Micah 6:1-20

God’s Great Controversy with Israel

Note the change in the prophet’s attitude. He speaks no longer to a united nation, but to parties. Now he speaks to a party, pious but discouraged (Micah 6:1-8); again, he testifies against men who have turned their backs on the Law (Micah 6:9-16). Persecution for religion’s sake has appeared, and taught men to distrust each other (Micah 7:2-6) Probably the chapters date from the time of Manasseh. Sennacherib recoiled baffled from Jerusalem, but Assyria was not exhausted. Esarhaddon succeeded in making Manasseh tributary in 676 b.c. Their religion had not brought Judah all the relief men expected. The heathen elements in the nation, repressed by Isaiah’s and Hezekiah’s influence, reasserted themselves. A reaction set in and found a leader in Manasseh: cp. 2K21. Especially men remembered that in his reign persecution for religion’s sake was practised: cp. 2 Kings 21:16.