Overview of Micah 6:1–7:20

This final section intensifies and amplifies Micah’s central theme of judgment and salvation. The indictments are no longer aimed at individual groups within the nation but rather are directed to the people as a whole. The nation has utterly missed the entire point of being Yahweh’s people. They have not realized that Yahweh has saved them for a life of relationship with him (walking with him), loving mercy and practicing justice. They have mistakenly thought they could show extraordinary faith by making one-time sacrifices instead of by living a life of love and service.

This section contains four major units. It begins with an argument with the people to show the main point of their calling from God: fellowship with him, love, and justice (6:1–8). It then demonstrates that they have kept fellowship with notorious kings instead of with God, and their lives are marked by violence instead of love, injustice instead of justice (6:9–16). This leads to a natural consequence: the entire society is corrupt and thus ripe for judgment (7:1–7). Finally, from this lament over the totality and reality of corruption, the prophet personifies the nation as he confesses and acknowledges sin and hopes in God and his sure promises (7:8–20). This last composition contains themes from each part of the book, using them to produce a resounding crescendo of salvation.