Prophecies of the fall of Samaria, Judah and Jerusalem: Micah 1–7

Micah was probably written between 735 and 700 BC: the end of the reign of Jotham’s rule, all of Ahaz’s rule, and most of Hezekiah’s rule. He saw fall of Samaria to the Assyrians, having already prophesied it, and he might have seen Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah with the (failed) attempt to take Jerusalem.

The focus of the text is the poor treatment of the people and their leaders of each other. There comes a time when God says ‘Enough!’. The people have departed so far from God and His will that there is nothing left for Him to save.

^2:1-2 What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night,
thinking up evil plans.
You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out,
simply because you have the power to do so.
When you want a piece of land, you find a way to seize it.
When you want someone’s house, you take it by fraud and violence.
You cheat a man of his property, stealing his family’s inheritance.

And in case there was any thought that they could waiting for the disaster then have God come in and help them on demand:

^3:4 Then you beg the Lord for help in times of trouble!
Do you really expect him to answer?
After all the evil you have done, he won’t even look at you!

Later, God promises a return and redemption.