SCRIPTURE: MICAH 3
LEADERS AND PROPHETS REBUKED (vs. 1-12)
SINS OF THE LEADERS AND PROPHETS
- They hate good and love evil. (v. 2a)
- The tear the skin from the people and flesh from their bones. (v. 2b)
- They eat the people’s flesh , strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces. (v. 3a)
- They chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot. (v. 3b)
- They despise justice and distort all that is right. (v. 9a)
- They build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness. (v. 9b)
- Their leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. (v. 11)
PUNISHMENTS:
- Night will come without visions and darkness without divination. (v. 6a0
- The sun will set for the prophets, and the day will go dark for them. (v. 6b)
- The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. (v. 7a)
- They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God. (v. 7b)
- Zion will be plowed like a field. (v. 12a)
- Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble. (v. 1b)
- The temple hill will become a mound overgrown with thickets. (v. 12)
THOUGHTS:
3 PICTURES WERE USED TO DESCRIBE THE SINS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH.
- Instead of caring for the people, they were like hunters treating the people as animals to devour them.
- Instead of being shepherds to guide the flock, they led them astray with false peace.
- Instead of building the city with God’s laws, they broke the laws and build with bloodshed because of greed.
The leaders, priests and prophets had no compassion for their people. They were taking advantage of the people to satisfy their own desires. Micah warned them not to accept bribes. Some pastors today accept bribes by allowing big contributors to control the church. They remain silent and refuse to speak up for what is right for fear of losing money from influential members. Similar warning is directed to those who have money. They should not use their resources to influence or manipulated God’s minister.