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More Micah commentaries
Micah 1:1-16
The Pronouncement of Destruction
Micah 2:1-13
The Punishment for Abuse of Power
Micah 3:1-12
Evil Rulers and Lying Prophets
Micah 4:1-8
The Tribulation and the Millennium
Micah 4:9-13
Events Preceding the Kingdom
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The Punishment for Abuse of Power
Micah 2:1–13
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
One Sunday in church, members were praising the Lord for what he had done in their lives that week. Mr. Segault had said that the roof of his house had caught on fire, but fortunately, a neighbor had seen it, and the possible disaster was averted with only minor damage. A minute … More
Micah opens this chapter by stating that many of the people lay awake at night thinking up evil things to do the next day. On these people he pronounced woe, a term used by several prophets to announce guilt and coming judgment (v. 1). In their life style of materialism, the people coveted the fields and houses of others and took them simply because they wanted them (vv. 2-5). Micah was probably speaking against the people who had the power to do such things. Their sin besides materialistic greed and theft, was complete disregard for the rights of their fellow-men.
As a result God was planning disaster against the people. They would be unable to save themselves from God’s judgment because the calamity, when started, would not be stopped. Being unable to save themselves (v. 3) the people would be put down by those around them.
In much of her history, Israel had both true and false prophets. The true prophets spoke for God to the people urging them to return to the moral and ethical values of the Law. In contrast the false prophets spoke only what the people wanted to hear. The people of Micah’s day did not like his message, so they sought these false prophets (vv. 6-11). People often seek a preacher who will console them, rather than convict them of sin (II Tim. 4:3-4). In effect, the prophets were opening the way for the captivity by not warning the people to turn back to the Lord. Two truths are stated (vv. 12-13) which are expanded in chapters 4-5. The first is that the Lord will regather and renew His people as their Shepherd (v. 12) and the second is that the Lord will lead His people as their King (v. 13).Application
Lord, help me to not be taken up with desires for the things of this world. Help me to evaluate everything that I do in light of what will bring honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Micah 2:1-13 (English Standard Version)
Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance. Therefore thus says the LORD: behold, against this family I am devising disaster, from which you cannot remove your necks, and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be a time of disaster. In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you and moan bitterly, and say, "We are utterly ruined; he changes the portion of my people; how he removes it from me! To an apostate he allots our fields." Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot in the assembly of the LORD. "Do not preach"--thus they preach-- "one should not preach of such things; disgrace will not overtake us." Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Has the LORD grown impatient? Are these his deeds? Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly? But lately my people have risen up as an enemy; you strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly with no thought of war. The women of my people you drive out from their delightful houses; from their young children you take away my splendor forever. Arise and go, for this is no place to rest, because of uncleanness that destroys with a grievous destruction. If a man should go about and utter wind and lies, saying, "I will preach to you of wine and strong drink," he would be the preacher for this people! I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men. He who opens the breach goes up before them; they break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king passes on before them, the LORD at their head.
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