The prophets Isaiah and Micah were contemporaries, laboring to proclaim the word of the LORD to a stubborn people. Micah is known as a prophet zealous for justice, having witnessed the downstream effects of the blatant violations of Israel and Judah’s rulers, false prophets, and corrupt priests. We know little about Micah’s background, but his message points to the obvious work of the Lord to use him in preaching God’s judgment and blessing. We will see a formidable prophecy that the LORD will cast his people into exile because of their grievous sins. However much God is just, exacting consequences for sin, we will see in chapters 4-5 that God is also abundant in mercy. In the end, his judgment against his people is light compared to the overwhelming mercy that will be revealed in the latter days.