2025 Daily Devotional
June 1-7

1. Comfort and Assurance to Israel 

Chapter 62: The LORD loves Zion and compares Himself to a bridegroom who loves His bride. 

Chapter 63-64: God’s people pray for mercy in captivity. They ask for God to intervene, and they acknowledge their sin. 

Chapter 65-66: God responds to the prayers of His people. The greatness of God is declared, and He comes to gather and restore His people. 

2. Prophecies of the Messiah and End Times

Chapter 61: The Spirit of the LORD is upon the Messiah, and He is anointed to bring healing and liberty. Jesus fulfills this when He stands in the synagogue in Nazareth and reads this passage, then says it is fulfilled in front of them. He declares to be the Messiah. (Luke 4:16-22) 

Chapter 65: God declares He will create new heavens and a new earth. The millennial reign is also described in verses 20-25 with the wolf and lamb dwelling together and life being extended to what it was in Genesis. 

God’s ultimate plan is to dwell with His people for eternity. He has paid the price for our sin and invites all to a relationship with Him. We can apply His blood when we repent of our sins and experience water baptism in the name of Jesus, which wipes away every sin. God will then empower us with His Spirit to live an overcoming life here, but to be able to enter into eternity with Him.

If you have not been born of water and Spirit, consider taking those steps today. If you have, rededicate your life for His glory today. 

1. Who was Micah?

We don’t know much about Micah’s background.  We do know he was from the small town of Moresheth, located in southwest Judah near the territory of Philistine. It is believed he was a commoner. Micah was a prophet in Judah for 59 years during the reigns of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (742-687 B.C.) and was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah and Hosea. Micah’s name means “Who is Like Jehovah?”

Micah provides an accurate picture of a mighty God who hates sins but loves sinners. Micah delivered God’s message of promised judgment if the people refused to turn from their evil ways, while offering hope that God would relent if the people repented and turned toward Him. In Jeremiah 26:18-19, we learn that, because of Micah’s prophetic words, King Hezekiah sought the LORD, “and the LORD relented concerning the doom which He pronounced against them.”

2. The Setting, Chapter 1

During this time, Israel suffered under evil and unfaithful leadership, and Judah alternated between good and bad kings. In fact, King Ahaz was one of the most wicked kings to reign over Judah. There was also religious corruption, with the adoption of pagan practices and Baal worship. With corrupt judges and oppression of the poor, Micah was also very concerned about social injustice.

The Assyrian Empire was the dominant power in the region and was an imminent threat. The Assyrian Army was known to be ruthless and cruel.

3. The LORD Comes to Judge Israel and Judah (1:1-5)

Micah saw images of the LORD descending from heaven and coming to the earth. He was coming with judgment because of the sins of His people. Samaria and Jerusalem, the capital cities, were infected with idolatry—even in the temple (the transgression of Jacob).

4. Judgment on Samaria (1:6-7)

Micah prophesied judgment on the city of Samaria, which was the capital of Israel. This prophecy was fulfilled in 722 B.C. when Samaria was completely destroyed by the Assyrians.

5. Coming Judgment on Judah (1:8-9)

Micah said he would wail and mourn. He cared so deeply about his people that he wept over them. Micah prophesied that the nation’s wounds were incurable. This is because they refused to repent from their sins.

6. The Shame of Judah’s Judgment (1:10-16)

Micah used puns and word plays to prophecy about the coming judgment to Judah.  Micah did this because, in ancient times, a name described your character and destiny. These are some examples from the Enduring Word Bible Commentary:

Zaanan: The name of this town sounded like the Hebrew word for exit or go out. When the enemy’s siege armies would come, the Jewish people would not exit at all – they would be shut up in the city until they fell.

Lachish: The name of this town sounded like the Hebrew word for to the horses. Lachish was an important fortress city, and its people should go to the horses to fight, but ironically, they would go to the horses [Lachish] to flee the army of judgment.

Mareshah: The name of this town is related to the Hebrew word for possessor or heir. The invading army would soon possess this city.

Unfortunately, many people are taught only about God’s love. While our God is a loving God who is long-suffering (patient), He is also a just God. We are expected not only to love the Lord our God, but we are also to obey. And we must continue to obey until we are called home to be with Him. God has made promises to those who love and obey Him. Psalm 7:10 tells us, “He saves those who obey Him.” Psalm 33:18 promises, “The Lord watches over those who obey Him.”

Micah prophesies that his people have an “incurable wound.” This is continued, unrepentant sin, which will bring God’s judgment. However, 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“

Take some time today to think about whether you have unrepented sin in your life. If you do, ask God to forgive you. If you have been struggling with a serious sin, ask God to help you and consider reaching out to a pastor. 

1. The Setting

In Chapter 1, Micah prophesied judgment against the capital cities of Samaria and Jerusalem.

2. Warning to Evildoers (2:1-5)

Micah prophesied that judgment was coming for evildoers, particularly those who committed premeditated sin. God hates all sin, but premeditated sin is a grave offense. These sins are done with the full knowledge that we are doing something wrong; yet, in willful defiance to God, we sin anyway. The Old Testament law stated that anyone who committed a premeditated sin was to be cut off from their people (Numbers 15:30-31).  Micah prophesied disaster from which there would be no escape. 

3. False Prophets Condemned (2:6-11)

False prophets claimed that judgment would not come. However, if the people had been upright, God’s words, spoken by Micah, would have touched their hearts and turned them away from their sin. Instead, the people preferred the soothing words of false prophets, which would lead them to destruction.

4. Restoration of Israel (2:12-13)

These verses promise that the remnant of Israel will be restored. They also point to our Messiah, Jesus Christ. “Micah’s prophecy telescopes two great events—Judah’s return from captivity in Babylon and the great gathering of all believers when the Messiah returns. Here, God reveals two qualities of the Messiah. He will be a shepherd gathering his people and a leader who will break them out of their exile” (Life Application Study Bible).

The lesson for us today is to obey God and turn away from anyone preaching a different message than what is found in our Bibles. As the prophet Micah declared, God’s words “do good to him who walks uprightly.” 

If we want to obey God, if we want to serve Him, and if we truly want to be a child of God, we must examine ourselves and allow God to expose any sin in our lives. Hebrews 12:6-8 tells us, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.”

1. The Setting

Micah previously addressed all of God’s people. In this chapter, his attention turned toward the leaders and prophets.

2. Judgment Against Corrupt Leaders (3:1-4)

Micah stated that the leaders hated good and loved evil. It is a leader’s job to serve the people; yet, the leaders were described as cannibals tearing apart the people of God. Because of their evil deeds, God will not hear them and will turn away when they cry out to Him.

3. Judgment Against False Prophets (3:5-7)

False prophets led the people astray with their lies. If the prophets were fed, they promised peace. If they were not fed, they promised war. As a result, the prophets would be shamed, and God would not answer them.

4. Micah Described as a True Prophet of God (3:8)

Micah stood in stark contrast to the false prophets. He was called by God and was empowered by God’s Spirit. Micah’s purpose was to call attention to the sins of the people.

5. The Leaders are Blamed for the Impending Judgment Against the Nation (3:9-12)

Micah again exposed the sins of the leaders and prophets, as well as the priests. The prophets thought the LORD was with them and that they would not be harmed. All the leaders were blamed for God’s judgment against Jerusalem. 

We live in a world that closely resembles Israel and Judah. Many of our leaders serve only their own wallets, accepting bribes, perverting justice, and becoming rich. There is an overabundance of false prophets on the internet who confuse believers unfamiliar with the Word of God. People are so immersed in sin that good is called evil, and evil is called good.

Early Christians also faced a world filled with sin, but they also experienced horrific persecution. Peter explained that during difficult times, we must imitate Christ, be above reproach, and be obedient to God. He also instructed believers to trust in God and resist the devil. Therefore, we must examine ourselves and root out all sin. Then we must ask God to search us to see if we have any sin (Psalm 139:23-4). In this way, we can follow the instructions in Peter’s last communication to the church, which is to make our call and election sure (2 Peter 1:10).

1. The Setting

Chapter 4 is Micah’s vision of a restored Zion in the latter days. He shifts from a message of judgment to a message of hope and restoration.

2. Restored Zion (4:1-5)

Micah 4:1-3 is repeated in Isaiah 2:1-3. This is not surprising since Micah and Isaiah were contemporaries, and both were true prophets empowered by God’s Spirit. 

In 4:1, the phrase “last days” refers to the time when Jesus Christ will reign over His perfect kingdom. Micah is referring to the Millennial (1,000-year) reign of Christ on earth. This will be a time when people everywhere will seek the LORD to learn his ways. The LORD will judge and settle disputes. This will be a time of universal peace (“they will beat their swords into plowshares”). It will also be a time of blessing when no one is afraid or in need (“everyone will sit under their own vine”).

In the Old Testament, the word “Zion” is used to refer to Mount Zion, the city of Jerusalem, the temple or the nation of Israel. The Old Testament prophets often used Zion as another name for Jerusalem. 

3. Restoration of the Afflicted (4:6-8)

God promised to gather the lame, the outcasts, and even those God Himself had afflicted; and He will be their ruler “from that day and forever.”

4. Suffering Prior to the Restoration of Zion (4:9-13)

Micah returned to a message of judgment, prophesying that the people of Jerusalem would be captured and taken to Babylon. But then he prophesied that, eventually, God would deliver Israel from its enemies, who would be judged for oppressing God’s people. 

When we experience illness, misfortune, or even calamity, we might ask God, “Why?” Or we might feel as if we don’t deserve our bad circumstances. And we could be confused, even wondering if God still loves us. Remember the words of Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God might be trusting us to trust Him in our circumstances so that He can be glorified. Or He might be giving us an opportunity to grow spiritually.

On the other hand, sometimes our misfortunes stem from our own disobedience, similar to Israel’s situation in Micah. When we continually willfully disobey God’s commands, would we prefer that He do nothing and let us suffer the consequences on judgment day? We serve a loving God, which means that He sometimes removes His protective hand, letting us suffer the consequences of our disobedience. If you are in this situation, follow the direction given in II Chronicles 7:14-15, which tells us that if we humble ourselves before God, pray, seek Him, and turn from our sins, He will then be attentive to our prayers. 

1. The Setting

In this chapter, Micah blends both near and distant events, which is a common pattern seen in the Old Testament prophets. This can be confusing as he covers elements of current events, the birth of Jesus, and the second coming of Jesus, all in this short chapter.

2. A Ruler is Promised (5:1-4)

The ruler stricken in verse 1 is “probably King Zedekiah, who was reigning in Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar conquered the city. Zedekiah was the last of the kings in David’s line to sit on the throne in Jerusalem. Micah said that the next king in David’s line would be the Messiah, who would establish a kingdom that would never end” (Life Application Study Bible).

Next, in verse 2, hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, Micah accurately prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. This specific verse is quoted in Matthew 2:6. When Herod asked the chief priests and teachers of the law where the Messiah would be born, they replied using the words from Micah 5:2. Micah also prophesied that “His origins are from of old, from ancient times.” We know this refers to Jesus because in Revelation 22:13, Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Verse 3 tells us Israel will be abandoned until the birth of Jesus. The phrase “the rest of his brothers” could refer to the northern tribes. Although the Babylonian captivity of the southern kingdom of Judah ended in 583 B.C., the northern kingdom of Israel was never given permission to return after their capture by Assyria. 

In verse 4, Micah did not differentiate between the first and second comings of Jesus Christ. “His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth” refers to the second coming when Christ will rule over the entire earth.

3. Deliverance from Enemies (5:5-6)

Micah was not referring to the Assyrian nation; because in verse 5 he said, “He will deliver us from the Assyrians,” which didn’t happen during Micah’s lifetime. Because Assyria was the main threat to Israel, it was often used to symbolize Israel’s enemies and God’s final victory over them. 

When Micah said, “We will raise against him seven shepherds, even eight princely men,” it seems to be a figure of speech meaning “more than enough.”

4. The Remnant of Jacob (5:7-9)

“The remnant of Israel, converted to Christ in the primitive times, were among many nations as the drops of dew, and were made instruments in calling a large increase of spiritual worshippers. But to those who neglected or opposed this salvation, they would, as lions, cause terror, their doctrine condemning them. The Lord also declares that he would cause not only the reformation of the Jews, but the purification of the Christian church” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary).

5. Purge of Idolatry and Warfare (5:10-15)

When Jesus returns, the world will be judged. Sin, witchcraft, and idolatry will be purged. Our deliverance will only be through His mighty power and not through military strength.

“Look for the key words in these verses. We find peace, protection, deliverance, majesty, security, and promises fulfilled. The future with God is nothing to be afraid of for those who are in Christ. We will stand with Jesus to watch and marvel at God’s final and perfect work” (Brad Boyles).

1. The Setting

Micah pictured a courtroom where God was the judge and Israel the accused.  The witnesses were the unmovable, unshakable mountains and foundations of the earth..

2. God’s Case Against Israel (6:1-5)

God asked what he had done and how he had burdened Israel. Then He demanded an answer. He reminded Israel that He freed them from slavery in Egypt and appointed godly leaders over them. God reminded them that when the king of Moab sent Balaam to curse Israel, God only allowed him to bless Israel. When this was unsuccessful, the Moabites led Israel into idolatry and fornication, for which God sent a plague and killed 24,000 Israelites. God’s evidence showed that Israel could not blame anyone for their situation—it was the result of their own disobedience.

3. The People’s Response (6:6-7)

In the people’s response, we can almost hear their disrespect.  They were like children shouting, “What do you expect from us? Nothing will satisfy you!” They asked if they should bring a burnt offering of thousands of rams. They even asked if they should sacrifice their firstborn children, which was nothing less than insolence. The people knew this pagan practice was an abomination to God.

4. God’s Response (6:8)

In 1 Samuel 15:22, God says that “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” God wants changed lives. He wants the people to be fair, just, merciful, and humble.

5. Israel’s Guilt (6:9-12)

Micah exposed Israel’s guilt. The people lied, used dishonest scales, and were violent and deceitful. He even stated that they “observed the statutes of Omri,” who had led the people into idolatry, and that they followed the practices of Israel’s most wicked king, Ahab. 

6. God’s Punishment (6:13-16)

God pronounced Israel’s punishment. They would not be allowed to enjoy the possessions they had obtained by cheating their own people. In fact, everything would be taken from them. They would once again be as helpless as they were in Egypt.

God has always been clear about what He expects from His people. For example, this chapter of Micah mentions the specific sin of using dishonest scales. Proverbs 11:1 tells us that the LORD detests dishonest scales. 

Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” What is a living sacrifice?  This doesn’t refer to religious ritual or doing something to check off a box. This means we must totally surrender ourselves to God and live according to His Word. We must choose Him every hour of every day. 

Is there any part of your life that you haven’t surrendered to God?