people as prophets because that's the way he chose to do it. God chose a closed-loop system to work his plan, meaning he used people from inside his creation to fulfill his purposes. For example, the environment sustains itself through atmospheric balances necessary for life. The same principle applies to God's messages; he used prophets from among his people for the Jewish people. Today, he uses all believers to share his word, different in format, not in essence. In the Old Testament, God chose prophets to convey His will, often without them having a choice. Today, believers can choose to spread God's word or refrain. How are you doing with this responsibility?

Prophets are essential for maintaining God's relationship with Israel, guiding them through correction and preparation for future redemption through the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Prophets acted as mediators, guiding, exposing sin, and leading back to faithfulness through messages and symbolic actions. They weren't often well-liked and faced harsh fates. This context emphasizes prophets' roles in calling Israel back to righteousness. Exploring further: who wrote Micah? Micah did. When was it written? Between 735 and 700 BC, during the reign of Judah's kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, prophesying the fall of Israel and Judah, while offering hope for restoration. Scholars believe the core material was from this timeframe, but may have been finalized later, possibly after the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BC. How many prophets were in the Old Testament? Though there were 16 prophets who wrote books—5 major and 12 minor—there are many more mentioned throughout the scriptures. Jewish traditions refer to at least 48 male and 7 female prophets. The presence of female prophets has fueled controversy over church leadership roles, still debated today. I believe men and women are equal in value and worth, but Scripture defines distinct roles. Just as a judge and I would be equal in value before God, we differ in authority within a courtroom. The roles and responsibilities outlined, like gender roles, are not about value but about God's design. God doesn't contradict His word, and 1 Timothy 2:12-14 addresses church structure and authority, defining distinct roles beyond equal value. Considering equality, the responsibilities and roles in marriage, church, and society should align with God's design, much like an NFL lineman would acknowledge distinct abilities compared to a quarterback. It's essential to respect these distinctions as part of God's plan for harmony in His creation, much like the complementary roles of men and women.

In the Old Testament, prophets delivered God's instructions to the people and were often met with hostility. Evaluating Micah helps understand the role of prophets. Explore more: who is Jacob, and how is he connected to the sins of Israel? What's the rebellion of Jacob, and how is Samaria related? Homework questions involve examining New Testament prophets and the existence of prophets today. Consider Micah's call against rebellion and disobedience, and answer foundational questions—were there New Testament prophets, and do we have prophets today? Who is Jacob and his connection to Israel? How does Samaria relate to Jacob’s rebellion? Explore these and return prepared for discussion.

Finally, I'd like to read from Micah. Micah 1:1-5 speaks to the Jewish people about destruction in Israel and Judah. The word of the Lord comes to Micah of Moresheth, and he announces the Lord's coming from His place, treading on the high places of the earth, causing mountains to melt and valleys to split, all because of the rebellion of Jacob and the sins of the house of Israel. Understanding who Jacob is and his relation to Israel is crucial, as is how Samaria ties into Jacob's rebellion. I encourage you to ponder these things as we explore Micah further. As we conclude, I invite the ushers forward for the offering. Father, may you be glorified through your word and teaching today. We thank you for your blessings and pray to make us good stewards, turning blessings back into ministry. May we leave here impacted by your word, seeking opportunities to engage in community and invest in others in 2026. Father, we love, thank, and praise you. In Jesus' name, amen.