Chapter 3
Starts with an accusation against the rulers of Israel, in cannibalistic terms. They are "feeding" on their own people, on the poor and needy. They consider them food to gorge on, as they take advantage of them in whatever way they can. These first three verses show the depth to which Israel has fallen. Those in power see everything around them as a resource to accumulate - even the people they "serve". For them, the purpose of life is to accumulate - riches, power, and so on, and this is done by any means required to accomplish it. There is no moral check and balance on behavior. It reminds me of what Jordan Peterson said about Foucault (?). What was his philosophy called? Micah is speaking of an elite, oppressive, self-enriching government that increases itself at the cost of its people. Sound familiar at all??? I am putting in all of the first three verses, because the wording here is so descriptive of how bad Israel had gotten. It sort of gives me hope, because I do not see ALL of American government to be this far gone. Some most certainly is, but I don't think all. I hope I am not just being naive! Here are the verses:
1 And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?-- 2 you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones, 3 who eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones in pieces and chop them up like meat in a pot, like flesh in a cauldron. [Mic 3:1-3 ESV]
They see people as mere resource. Amos said they trade people for a pair of sandals. Human life means nothing to them.
Then the prophets - false prophets, who also prophesy for their own enrichment - are indicted. Look at this verse:
5 Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry "Peace" when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths. [Mic 3:5 ESV]
These prophets are so corrupt that they condemn publicly anyone who questions them, who fails to support them, and they "bless" those who support them financially. In our day that plays out as labeling as racist those who do not support them, and blessing even murdering felons to advance their cause. These are what pass for prophets today. They call evil good and good evil. Those who do such things are giving us a flashing red neon sign that they are false prophets, all about money, and not at all about justice. The verse above identifies them, and these next verses tell us their fate, leaving no doubt that God is against such shallow tactics:
6 ...The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; 7 the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God. [Mic 3:6b, 7 ESV
This really needs to go on FB!
This is very direct, a good summary. Leaders, priests, and prophets, all in it for the money, yet they all say "God is with us, disaster cannot come". Such compelling verses:
11 Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the LORD and say, "Is not the LORD in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us." 12 Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height. [Mic 3:11-12 ESV] So Judah is now included in the prophecy.
Good for FB also. Maybe several from Micah on successive days.