Grow Guide | Nov 20, 2022

People of the Promise

Micah 5:2-5a; 6:6-8

Connecting Questions

·      Who is your life has taught you about living humbly? What are the benefits of living from a place of humility?

·      What societal issues/concerns pull at your heartstrings and inspire you to work for justice?

Context

This week we begin a new 5-week worship series called “People of the Promise.” We will be focusing on the stories of prophets and servants who rely on God’s promises (even if they are also warnings). As we move into the season of Advent, we’ll remember the ways the prophets looked to the future, speaking words of judgment and hope.

This week we focus on the book of Micah, which is located among the prophetic books of the Old Testament, which include five major prophets (longer books) and 12 minor prophets (shorter books). In Scripture, a prophet is a person who delivers messages from God to the people. Micah addressed the southern kingdom of Judah during the time of the collapse of the Northern kingdom (742-698 BCE). He was concerned with corruption by local leaders who deceived people into complacency and their worship of false idols. Micah moves between words of judgment and hope several times throughout the book; he warns them about the destruction of Jerusalem but also speaks of a vision of a coming messianic king.

Look at the Book

Read Micah 5:2-5a. What sticks out to you in these verses? What questions do you have after reading them?

• King David came from Bethlehem and Jesus was born there. The word Bethlehem means “house of bread.” How does you think this connects with the life of Jesus?

• How is the coming messiah described in these verses? What will he be like?

• How does he contrast with the corrupt leaders of the time?

Read Micah 6:6-8. Are these verses familiar to you? Where have you heard them before?

• List the offerings suggested in vs. 6-7. What do you notice about the movement from smaller offerings to increasingly ridiculous amounts?

• After the list of offerings, vs. 8 says, “He has told you…” Do you notice the reprimand in this verse? What is being reprimanded?

• Look at vs. 8. How does your Bible translate it?

  • Some translate “love kindness,” others “love mercy”

  • Some translate “walk humbly,” others “live obediently”

  • The Hebrew word for “justice” is about fairness and equality. The Hebrew word for “kindness” (chesed) describes merciful actions like loyalty and integrity. “Walking humbly” is in direct contrast with the arrogant leaders of the day. How do these interpretations change or deepen your understanding of this verse?

• List the verbs in vs. 8. How do they connect to the words that follow them?

• Vs. 8 is technically part of a section of judgments by Micah. Yet how to these words also give hope?

• Why do you think this verse has found its way into secular/popular culture?

Taking it Home

Put Micah 6:8 somewhere where you will see it often this week (on your phone home screen, printed out and hung in a prominent place, etc.). Reflect on how it affects you to ponder this verse daily.

In what ways does Micah 6:8 challenge you? In what ways does it give you hope?