Micah 3:1-12; The Evil Is Always Among Us, Yet Peace Is Always Available.

Class Outline:

Thursday December 5, 2024

 

“Micah’s words, remembered in their shocking severity a hundred years later, deserve to be taken to heart by each generation of God’s people. They challenge every attempt to misuse the service of God for one’s own glory and profit. They are a dire warning against the complacency that can take God’s love and reject his lordship. They are a passionate plea for consistency between creed and conduct. The Lord is content with nothing else.” [Allen]

 

Micah said that Zion was built with bloodshed and Jerusalem with injustice. Peace and justice were missing. Peace and justice are virtues that create brotherhood, which is a kingdom or nation. 

 

Their whitewash was the lie that the whole process was sacred.

 

Justice cannot be given might by men. Something is either just or it is not. Justice has its own power from God. We either submit to it or fight it with our own power. The elites (king), the false prophets, and the magistrates (judges) in Israel were commissioned by God to enforce justice (the prophets to teach it), but instead, for personal gain, they stood up against God’s justice and because of this, they had no peace and eventually came under God’s judgment.  

The three oracles are related by their common addresses - the ruling class in Israel. 

 

Oracle 1 (3:1-4): Judges turned cannibals. 

 

MIC 3:1-4 And I said,

"Hear now, heads of Jacob [courts of ancient Israel]

And rulers of the house of Israel.

Is it not for you to know justice? 

 

2 "You who hate good and love evil,

Who tear off their skin from them

And their flesh from their bones, 

 

3 Who eat the flesh of my people,

Strip off their skin from them,

Break their bones

And chop them up as for the pot

And as meat in a kettle." 

 

4 Then they will cry out to the Lord [when judgment comes upon them],

But He will not answer them.

Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time

Because they have practiced evil deeds. 

 

Whereas chapter 2 condemns the land barons, chapter 3 condemns the magistrates. The salvation oracle that ended chapter 2 contrasts the Messiah, Shepherd-King who is of pure justice with these wicked magistrates.

 

ISA 42:1, 3 [first Servant Song]

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the nations. 

…

He will faithfully bring forth justice. 

 

Instead of upholding the law of God to protect the poor and the weak from the strong, they themselves eat them. Micah employs vivid and startling cannibal imagery. 

 

Justice is brotherhood, and in a biblical word, justice is the institution of the covenant. (covenant - love of God and neighbor). 

 

As they did not listen to the cries of the oppressed, of the poor, they will not be heard by God when they cry out to Him, when the Assyrians put their hooks in their necks. 

 

Oracle 2 (of chapter 3) The bribed prophets. 

 

MIC 3:5-8 Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray [used of a wandering lost person or a drunk];

When they have something to bite with their teeth,

They cry, "Peace [shalom],

"But against him who puts nothing in their mouths

They declare holy war. 

 

6 Therefore it will be night for you — without vision,

And darkness for you — without divination.

The sun will go down on the prophets,

And the day will become dark over them. 

 

7 The seers will be ashamed

And the diviners will be embarrassed.

Indeed, they will all cover their mouths [mustache]

Because there is no answer from God. 

 

8 On the other hand I am filled with power — [rare autobiography for a prophet]

With the Spirit of the Lord —

And with justice and courage

To make known to Jacob his rebellious act,

Even to Israel his sin. 

 

The biting of teeth alludes to the cannibal judges of the last oracle. In this case they are eating bribes but the effect upon the people, upon the society, is just as terrible. 

 

God desires peace (shalom) for all mankind.

ISA 48:22

There is no peace for the wicked," says the Lord.

 

Ironic judgment continues. What they sought, enlightenment and honor, they receive darkness and dishonor. This will happen to every evil person. 

 

They cover their “mustache” is a reference to leprosy - they are unclean and will become outcasts. 

 

Micah proclaims the source of his power. It is not only the visions he receives but the power to stand up against the wind and current of prevailing opinions and boldly preach the truth of judgment that very few want to hear. The reference to God’s Spirit is likely a reference to the Holy Spirit who empowered certain people in the OT dispensations.

 

The Lord Jesus was also so empowered, and like us, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, a gift that He gave to us. (ISA 42:1)

 

Micah is empowered by the living God to have the supernatural courage to stand up for justice. 

 

Oracle 3 (MIC 3:9-12): Jerusalem to be leveled

 

9 Now hear this, heads of the house of Jacob

And rulers of the house of Israel,

Who abhor justice

And twist everything that is straight [legal matters], 

 

10 Who build Zion with bloodshed [helpless victims]

And Jerusalem with violent injustice. 

 

11 Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe,

Her priests instruct for a price

And her prophets divine for money.

Yet they lean on the Lord saying [they profess to],

"Is not the Lord in our midst? [“Look at that temple]

Calamity will not come upon us." 

 

12 Therefore, on account of you

Zion will be plowed as a field,

Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins,

And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.

 

When God says He is going to make “the mountain of the temple (implying that God is no longer there) … high places of a forest.” He means to remove its holiness.

 

Where is the temple today? 

 

Treat yourself and others by the justice of God - being righteous, fair, gracious, and good.

 

PHI 4:4-9

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

 

Application: Dwell on these things. What things in your life right now are true, honorable, right, pure (clean), lovely, good repute, excellent, and worthy of praise?

 

Nations rise and fall on the principle of peace and justice - not GDP and armaments, though it is true that wealth and power will be abundant in a nation of justice and peace. 

 

Live for justice, love of God and neighbor, and experience the peace that surpasses understanding.

 

Story: Lazarus and the rich man: LUK 16:19-31