Micah 6:16
You have kept the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab's house; you have followed their counsel. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and your inhabitants an object of contempt; you will bear the scorn of the nations."
You have observed the statutes of Omri
The phrase "observed the statutes of Omri" refers to the adoption of corrupt practices and idolatrous laws established by King Omri of Israel. Omri was known for his political prowess and establishing Samaria as the capital, but he also led Israel into sin. The Hebrew root for "statutes" (חֻקּוֹת, "chuqqot") implies decrees or ordinances, often with a connotation of permanence. Omri's statutes were contrary to God's laws, leading the people away from righteousness. This highlights the danger of following human decrees over divine commandments, a warning against allowing cultural or political influences to supersede God's Word.

and all the practices of Ahab’s house
Ahab, Omri's son, is infamous for his marriage to Jezebel and the subsequent introduction of Baal worship in Israel. The "practices" (מַעֲשֵׂי, "ma'asei") of Ahab's house were characterized by idolatry, injustice, and moral decay. This phrase underscores the continuation and intensification of Omri's sinful legacy. Historically, Ahab's reign is marked by significant archaeological findings, such as the Moabite Stone, which corroborates biblical accounts of his interactions with surrounding nations. The practices of Ahab's house serve as a cautionary tale of how leadership can profoundly influence a nation's spiritual direction.

you have followed their counsel
The phrase "followed their counsel" (וַתֵּלְכוּ בְּמוֹעֲצוֹתָם, "vatelekhu bemo'atzotam") indicates a deliberate choice to adhere to the advice and strategies of these wicked rulers. The Hebrew word for "counsel" (מוֹעֵצָה, "mo'etzah") suggests guidance or plans, often with a negative connotation when associated with ungodly leaders. This reflects a willful alignment with ungodly wisdom, leading to spiritual and moral compromise. It serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking godly counsel and the consequences of aligning with those who oppose God's ways.

Therefore, I will make you a desolation
The consequence of following ungodly statutes and practices is desolation (שַׁמָּה, "shammah"), a term that conveys utter devastation and ruin. This prophetic declaration serves as a divine judgment against the nation for its collective sin. The historical context of this warning is significant, as it foreshadows the eventual fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom to the Assyrians. It is a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the inevitable judgment that follows persistent disobedience to God.

and your inhabitants an object of scorn
The phrase "an object of scorn" (שְׁרֵקָה, "shereqah") implies derision and mockery from surrounding nations. This reflects the shame and humiliation that come from being abandoned by God due to persistent rebellion. Historically, Israel's downfall was indeed met with scorn by its neighbors, fulfilling this prophetic word. It serves as a warning that turning away from God not only leads to personal and national ruin but also to a loss of respect and dignity in the eyes of others.

you will bear the reproach of My people
The term "reproach" (חֶרְפַּת, "cherpat") signifies disgrace or shame. This phrase indicates that the people of Israel, once chosen and set apart by God, would experience the shame of their unfaithfulness. The use of "My people" underscores the broken relationship between God and Israel, highlighting the pain of divine disappointment. It serves as a call to repentance and a reminder of the covenant relationship that requires faithfulness and obedience to God. This reproach is not just a consequence but also an opportunity for reflection and return to God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Omri
A king of Israel known for his wickedness and idolatry. He established Samaria as the capital and led the people away from God.

2. Ahab
Son of Omri, Ahab was one of the most notorious kings of Israel, married to Jezebel, and known for promoting Baal worship and other idolatrous practices.

3. Micah
A prophet in Judah who spoke against the social injustices and idolatry of his time, calling the people back to covenant faithfulness.

4. Samaria
The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, established by Omri, and a center of idolatrous worship.

5. Desolation and Scorn
The consequences pronounced by God through Micah for following the sinful practices of Omri and Ahab, leading to judgment and exile.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Idolatry
Just as Israel followed the idolatrous practices of Omri and Ahab, we must guard against modern forms of idolatry that can lead us away from God.

Consequences of Disobedience
The desolation and scorn faced by Israel serve as a warning of the serious consequences of turning away from God's commands.

Call to Repentance
Micah's message is a call to return to covenant faithfulness, reminding us of the importance of repentance and aligning our lives with God's will.

Leadership and Influence
The negative influence of leaders like Omri and Ahab highlights the responsibility of leaders to guide others toward righteousness.

Hope in Restoration
Despite the judgment, the broader message of Micah includes hope for restoration, encouraging us to trust in God's redemptive plan.
Bible Study Questions
1. How do the practices of Omri and Ahab reflect the broader theme of idolatry in the Bible, and what modern parallels can we draw from this?

2. In what ways does the judgment pronounced in Micah 6:16 serve as a warning for contemporary believers?

3. How can we identify and resist the "counsels" of our culture that lead us away from God's truth?

4. What role does leadership play in guiding a community toward or away from God, and how can we apply this in our own spheres of influence?

5. How does the message of judgment and hope in Micah encourage us to live faithfully in anticipation of God's ultimate restoration?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Kings 16:25-33
This passage details the reigns of Omri and Ahab, highlighting their evil practices and the introduction of Baal worship, which Micah references as a cause for judgment.

2 Kings 17:7-23
Describes the fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom due to persistent idolatry and disobedience, fulfilling the warnings given by prophets like Micah.

Hosea 8:4-6
Hosea, a contemporary of Micah, also condemns the idolatry and political alliances of Israel, which led to their downfall.
Omri and Ahab: Lessons Worth StudyHomilistMicah 6:16
Omri and Ahab: Lessons Worth StudyD. Thomas Micah 6:16
The Record of Two KingsAlexander MaclarenMicah 6:16
People
Aaron, Ahab, Balaam, Balak, Beor, Ephah, Micah, Miriam, Omri
Places
Bethlehem, Egypt, Gilgal, Moab, Shittim
Topics
Ahab, Ahab's, Astonishment, Bear, Cause, Counsels, Derision, Designs, Desolation, Destruction, Devices, Family, Followed, Giving, Guided, Habitually, Hisses, Hissing, Inhabitants, Kept, Laws, Nations, Observed, Omri, Peoples, Practices, Reproach, Ruin, Scorn, Shame, Statutes, Thereof, Traditions, Walk, Walked, Wonder, Works
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Micah 6:16

     5588   traditions
     5818   contempt
     8816   ridicule, nature of

Micah 6:9-16

     4438   eating

Library
God's Requirements and God's Gift
'What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?'--MICAH vi. 8. This is the Prophet's answer to a question which he puts into the mouth of his hearers. They had the superstitious estimate of the worth of sacrifice, which conceives that the external offering is pleasing to God, and can satisfy for sin. Micah, like his great contemporary Isaiah, and the most of the prophets, wages war against that misconception of sacrifice, but does not thereby
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Record of Two Kings
'In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah. 24. And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria. 25. But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him. 26. For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

August the Ninth God's Requirements
"What doth the Lord require of thee?" --MICAH vi. 1-8. "To do justly." Then I must not be so eager about my rights as to forget my duties. For my duties are just the observance of my neighbour's rights. And to see my neighbour's rights I must cultivate his "point of view." I must look out of his windows! "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." "And to love mercy." And mercy is justice plus! And it is the "plus" which makes the Christian. His cup
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

"On Conscience"
"For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience." 2 Cor. 1:12. 1. How few words are there in the world more common than this, Conscience! It is in almost every one's mouth. And one would thence be apt to conclude, that no word can be found which is more generally understood. But it may be doubted whether this is the case or no; although numberless treatises have been written upon it. For it is certain, a great part of those writers have rather puzzled the cause than cleared it; that they
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Fast-Day Service
BRIEF INVOCATION. O GOD, the God of heaven and of earth, we do this day pay Thee reverence, and meekly bow our heads in adoration before Thine awful throne. We are the creatures of Thine hand; Thou hast made us, and not we ourselves. It is but just and right that we should pay unto Thee our adoration. O God I we are met together in a vast congregation for a purpose which demands all the power of piety, and all the strength of prayer. Send down Thy Spirit upon Thy servant, that he, whilst trembling
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Micah's Message for To-Day
"Walk humbly with thy God."--Micah 6:8. THIS is the essence of the law, the spiritual side of it; its ten commandments are an enlargement of this verse. The law is spiritual, and touches the thoughts, the intents, the emotions, the words, the actions; but specially God demands the heart. Now it is our great joy that what the law requires the gospel gives. "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." In him we meet the requirements of the law, first, by what he has
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 39: 1893

The Christian's Walk a Walk with God.
"He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." Micah 6:8. The life of Enoch is descriptive of the Christian's life, and it is said that he "walked with God." Hand in hand with God, heart in heart, and life in life, is the true Christian way. In order to walk thus with God, we must be in agreement with him; for two can not walk together heart in heart unless they be in agreement. To be agreed
C. E. Orr—How to Live a Holy Life

The Social Test of Religion
Religion Must be Socially Efficient The teaching of Jesus dealt with three recalcitrant forces, which easily escape from the control of social duty and become a clog to spiritual progress: ambition for power and leadership, and the love of property, have been considered. How about religion? Is it a help or a hindrance in the progress of humanity? Opinions are very much divided today. No student of society can neglect religion as a social force. What did Jesus think of it? DAILY READINGS First
Walter Rauschenbusch—The Social Principles of Jesus

The Foundations of Good Citizenship.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.--Ex. 20:1-17. Parallel Readings. Hist. Bible I, 194-198. Prin. of Politics, Chap. II. Lowell, Essay on "Democracy." Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image. Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor thy father and thy mother. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation

A Godly Reformation
'Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 3. He in the first year of his reign, in the first mouth, opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them. 4. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Balak's Inquiries Relative to the Service of God, and Balaam's Answer, Briefly Considered.
"Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with, thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first born for my transgression; the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?--He hath shewed thee, 0 man, what is good: And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" As mankind are
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

An Ox in the Congregation
Friday, July 10.--I rode to London and preached at Short's Gardens on "the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" [Acts 3:6]. Sunday, 12. While I was showing, at Charles' Square, what it is "to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God" [see Micah 6:8], a great shout began. Many of the rabble had brought an ox, which they were vehemently laboring to drive among the people. But their labor was in vain; for in spite of them all, he ran round and round, one way and the other, and at length
John Wesley—The Journal of John Wesley

The Pioneer's Influence Upon a Nation's Ideals.
ABRAHAM, THE TRADITIONAL FATHER OF HIS RACE.--Gen. 12:1-8; 13:1-13; 16; 18, 19; 21:7; 22:1-19. Parallel Readings. Hist. Bible I, 73-94. Prin of Pol., 160-175. Jehovah said to Abraham, Go forth from thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, to the land that I will show thee, that I may make of thee a great nation; and I will surely bless thee, and make thy name great, so that thou shalt be a blessing, I will also bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation

Second Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to Brotherly Love.
Text: 1 John 3, 13-18. 13 Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

The Life of Mr. Hugh Binning.
There being a great demand for the several books that are printed under Mr. Binning's name, it was judged proper to undertake a new and correct impression of them in one volume. This being done, the publishers were much concerned to have the life of such an useful and eminent minister of Christ written, in justice to his memory, and his great services in the work of the gospel, that it might go along with this impression. We living now at so great distance from the time wherein he made a figure in
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"All Our Righteousnesses are as Filthy Rags, and we all do Fade as a Leaf, and Our Iniquities, Like the Wind, have Taken us Away. "
Isaiah lxiv. 6, 7.--"All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Not only are the direct breaches of the command uncleanness, and men originally and actually unclean, but even our holy actions, our commanded duties. Take a man's civility, religion, and all his universal inherent righteousness,--all are filthy rags. And here the church confesseth nothing but what God accuseth her of, Isa. lxvi. 8, and chap. i. ver.
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"To what Purpose is the Multitude of Your Sacrifices unto Me? Saith the Lord,"
Isaiah i. 11.--"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord," &c. This is the word he calls them to hear and a strange word. Isaiah asks, What mean your sacrifices? God will not have them. I think the people would say in their own hearts, What means the prophet? What would the Lord be at? Do we anything but what he commanded us? Is he angry at us for obeying him? What means this word? Is he not repealing the statute and ordinance he had made in Israel? If he had reproved
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Greater Prophets.
1. We have already seen (Chap. 15, Nos. 11 and 12) that from Moses to Samuel the appearances of prophets were infrequent; that with Samuel and the prophetical school established by him there began a new era, in which the prophets were recognized as a distinct order of men in the Theocracy; and that the age of written prophecy did not begin till about the reign of Uzziah, some three centuries after Samuel. The Jewish division of the latter prophets--prophets in the more restricted sense of the
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel
In order accurately to understand the position of woman in Israel, it is only necessary carefully to peruse the New Testament. The picture of social life there presented gives a full view of the place which she held in private and in public life. Here we do not find that separation, so common among Orientals at all times, but a woman mingles freely with others both at home and abroad. So far from suffering under social inferiority, she takes influential and often leading part in all movements, specially
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Soul.
Man as we behold him is not all there is of man. He is a wonderful being. He stands in the highest order of God's creation. He Is A Compound. Man was created a physical and spiritual organism. He possesses an animal and a spiritual life. Thus he is connected with two worlds. The physical creation is termed the "outward man," and the spiritual, the "inward man." "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Cor. 4:16. "For we know
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day

Meditations against Despair, or Doubting of God's Mercy.
It is found by continual experience, that near the time of death, when the children of God are weakest, then Satan makes the greatest nourish of his strength, and assails them with his strongest temptations. For he knows that either he must now or never prevail; for if their souls once go to heaven, he shall never vex nor trouble them any more. And therefore he will now bestir himself as much as he can, and labour to set before their eyes all the gross sins which ever they committed, and the judgments
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Effectual Calling
'Them he also called.' Rom 8:80. Q-xxxi: WHAT IS EFFECTUAL CALLING? A: It is a gracious work of the Spirit, whereby he causes us to embrace Christ freely, as he is offered to us in the gospel. In this verse is the golden chain of salvation, made up of four links, of which one is vocation. Them he also called.' Calling is nova creatio, a new creation,' the first resurrection. There is a two-fold call: (1.) An outward call: (2.) An inward call. (1.) An outward call, which is God's offer of grace to
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Books of the Old Testament as a Whole. 1 the Province of Particular Introduction is to Consider the Books of the Bible Separately...
CHAPTER XVIII. THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AS A WHOLE. 1. The province of Particular Introduction is to consider the books of the Bible separately, in respect to their authorship, date, contents, and the place which each of them holds in the system of divine truth. Here it is above all things important that we begin with the idea of the unity of divine revelation--that all the parts of the Bible constitute a gloriously perfect whole, of which God and not man is the author. No amount of study devoted
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

"He is the Rock, his Work is Perfect. For all his Ways are Judgment. A God of Truth, and Without Iniquity, Just and Right is He.
Deut. xxxii. 4, 5.--"He is the rock, his work is perfect. For all his ways are judgment. A God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is he. They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children. They are a perverse and crooked generation." "All his ways are judgment," both the ways of his commandments and the ways of his providence, both his word which he hath given as a lantern to men's paths, and his works among men. And this were the blessedness of men, to be found
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

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