Micah 3: 5-12
This is what the Lord says:
“As for the prophets who lead my people astray, if one feeds them, they proclaim ‘peace’; if he does not, they prepare to wage war against him. Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination. The sun will set for the prophets, and the day will go dark for them. The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God.”
But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.
Hear this, you leaders of the house of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right; who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness. Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean upon the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.”
Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.
A Thought
Micah, filled with the Spirit of the Lord, rebukes the leaders and the prophets who does not proclaim the transgressions and the sins of the people. Because of this they will be in darkness with no word coming from God. The leaders will take a bribe instead of judging rightly. The priests will teach for a price. The prophets tell fortunes for money. While they will all state that God will not permit a disaster to come to them. Micah later tells them along with the people of Israel, “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8b. This message is still true for all of us today. Let us receive the message of hope found in Jesus the Christ rather than the judgement that came to Jerusalem.
Our Prayer
Father we are currently in the middle of a war against Israel. We humbly bow to you asking for forgiveness of our despicable actions of sin and disobedience to you and your word. Empower our leaders, ministers, teachers and prophets to speak all the truth of your word proclaiming your judgement, love and forgiveness. Awaken us all by the power of your Spirit to be just in the way we treat others, to love them with your mercy and most importantly to walk humbly with you. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
