For Food Or For The Lord?

Micah 3:5-8

Jay Horsley

Micah had to unfortunate task of working in a day when the whole of society was corrupt. The rulers of the day “hated good and loved evil,” (vs. 1) and treated the people so harshly and robbed them so successfully that Micah graphically describes their actions as cannibalizing the people (vss. 2,3).

In such perilous times we would expect the religious leaders to decry such outrages. And if these leaders where guided by even a modicum of godly principles and righteousness they would have – but in many cases they are not led by principle at all. Are there religious leaders who are not led by religious principles? Yes, this is exactly what Micah describes. These prophets worked for profit instead.

“Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets Who lead my people astray; When they have something to bite with their teeth, They cry, "Peace," But against him who puts nothing in their mouths, They declare holy war.” (vs. 5)

Micah gives a threefold indictment:

1.) They led the people astray. They were not concerned with the spiritual welfare of the people, it was more important for them to get paid than to get the listeners to heaven.

2.) They said “peace” to the people even while they destroy them. They say that all is well while teaching things that lead to destruction. And they ignored the warnings of God concerning the consequences of such actions, instead telling the people that all would be well.

3.) They fought against all who wouldn't pay them. They won't condemn the real evil surrounding them, but heaven help those that oppose them. They didn't speak out against the evils of their day because they, and their patrons, participated in them. But for those that wouldn't go along, they condemned them with all the venom that their imaginations and eloquence could sustain. They're like dogs loyal to their masters - and money's their master.

This helped to promote a society that was corrupt in all arenas. Leaders in all areas of life were going for profits, being led by own their selfish interest. And the religious leaders were corrupt as the world.

“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, "Is not the LORD in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us.” (vs. 11)

The political leaders took bribes to give favors or favorable judgments. The religious leaders took bribes to change their teachings. Both groups used the power of their offices to give cover to evil. And both will used the power of their office to castigate those who opposed them. The politically powerful used their offices and underlings to do evil. The religious leaders used their pulpits. Their message was totally malleable. They said what was needed to support the position of their party and of their supporters.

Severe judgments were going to come on these “holy” men for these sins.

“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. The seers will be ashamed And the diviners will be embarrassed. Indeed, they will all cover their mouths Because there is no answer from God.” (vss. 6,7) They will lose the protection and favor of God for turning to these worldly things. Their worldly minds will completely lose sight of all spiritual reality. And God will work against them to frustrate their plans.

Contrast this picture of willful, sinful, self serving teachers and their teachings to the clear, forceful work and message of Micah. “On the other hand I am filled with power--With the Spirit of the LORD--And with justice and courage To make known to Jacob his rebellious act, Even to Israel his sin.” (vs. 8)

Micah spoke the message of divine truth with a strong recognition of the responsibilities he had in speaking in the name of the Lord. He had unflinching courage to speak the truth to all the people, great and small, and expose their sins. In this regard there was much to do. He chastised the priests and the prophets for their mercenary conduct. He condemned he leaders for their oppression and theft. And he predicted the overthrow and destruction of the entire nation (vs. 12).

He set a course that seemed to almost deliberately provoke his contemporaries. But the people had embarked on a course that was a provocation to God. Micah told them God's view of their conduct. This did not make him as popular as the teachers who would mold their teachings to the paying audience, but it was what was needed and put him in good stead with the Lord. Consider the same experiences of Moses, Samuel, Elijah, John the Baptist and all the other prophets of both testaments. Every prophet thundered against wrong – contemporaneous and local wrong, not the sins of other peoples, other places or other times. This was a great burden, a painful and urgent work, but Micah was a willing servant. He showed the people the true way of God. He was a workman that did not need to be ashamed.

Micah's great example is ever relevant. For even today, the power of the pulpit is often sold for a salary or for public or peer recognition. The people are led astray with teachings that compromise with the world. Messages full of platitudes, not scriptural points, gently rock the people to sleep while they remain in their sins. A message of peace is preached to those who sin if they are powerful or influential or are paying customers. Holy war is declared on those who dare to disagree, who do not go along with them or pay them. And this is not only payment in cash, but payment in ego stroking, recognition and appeasement of their pride. So those who preach the Lord's clarion message of righteousness and repentance can expect the well fed and well paid to object. But it was Micah who had the Holy Spirit on his side. May we ever take that side.