M is for Micah

My A to Z blogging theme is characters in (people from) the scriptures. Since my blog is a book blog, this theme would fit right in and help me strengthen a weakness at the same. How fantastic is that?!  This challenge is a blessing. Thank you A to Z Challenge team!  *Book: LDS quad combo scriptures: KJV Holy Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, Pearl of Great Price. (p)1989, (c)1979.

Engraving of the Prophet Micah by Gustave Doré

"Micah, meaning “who is like Yahweh," was a prophet who prophesied from approximately 737-690 BC in Judah and is the author of the Book of Micah. He was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah, Amos and Hosea and is considered one of the twelve minor prophets of the Tanakh (Old Testament). Micah was from Moresheth-Gath, in southwest Judah. He prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah. Micah’s messages were directed chiefly toward Jerusalem. He prophesies the future destruction of Jerusalem and Samaria, the destruction and then future restoration of the Judean state, and he rebukes the people of Judah for dishonesty and idolatry. His prophecy that the Messiah would be born in the town of Bethlehem is recalled in the Book of Matthew." (Wikipedia)

The book of Micah in the Old Testament is short but certainly the greed, and social/individual corruption it mentions are prevalent today.  Hence, though the book of Micah had been written over 25 hundred years ago, his message can easily be about us.  Check out this statement regarding Micah's grievances (think social in character, not political), "He was especially concerned with the attempts of the nobles to build up large estates by ejecting small property owners. Corrupt judges assisted their greedy friends in robbing the weak; widows and orphans without means of defense were deprived of their goods by force and oftentimes sold into slavery. The common people were kept in bondage through high taxation, and creditors were unmerciful on their victims. Micah held the nobility to be responsible for the terrible moral and social corruption among his people. He likened the nobles to cannibals, who eat the flesh of the people and chop their bones in pieces for the pot. There was no end to their greed and rapacity, and decisions were given to those who paid the largest bribes." (The Voice of Israel's Prophets, pg 334-335).  Pretty spot on for our day?  Ugh, it's no wonder we are asked to study the scriptures because we are shown downfalls we should avoid.

I'll have to go back to Micah and study his book more thoroughly later because there's so much that went over my head.