Lesson 153 Micah

Lesson 153: Micah

Introduction

Micah prophesied to the people of Israel and Judah about the judgments that would come upon them because of their wickedness, lamenting their sins and eventual destruction. However, he also prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and taught that in the latter days the Lord would have compassion on Israel.

I. Micah 1–5  Micah prophesies that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem and save His people

On board:

         Micah was a prophet in the Southern Kingdom of Judah who ministered at the same time as Isaiah.

         Look for principles in Micah’s teachings that can help you show your devotion to the Lord in return for all He has done for you.

---Display a picture of the Wise Men.

---After Jesus was born, the Wise Men came from the East to Jerusalem, seeking the Messiah.

---Read Matthew 2:1–2  and identify how the Wise Men knew that the Messiah had been born.

---How did the Wise Men know that Jesus had been born?

---The phrase “seen his star in the east” implies that the Wise Men may have heard prophecies of the Messiah’s birth and had been watching for this sign.

---Read Matthew 2:3–8 and look for how the chief priests and scribes knew that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

---How did the chief priests and scribes know where the Messiah would be born? (From the written prophecies.)

---Read Micah 5:2, 4 aloud looking for the details that Micah described about the coming of the Messiah.

---Mark what you find.

---Where specifically did Micah say the “ruler of Israel” (Jesus Christ) would be born?

---According to verse 4, what would Jesus Christ come to earth to do?

---verse 4, footnote a, indicates that He would “feed the flock” [see also Ezekiel 34:11–16]. Bethlehem means “house of bread,” adding to the symbolism of Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life.

---The prophecies of Micah are the only prophetic writings preserved in the Old Testament to name the birthplace of the Messiah. The chief priests and scribes quoted this prophecy more than 700 years later when Herod asked them where the Messiah would be born.

---In Micah 1–4  Micah prophesied that Samaria and Judah would be destroyed because of the wickedness of the people. He also chastised false prophets who taught the people false doctrines. Micah 4 records that the Lord gave Israel a message of hope that in the last days the Lord’s temple would be built again, Israel would conquer its enemies, and there would be peace for the Lord’s people in the Millennium. As recorded in Micah 5, Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and that in the last days the remnant of Jacob (Israel) would triumph over its oppressors.

II. Micah 6–7  Micah laments the wickedness of the Israelites and expresses hope in the Lord’s power to redeem them

---Give me some examples of a time when someone did something kind for you.

---How the other person’s goodness made you feel?

---When we experience others’ goodness toward us, how do we generally want to respond?

---Through His prophet Micah, the Lord reminded the people of Judah of His goodness toward them so that they would serve Him and show gratitude and devotion to Him.

---Read Micah 6:3–4 aloud looking for what the Lord reminded the people that He had done for them.

---What did the Lord remind the people of?

---Read Micah 6:6 aloud looking for what Micah asked the people.

---What is the first question Micah asked in verse 6? How would you rephrase this question in your own words?

(Micah essentially asked, “How should I come before the Lord and worship Him?”)

---on the board:  If we desire to come unto the Lord and worship Him, then we must …

---In pairs read Micah 6:7–8  looking for how Micah answered his question.

---How would you rephrase in your own words Micah’s question in verse 7? (“If my outward acts of worship are very great in number or value, will these be enough to please the Lord?”)

---In verse 8  Micah taught that our outward acts of worship alone do not please God. He requires something else before our outward worship becomes meaningful and pleasing to Him.

---According to verse 8, what does the Lord require of us in our worship of Him?

---What does it mean to “do justly”? To “love mercy”? To “walk humbly with … God”? (see also D&C 11:12).

---Read Deuteronomy 10:12–13. (write this cross-reference in the margin next to Micah 6:7–8.)  looking for what Moses said the Lord requires of those who worship and serve Him.

---As recorded in this passage in Deuteronomy, the prophet Moses used similar language when He taught the people what the Lord required of them

---What does the Lord require of us as we worship and serve Him?

---How would you complete the incomplete statement on the board based on the words of Micah and Moses?

If we desire to come unto the Lord and worship Him, then we must… love and serve Him with all our hearts.

---Name some ways that we worship or show love for the Lord. (on board)

(attending church, partaking of the sacrament, attending the temple, reading the scriptures, singing hymns, and praying)

---How does the principle identified in Micah 6:6–8 help us understand what our motive should be as we participate in the activities listed on the board?

---How might we perform these acts of worship with all our hearts?

                ---What difference has it made in your life when you have offered the Lord your time, obedience, and worship out of love for Him?

---Copy the list on the board in your class notebooks.

---Evaluate how well you are applying the principle you identified in Micah 6:6–8 to each of the forms of worship on the list.

---Set a specific goal about how you will begin to worship and serve the Lord with more of your heart in one of the areas on your list.

---In Micah 6:10–16  the Lord said He could not justly excuse the children of Israel because they continued in their wickedness. He then pronounced consequences that would come to them because of their sins.

--- Micah 7:1–17 says that Micah continued to lament the wickedness of the Israelites and the destructions that were coming because of their sins. However, Micah prophesied that Israel would turn to righteousness and rise again with the Lord’s help and that other nations would be amazed at what the Lord had done for Israel.

---Read Micah 7:18–20 aloud looking for Micah’s description of the Lord.

---Mark words and phrases that describe the Lord in a way that is meaningful to you.

---Share a word or phrase that you chose and explain why it is important to you.

---According to verses 18–19, what did Micah say the Lord delights in? What will the Lord do with our iniquities because He delights in mercy?

---What do we have to do to receive the Lord’s mercy when we have sinned?

---What can we learn from these verses about what will happen as we repent of our sins?

As we repent of our sins, we will be forgiven because the Lord delights in mercy.

---Why do you think we are extended mercy from the Lord even when we may have been rebellious?

---Remember that sometimes people think that the Lord’s mercy is an excuse to sin now and repent later (see 2 Nephi 28:7–9). Please be careful and guard against this false belief.

---Testimony of the merciful nature of the Lord and the other principles taught in this lesson.

---Act on the thoughts and impressions that have come to them as they have studied Micah’s teachings.

right margin extras:

The Journey of the Magi, by James Tissot

 

Strive (3:06)
Church leaders teach how we can become the people God hopes we will choose to become. Consider showing this video to help students understand what it means to serve the Lord with all our hearts.

Understanding the content of the scriptures

In order to identify doctrines and principles in the scriptures, students must understand the content of what they are reading. One way to evaluate their understanding of a scripture passage is to ask them to summarize it in their own words. As students understand the content of the scriptures, they will be better able to identify the truths they contain.