Judgment on Greedy Oppressors
Study note
Micah targets the wealthy landowners who used their power to seize the property of weaker people. In ancient Israel, land was a family's inheritance from God and was never meant to be permanently taken away. God announces that he will bring a disaster on these greedy people that they cannot escape.
1 Disaster is coming for those who lie awake at night dreaming up wicked schemes! The moment the sun rises, they carry out their evil plans because they have the power to do it. Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
2 They see a field they want and take it. They see a house they like and grab it. They swindle a man out of his home and steal his family's land right from under him. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
3 So the LORD says: "I am cooking up a disaster aimed directly at this group of people. You will not be able to wriggle your way out of it. Your days of strutting around proudly are over, because a terrible time is coming." Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.
4 When that day arrives, people will write bitter songs mocking you. They will sing, "We are completely ruined! The LORD has taken our land and given it to strangers. It is gone forever!" In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.
5 Because of this, when the LORD's people divide up the land, no one will set aside a portion for you. Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.
False Prophets and True Warnings
Study note
The people try to silence Micah, telling him to stop prophesying bad news. God responds by pointing out how the people have become enemies of the innocent. They steal clothing from peaceful travelers and drive women from their homes. The people would rather listen to a false prophet who promises plenty of wine.
6 "Quit preaching at us!" the people demand. "Stop prophesying about these terrible things. Nothing that bad will happen to us." Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.
7 But should anyone say to the house of Jacob, "Is the LORD's Spirit truly that impatient? Would he do something like this?" My answer is: My words bring good things to people who live right! O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?
8 But lately my own people have turned into my enemy. You rip expensive cloaks right off the backs of people walking by peacefully, people who want nothing to do with fighting. Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.
9 You have kicked the women of my people out of their comfortable homes. You have stolen the blessings I gave their children — permanently. The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.
10 Get up and get out! This is no longer a safe place to stay. It has been made filthy by sin, and the destruction coming will be devastating. Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.
11 If some fast-talking liar arrived and said, "I will preach to you about wine and parties!" — that is exactly the preacher these people would love. If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
A Promise to Gather the Remnant
Study note
After the harsh words of judgment, Micah ends the chapter with a message of hope. God promises to one day gather the surviving people of Israel together, like a shepherd collecting a large flock. The LORD himself will lead them forward and break open the way.
12 "But I will definitely gather all of you together, Jacob — every last one. I will bring the survivors of Israel together like sheep packed into a pen, like a flock gathered in their pasture. The noise of so many people will be incredible." I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
13 "The one who breaks the way open will march ahead of them. They will burst through the gate and pour out. Their king will lead the charge, with the LORD himself at the very front." The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.