Micah 2 - Scratching the Itch
by Lance Ponder(94)http://fkiprofessor.xanga.com
Oracle of Oppressors
Micah 2:1-5 is a distinct prophecy directed toward the wealthy who seize property by overtaking the rightful owners established by God. In modern terms one might think of the use of imminent domain by crooked bureaucrats to take control of property from the poor. Another analogy might be a wealthy banker who evicts homeowners who get behind on their mortgage. These practices became so common that wealth was associated with oppression.
Mic 2:1 Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand. Taken out of context one might think this means that wicked people are free to do whatever they want. The reality is that God knows the wicked thoughts of people who think they have the power to do as they will without regard to justice.
Mic 2:2 They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance. God raises the charges against the oppressors. God knows the evil devised in the heart of man. It becomes evident to all because men do what is in their hearts. Temptation takes advantage of desire to draw men into sin. Here God spells out the sin of those who, by their means, took advantage of others. Jesus said it most eloquently when he told us to do unto others as we would have done to us. The specific sin dealt with here involves taking land away from poor families who were rightful owners of land inherited by God’s covenant (Joshua 13-20).
Mic 2:3-4 Therefore thus says the Lord: behold, against this family I am devising disaster, from which you cannot remove your necks, and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be a time of disaster. In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you and moan bitterly, and say, “ We are utterly ruined; he changes the portion of my people; how he removes it from me! To an apostate he allots our fields.” In contrast with the apparent power of the strong oppressors, God has sentenced them to disaster that would utterly wipe them out and put them in their proper place. These oppressors would become the oppressed, carried away to Nineveh in the Assyrian exile. They would suffer taunts and jeers just as they had made fun of those they oppressed. The land they worked to take would end up in the hands of the Assyrians.
Mic 2:5 Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot in the assembly of the Lord. A time would come when the land would return to the control of the Hebrew people, but neither the oppressors nor their descendants would receive back any of what they took. The judgment of God is as eternal as the gifts given by covenant promise.
Oracle of Itching Ears
Micah 2:6-11 forms a prophecy against those who oppose Micah’s previous prophecy against the wealthy oppressors. An element of the clergy were preaching peace and safety to the wealthy. False prophets catered to the rich by telling them wanted to hear. People who flocked to such prophets were guilty of desiring lies, thus they deserved each other.
Mic 2:6 “Do not preach”—thus they preach—“one should not preach of such things; disgrace will not overtake us.” This passage is generally believed to refer to false prophets preaching false hope of peace and safety to the oppressive upper class. The original Hebrew language, however, could be interpreted to mean the rich themselves clapped each other on the back merely telling themselves how safe they were in their sin. Regardless, it speaks volumes about the danger of false hope in bad doctrine. Those who seek the lie are guilty along with the liar. Godly repentance requires being converted from lies to humility and obedience toward God.
Mic 2:7 Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Has the Lord grown impatient? Are these his deeds? Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly? Micah raises here rhetorical questions. Of course the false prophecies referenced in the previous verse have no place among God’s people. The Lord is patient and longsuffering, but He is also just and his judgment is certain. The conclusion of this verse shifts from rhetorical to hopeful. Of course God’s word is hope to all whose hearts are turned to Him. Walking uprightly merely means the fruit of God’s love in the life of his children is expressed in their righteous lifestyle.
Mic 2:8 But lately my people have risen up as an enemy; you strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly with no thought of war [or returning from war]. The Lord is grieved by those of his own children who turn from Him, hardening their hearts as they go about as enemies of righteousness. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing today just as their were in Micah’s day and they are equally sure to receive God’s justice in the due course of time if they do not repent.
Mic 2:9 The women of my people you drive out from their delightful houses; from their young children you take away my splendor forever. The deplorable acts of these oppressors is further exposed by Micah’s prophecy as he reveals the greatest of evils – tearing apart families by oppressing poor women without support and driving their children into the streets.
Mic 2:10 Arise and go, for this is no place to rest, because of uncleanness that destroys with a grievous destruction. Speaking to God’s obedient children, Micah warns them to withdraw from the company of congregations who choose false prophets. Just as rain falls on the just and unjust alike, so the righteous judgment God is bringing on these groups will befall all who remain among them. John received a vision of a similar call for believers to come away from a spiritual figurative Babylon about to be destroyed (Rev 18:4).
Mic 2:11 If a man should go about and utter wind and lies, saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be the preacher for this people! This statement, though sarcastic, expresses perfectly the uselessness of false assurance.
Oracle of Restored Remnant
The conclusion of the second chapter also concludes the first major segment of the book of Micah. Like the closing of the following segments, this series of oracles ends with a promise of hope to the faithful.
Mic 2:12 I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men. Here the Lord promises to bring together a remnant of refugees in one place. In context with the impending Assyrian assault, this is a clear reference to the gathering of people in Jerusalem who survive.
Mic 2:13 He who opens the breach goes up before them; they break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king passes on before them, the Lord at their head. These last two verses of Micah 2 fit tightly together. Micah is declaring God is with and in fact leading the Assyrians right up to the gate of Jerusalem. One lesson to be taken is that God will execute punishment for unrepentant wickedness. Conversely, the righteous remnant will be rescued from wrath. God can and does use unlikely sources to do His will, even manipulating those we think are His enemies. God chastens those He loves. None are worthy of salvation and so we must always remain humbly obedient. Our obedience is not a work to justify, but the expression of love toward our Savior who has done the work of justification on our behalf. His love draws us to Him. So long as we do not harden ourselves against His love, our right repentant response is the work of the Spirit which breathes life, regenerating and changing our lives.
Majoring in the Minors
Micah Chapters:
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
Article submitted Sunday, June 13, 2010 & read 93 times.
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