THE RELEVANCE OF THE PROPHET MICAH TODAY
The prophets of the Old Testament were not fortune tellers or predictors of future events. Rather, they were the social conscience of the people; a sort-of Jiminy Cricket of the Disney genre if you will. They pointed out the error of the people's ways, the error of the leaders, and what would be the natural consequences of those errors if the people or leaders continued down the same path.
In order to know how God's word applies to us today, we must first learn what the author was saying to his generation, what was the sitz im leben or the setting in life, the meaning of the vocabulary and idioms, the literary style and so forth. Since God's word is eternal, it has application eternally in every era and with every generation. But first, we must ascertain the meaning as it was written in order to apply it to us today.
Let's see what Micah was saying and how that might apply to us. Scholars tell us that only the first three chapters of the book were written by Micah of Moresheth in the eighth century before Christ. What was his message? First of all, disaster was coming! God was going to strike a blow right into the heart of His people--into Judah and into Jerusalem itself. "For there is no cure for the wounds that YHWH inflicts: the blow falls on Judah, it falls on the gateway of my people, on Jerusalem itself" (1:9).
How shocked his contemporaries were by this message can be gauged by the fact that it was remembered verbatim by the elders of Jerusalem a century later (Jer 26:18-19). This message of Jerusalem's destruction contradicted the prevailing Jerusalem theology of the time (kind of like thinking no harm will come to America). Micah was saying that Davidic kingship and sacred temple worship are no guarantee against an impending Assyrian invasion. When Jeremiah said the same thing, he almost lost his life as a result (see Jer 7 & 26).
Why? Why was this terrible thing going to happen? Like Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah before him, Micah believed that this massive invasion is Gods' response to certain flagrant crimes and sins in Judah. Hence, Micah addresses three distinct groups: the military, the city elders, and the prophets.
The military or the ruling force of government were coveting fields and seizing them. These properties were the inheritance of the families living there for generations. To sell these properties would render the owners homeless and vulnerable to losing their status as free citizens (Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Countrywide Mortgage, Citi Bank, etc). Without property a man had no alternative but to hire himself out, or become a slave. Thus, a class conflict existed. See the famous story of Naboth's vineyard in 1Kings21. The elite military was seizing the fields that they coveted and taking over houses and owners as well (2:1-2). Actions of this type were explicitly prohibited in Israelite law. Hence, their actions were criminal and their punishment would be in kind: what they seized from others would be stripped from them (2:4).
Not only was this military elite powerful, but also they were very religious! They ordered Micah to stop acting like a madman and to stop offending their theology and piety (2:7)! (Sounds like our elite and church leaders today, doesn't it?) So, it was not apostates, then, to whom Micah was addressing his sharp words, but loyal Israelites who were confident that God was "kind" to them and would not disgrace them.
Micah further said to them that they violate and rob innocent people of their clothing; evict women from the ancestral homes, depriving their children of their birthright and honor due them as free citizens; and impose ruthless fines or collateral for small misdemeanors or debts.
Then Micah addressed the uncaring elders in Chapter 3. He is speaking to leaders of the House of Israel, their courts if you will. The duty of the elders was to meet regularly to see that "justice" (mishpat) was done in their communities. Instead the people were subjected to forced labor. The motive behind this blatant disregard for the welfare of the people--money and more money. Instead of justice, the elders were building their cities and fortunes with "blood" and "iniquity." But the elders rejected Micah's warning being confident that God was among them and therefore no disaster was going to overtake them (3: 10-11)!
Then Micah, in a very satirical way, addresses the compromised prophets of his time. Just like everyone else, they were motivated by money. This is the reason they were insensitive to the evils all around and thus, they led the people astray (3:5). Micah tells them that their capacity to hear from God will grow weaker and weaker. Prophets can be a genuine source of guidance, but only if God truly inspires them, not when they are forsaken by Him due to their corruption.
The courage and energy with which Micah stood up and accused the leadership groups of his time for their crimes testifies to his love for his people. It is doubtful that someone would endanger himself in this manner for a people he thought were hopeless. Apparently Micah saw a longer range future for his people even though it was not his task to speak it.
Is there ongoing relevance from Micah today? We might ask: does our government use our military justly? Do our leaders seize property from others less fortunate because of greed? Do we mistakenly presume that we are so good and righteous that God will not bother us? When God's grace alone is stressed, it can become an opiate, leaving us feeling safe yet on the brink of disaster. Would that within the governing bodies of every town, city, state, and nation of our world there were at least one elder like Micah, responsible yet bold, wise yet courageous, energized by God to stay awake and help us see what the consequences of OUR most blatant sins and hypocrisies are.
In order to know how God's word applies to us today, we must first learn what the author was saying to his generation, what was the sitz im leben or the setting in life, the meaning of the vocabulary and idioms, the literary style and so forth. Since God's word is eternal, it has application eternally in every era and with every generation. But first, we must ascertain the meaning as it was written in order to apply it to us today.
Let's see what Micah was saying and how that might apply to us. Scholars tell us that only the first three chapters of the book were written by Micah of Moresheth in the eighth century before Christ. What was his message? First of all, disaster was coming! God was going to strike a blow right into the heart of His people--into Judah and into Jerusalem itself. "For there is no cure for the wounds that YHWH inflicts: the blow falls on Judah, it falls on the gateway of my people, on Jerusalem itself" (1:9).
How shocked his contemporaries were by this message can be gauged by the fact that it was remembered verbatim by the elders of Jerusalem a century later (Jer 26:18-19). This message of Jerusalem's destruction contradicted the prevailing Jerusalem theology of the time (kind of like thinking no harm will come to America). Micah was saying that Davidic kingship and sacred temple worship are no guarantee against an impending Assyrian invasion. When Jeremiah said the same thing, he almost lost his life as a result (see Jer 7 & 26).
Why? Why was this terrible thing going to happen? Like Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah before him, Micah believed that this massive invasion is Gods' response to certain flagrant crimes and sins in Judah. Hence, Micah addresses three distinct groups: the military, the city elders, and the prophets.
The military or the ruling force of government were coveting fields and seizing them. These properties were the inheritance of the families living there for generations. To sell these properties would render the owners homeless and vulnerable to losing their status as free citizens (Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Countrywide Mortgage, Citi Bank, etc). Without property a man had no alternative but to hire himself out, or become a slave. Thus, a class conflict existed. See the famous story of Naboth's vineyard in 1Kings21. The elite military was seizing the fields that they coveted and taking over houses and owners as well (2:1-2). Actions of this type were explicitly prohibited in Israelite law. Hence, their actions were criminal and their punishment would be in kind: what they seized from others would be stripped from them (2:4).
Not only was this military elite powerful, but also they were very religious! They ordered Micah to stop acting like a madman and to stop offending their theology and piety (2:7)! (Sounds like our elite and church leaders today, doesn't it?) So, it was not apostates, then, to whom Micah was addressing his sharp words, but loyal Israelites who were confident that God was "kind" to them and would not disgrace them.
Micah further said to them that they violate and rob innocent people of their clothing; evict women from the ancestral homes, depriving their children of their birthright and honor due them as free citizens; and impose ruthless fines or collateral for small misdemeanors or debts.
Then Micah addressed the uncaring elders in Chapter 3. He is speaking to leaders of the House of Israel, their courts if you will. The duty of the elders was to meet regularly to see that "justice" (mishpat) was done in their communities. Instead the people were subjected to forced labor. The motive behind this blatant disregard for the welfare of the people--money and more money. Instead of justice, the elders were building their cities and fortunes with "blood" and "iniquity." But the elders rejected Micah's warning being confident that God was among them and therefore no disaster was going to overtake them (3: 10-11)!
Then Micah, in a very satirical way, addresses the compromised prophets of his time. Just like everyone else, they were motivated by money. This is the reason they were insensitive to the evils all around and thus, they led the people astray (3:5). Micah tells them that their capacity to hear from God will grow weaker and weaker. Prophets can be a genuine source of guidance, but only if God truly inspires them, not when they are forsaken by Him due to their corruption.
The courage and energy with which Micah stood up and accused the leadership groups of his time for their crimes testifies to his love for his people. It is doubtful that someone would endanger himself in this manner for a people he thought were hopeless. Apparently Micah saw a longer range future for his people even though it was not his task to speak it.
Is there ongoing relevance from Micah today? We might ask: does our government use our military justly? Do our leaders seize property from others less fortunate because of greed? Do we mistakenly presume that we are so good and righteous that God will not bother us? When God's grace alone is stressed, it can become an opiate, leaving us feeling safe yet on the brink of disaster. Would that within the governing bodies of every town, city, state, and nation of our world there were at least one elder like Micah, responsible yet bold, wise yet courageous, energized by God to stay awake and help us see what the consequences of OUR most blatant sins and hypocrisies are.
Posted by Adrienne Gottlieb at 4/3/2011 10:59 AM 
Categories: Corruption, Justice:The Relevance of the Prophet Micah Today, Bible, Scripture, Meaning for Christian, Israel, Society, Morality, Prophecy
Tags: prophecy Old Testament Bible Micah greed money corruption leaders government elders elite religious
Categories: Corruption, Justice:The Relevance of the Prophet Micah Today, Bible, Scripture, Meaning for Christian, Israel, Society, Morality, Prophecy
Tags: prophecy Old Testament Bible Micah greed money corruption leaders government elders elite religious
Once again you've hit the nail on the head my friend!
We desperately need a true prophetic voice today in our world and in our nation. We've crossed every boundary with the G-d of Jacob and expect a prophet's reward. It will never happen.
Until we as human beings search our own hearts and rend them before the LORD we'll stay trapped in this evil cycle.
So many profess their faith but take no or very little time to study the Scriptures in their original texts so we can gain a understanding of what thew news media is reporting. The answers are right in the sacred words contained within the pages of the Best selling Book of All time!
I remain grieved at the state of the "church" especially in the west. The arrogance of Replacement Theology abounds. Honestly the deception and doctines of man aka "religions" too aren't questioned! Sheep go astray wounded and lost in a cruel world.
Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; for those who feed their teeth, they proclaim, “Peace!” and whoever doesn’t provide for their mouths, they prepare war against him Micah 3:5
If there is no "Micah" ... a voice to help us sort things out, then we've missed the opportunity of a lifetime! I pray this will not be the case!
Shalom and I thank you my friend!
It's Time!
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Your exposition of the text is brilliant! Thank you for sharing your isights into the Scriptures!
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There is definitely relevance in what Micah spoke to our current situation in America.
There are Christian leaders in America that teach sugar coated lies and half truths just to keep everyone happy and their pews filled. Just to make every feel comfortable, not speaking against sin. But then there is the remnant those who truly are in sync with God and His Word.We need more Spirit-led men and women that will speak the truth, regardless of persecution. We need men and women that will be brave and stand against the sin and corruption that so many have become desensitized to.
Also, as Christians, we need to stop relying solely on our pastors to teach us the Word and study it ourselves separate so that we don't fall prey false doctrines.
Everyday I look at America and I say, it's only by God's grace that America still stands, but how long can she stand if she continues to turn her back on God.
Another well written and insightful article!
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