13 verses
Micah declares that those who oppress will face divine judgment, leading to loss and lament, but the chapter also offers a vision of future restoration.
Micah opens with a condemnation of those who devise injustice and seize property violently, condemning their deeds as sinful. He warns that the Lord will bring a calamity against this wickedness, which cannot be avoided and will not be met with pride. In the ensuing days, the people will lament and blame God for their ruined inheritance, feeling that their fields have been taken away. The prophet rebukes the practice of false prophecy and encourages truthfulness, noting that those who falsely claim divine messages will be punished. Micah calls for repentance, urging the people to rise and depart from their corrupt ways. He then presents a hopeful vision of gathering the remnant of Israel, likening them to a flock in Bozrah, implying a future restoration and collective joy. The chapter ends with the image of the Lord leading the people through a gate, symbolizing divine protection and redemption.
mixed
The chapter contains harsh judgment against wrongdoers yet offers hopeful restoration, yielding a mixed emotional tone.