In the first 2 chapters, we saw the trial of the capitals of Jacob. Samaria, capital of the northern kingdom was called into account. Likewise, Jerusalem was called into account. The prophecy was for all the people. In addressing the two capitals, neither could point to the other; in addressing to all the people, they were, in fact, the people of these capitals. They couldn't separate themselves from the land, the government, the priests or any other aspect.
In this second message, Micah is speaking to the leaders of Israel. They are now called to account for their poor leadership. The leaders are the elders, the rulers, the priests and the prophets. Each group not only failed in leading the people before God, they led them from God and to worship and follow gods of the nations around them.
Micah 3:1-3
The second part of Micahs prophecy begins like the first; with the word 'hear'. This message is to the leaders, the elders, the priests. We might see this as the government, the church and the people. In a sense, it speaks to those who lead people in moral, religious, spiritual, political, economic decisions, among other things. To all those who held sway over the land and over other people, Micah said, 'listen up!' These men had a responsibility to justice for all of God's people. Righteous leadership leads to fair treatment of even the weakest member of society; likewise, unrighteous leadership is unfair to most and fair only to those who can benefit them.
The simple question was, "Is it not for you to know justice?" To a people defined by a just God, who gave them the law and all pertaining to it, this should have been so obvious an answer, as well as a way of life, but it wasn't. Micah brings the charges. He characterizes these leaders as men who love evil and prey on the people like a hunter who just killed his prey to feed his flesh. Instead of faithful shepherds, they were slaughtering the flock for their own pleasure.
Isaiah had a similar message and the same time. God had had enough of the religious games, the self righteousness and phony deeds. Their hearts were wrong and motives foul. In Isaiah 1:16-17 He said this:
16"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.[1]
Micah 3:4
Then, when their own lawlessness requires justice, they will cry out to the Lord. But, their evil deeds broke fellowship with God. Their unrighteousness and wickedness in the presence of God causes God to turn away. It's as if His ears can't hear them; as if His face were hidden.
Micah 3:5-7
The prophets had become more concerned with fees than faith. The affect of their work had become leading people astray, giving them a false word regarding God. For those who had money, they would chant "Peace" over them with no sense of love or compassion. There was no meaning to the declaration, since it wasn't a true word, it was a false hope. The lack of love and compassion became hatred and spite for those who didn't provide money or food as payment for a word.
"Therefore" is the outcome of this path to which their lives had strayed. They would become prophets with no vision. Their spiritual insights would become darkness. They would live in the spiritual darkness they had created for others. A prophet without a message would be one that was greatly ashamed and disgraced. Their messages would be shown as the delusions of their own mind. A prophet with no messages is no longer a prophet; he is unemployed and joins the impoverished he so quickly preyed on.
There is no answer from God. The final and unanswered question of these prophets was, "Where are you God?"
Micah 3:8
Micah presents himself as a true prophet. The words he spoke weren't his but from the Lord. He was full of power and the Lord's Spirit. Justice and authority to impose justice were his to declare; these ideas weren't dead, they weren't outdated nor overpowered and thrown down by evil. Justice and might were alive and well in the Lord's eyes. By His prophet, He would declare the trangression and sins of His people.
Micah 3:9-11
This evil is a bipartisan effort from the house of Jacob and the house of Israel. Across the courts, the palaces and the temple; across divisions and across all branches of the culture. The judges judged for a bribe, perverting justice. The priests taught for a paycheck, perverting religion. The prophets gave whatever message they were paid to give. In reality they were really judges, priests or prophets. They were wolves preying on the flock.
Then justice came back on them they fell back on the idea that the Lord was among them. God's presence was at the temple, they were Jews, God's people; what possible harm could come on them? They were wicked in their presumptuousness. They asked what can happen; Mich tells them what will happen to them in verse 12.
Micah 3:12
It was ridiculous and unthinkable to think the temple would ever be destroyed. It was blasphemous to suggest the furnishings of the temple and the treasures would be carried away. It was preposterous to suggest that Jerusalem would have the same fate as Samaria. Yet, Micah said it would be plowed like a field and a heap of ruin. The temple mount would become a bare hill.
It's farely certain those who heard this though Micah was a wack job. This was crazy talk from some wild eyed self proclaimed prophet. There was no way they could ever believe this would happen.
Micah 4:1-3
To believe the temple and Jerusalem could be demolished was to lose hope. The day would come when the people of the land would see it happen. They only had to look to Samaria for an example as it was being crushed by Assyria, almost as Micah spoke. Yes, judgment was coming; yes, destruction was on the horizon. But if one looked a little firther to the future, there was a sure hope.
'In the latter days' were the days in the future, not all that far off. These would be the times would the messiah would come in rule and reign in righteousness. The Lord's house would once again be established and exalted. People will be drawn to the temple to meet the Lord, to find justice and might. Not only will the people flock there but the nations will come. Their invitation will be to be taught His ways and learn to walk in His paths. God's law, God's word and God's ways will go forth from Jerusalem in that day.
The messiah shall judge the peole and the nations. His reign won't be challenged; His authority will be sure and His word final. Therefore, there won't be war or the need for war. The implements and resources to conduct war will be used to cultivate and provide a great provision to His people.
Micah 4:4-5
To be under your vine is to be sitting in peace. To be under your fig tree is comfort and provison. It is this passage that led Jews to pray for the coming messiah under their fig tree. God has spoke and all that which would bring fear is pushed away. While all people walk in the name of their god; we will walk in the name of Jesus, forever and ever!!
Micah 4:6-7
In this day, the latter days; this sure hope and time that will arrive will also bring with it the promise of restoration. The Lord would assemble the remnant; His people who were afflicted and outcast. This people that appeared to be scattered and lost, forsaken and forgotten will be restored. This lame, afflicted and outcast nation would stand strong again. This strength will be in numbers but also morally, religiously, spiritually, politically and economically because they will have a perfect King on the throne. The Lord will reign from Zion; from now on and forever.
Micah 4:8
Jerusalem had a glorious past. It had been the crown of glory of the Lord; symbolic of the center of worship where God met His people and spoke to them. It was the single place on earth where one could get a glimpse of the Kingdom God to come. Earlier in Micah, we saw that Jerusalem had fallen into the hands of the poor leadership. It had become a high place and the Kingdom of God was veiled behind injustice and immorality; sin and iniquity.
But in the day to come Jerusalem will again shine as in the former days. It wil be the watchtower of the shepherd where He will look down upon the flock as he cares for and protects them.
Micah 4:9-10
What a picture Micah gave to these folks. It would be a picture these folks could hold onto like a POW treasures the precious picture of home, his wife and kids. It brought a longing for better times and a time would the pain and sorrow and affliction were washed away. Micah asked why they cried aloud; they were entering a time when there would be no king and no capable counselors. These people, as they listened to Micah, may have had no sense of this crying, but their children would; and their children's children would, when the Babylonians destroyed the nation and carried them to captivity. It is then the pangs will sieze them. These pangs mark the beginning of this period of time when the nation went away. They would lose their land, their crown of glory, their temple, homes, fields and flocks. Into the hands of this oppression; to experience this sorrow. From there they would be renewed. The Lord would speak to them. They would remember the words of the prophets and hear new words of promise. And then, the Lord would redeem them from their enemies.
Micah 4:11-13
They were to make no mistake; the words of God were sure, the promise was solid. From the restoration to the latter days, things would appear bleak at times. Nations would rise up, great nations with great power and authority. But they don't know the thoughts of the Lord. They don't understand His wisdom and His authority and they certainly can't comprehend His power. The nations would be gathered and Israel will thresh them on the threshing floor. This is the picture of the judgment of all the nations. The horn of iron is an unbreakable power and hooves of bronze are the implements of threashing that won't wear down. The grain of this threashing; the fruit of this judgment will be consecrated to the Lord across the entire earth.
Micah 5:1
Micah returns his thought to the matter at hand, the warning of the coming judgment. Jerusalem was the daughter of troops indicating and long history of warfare and bloodshed. Gather the troops, the siege was coming. This enemy would struke the king of Israel; this is probably a reference to Zedekiah, the king yet to come who would be crushed by Bablyon. The last thing he would see was the death of his sons (Ezek 12;13). He was then blinded and carried off to Babylon where he would live out his days.
Micah 5:2
Again, Micah speaks of the judgment coming, but turns to the sure hope on the horizon. Out of this time place called Bethlehem (house of bread) in the region of Ephrathah (fruitful) would come the King of Kings. He is from everlasting and will reign to everlasting.
This is the ultimate contrast to the threat they faced. The enemy coming would crush them, but they had the promise of a messiah who would crush all their enemies. Now they knew from which direction He would come.
Micah 5:3-5a
Although captivity was near, this captivity would be birth pangs leader to birth. The remnant would return and the Messiah would be their shepherd, they would be His flock. He would rule from the watchtower of Jerusalem in power and majesty and the name of the Lord. His name is Jesus. Every knee will bow before Him and He will usher in a peace that this land this world has never known.
Micah 5:5b-9
The Assyrian represents the enemies of Israel both present in that day and all enemies to come. The Assyrian was about to come and surround Jerusalem and they would experience a taste of the Lord's deliverance in that day. Likewise, in the day to come, when the Lord reigned over His people, all enemies would be defeated. The remnant of Jacob under the rule of Jesus would be like a lion walking among his prey, he can stomp them down and tear them to pieces.
Micah 5:10-15
Jesus will reign supreme on the throne. He will be their shepherd, they His sheep. In this time, justice won't be at issue. Leadership won't be in question; the priests won't be for hire. Those prophecying will be pointing to Jesus and saying, "Listen up!!"
God promised in Genesis 12:3 to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse them. He will execute vengeance in anger and fury on those who didn't believe this. Every knee will bow to the Lord of Glory; the King of Kings on the throne of grace. To Him be all glory and honor and praise.
Amen
©2017 Doug Ford
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