Micah's Indictment of Judah (Micah 3:1-8).
Micah inveighs first against the leadership of Judah, and then against the prophets who make people err for the sake of money, and the priests who teach for hire. We can compare Isaiah's similar indictment in e.g. Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 3:1-4.
‘And I said, “Hear, I pray you, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: is it not for you to know justice?” '
‘And I said.' A loose opening phrase simply declaring ‘and this is another thing that I prophesied, although at another time'.
He calls on them to remember who they are. Are they not the heads of Jacob and the rulers of Israel, the very people of God? Should they not then be models of justice? Is that not why they have been put in their positions by God?
Largely in mind here are those who have been put in authority to maintain the justice and wellbeing of God's people. Such a system of justice had originally been set up by Moses (Exodus 18:25-26) and applied to the situation in the land by Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 19:4-7). And there would be numerous local leaders who would be responsible for local justice, family heads who would act as the magistrates of the day.
“You who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;”
But instead of being a friend of justice they loved the evil and hated the good. (Compare Isaiah 5:19-20; Amos 5:14-15). They took advantage of the system for their own benefit. It is as though because of their greedy ways they skinned people alive, and took the flesh from their bones. For they seek to strip them of everything. In modern parlance they bled them dry.
This is always the way in an affluent society. People become more and more greedy for possessions and for status and for ‘fun'. Instead of being full of gratitude to God, they indulge in sin and pleasure, and reject godliness. It is indeed strange how prosperity leads to sin. It is because men are no longer then driven to God in their need, and want rather to enjoy to the full what they have got. And of course because they are driven by the desires of the flesh.
“Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the cauldron.”
This is certainly not intended to be taken literally, although at times it may have occurred during sieges. It is continuing the hyperbole of the previous verse. To ‘eat the flesh' and similar phrases regularly mean to harm or kill (Psalms 27:2 compare Psalms 14:4; Psalms 53:4). No doubt regular savage beatings did take place, but the picture here goes a little beyond that.. The remainder would have been the actions of cannibals, which they would certainly not actually have been. It is all rather a vivid description of viciousness and of a total lack of concern for people, and an instance of great wickedness. It is a revelation of man's inhumanity to man.
‘Then will they cry to YHWH, but he will not answer them; yes, he will hide his face from them at that time, according as they have wrought evil in their doings.'
And then having behaved in this way they turn to YHWH and expect Him to hear their prayer. Well, here is His answer. they will cry to Him but He will not answer them, He will instead at that time of need hide His face from them, in accordance with their evil behaviour, because in their actions they have wrought evil. He will treat them as they have treated others.
‘Thus says YHWH concerning the prophets who make my people to err; who bite with their teeth, and cry, “Peace”, and whoever does not put (food) into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. Therefore it will be night to you, that you shall have no vision; and it will be dark to you, that you shall not divine; and the sun will go down on the prophets, and the day will be black over them.'
YHWH then turns to the cultic prophets who are leading the people astray with their teaching and their prophecies. If they are properly provided for they prophesy ‘peace' for their benefactors, but if anyone does not provision them then they become belligerent and act as though they were at war with them.
But because of this instead of prophetic vision they will have night time. Instead of being able to discern the future they will be in darkness. There will be no more sunny days for them. Instead all their days will be black ones. Illumination will be no more.
These cult prophets, who when they were godly men could be of such help to the people, had unfortunately often run counter to the true prophets. On the good side were those who had supported Samuel (1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Samuel 10:10-11 and Elisha (2Ki 2:2; 2 Kings 5:7; 2Ki 5:15; 2 Kings 4:38-41; see also 1 Kings 18:4), but on the other side were those who constantly prophesied peace and wellbeing regardless of behaviour (2 Kings 22:6-13; Jeremiah 28:1-17; Ezekiel 13:1-23). They were not necessarily dishonest, simply over optimistic and unaware of the truth about YHWH, and in some cases mercenary. They prophesied ‘peace, peace, where there was no peace. They believed God's promises about the Davidic house, and that He would watch over His people. What they failed to see was that sin changed the whole situation. And the further problem was that they had learned to recognise the kind of prophecies that would bring them financial benefit.
One of the differences between Micah and these peace prophets was Micah's personal concern for the people. He constantly speaks of them as ‘my people' either on his own behalf or on God's (Micah 1:9; Micah 2:4; Micah 2:8-9; Micah 3:3; Micah 3:5; Micah 6:3; Micah 6:5; Micah 6:16), and he was concerned to speak by the Spirit of YHWH. These other prophets were more interested in their stomachs. They were also influenced by political pressure (2 Kings 22:13); immorality (Isaiah 28:7), and greed (Ezekiel 13:19), or were simply in a state of confusion because events had overtaken them and they did not know what to say (Jeremiah 14:14).
‘And the seers will be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; yes, they will all cover their lips; for there is no answer from God.'
When people come to the seers and the diviners they will have nothing to say. They will rather have to cover their lips, because there will be no answer for them from God. The words envisage circumstances taking place (such as invasion) where people are desperately looking for answers which wee not simply platitudes. It is at that time that they will learn the true value of these prophets.
‘But as for me, I am full of power by the Spirit of YHWH, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.'
In contrast Micah will have answers for them. For he is not in darkness. He is full of power by the Spirit of YHWH, he is full of right judgment and of might, which is why he can declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.
Micah has no doubt that YHWH is with him. He knows that YHWH's Spirit is empowering him. And he knows that the teaching that he brings is from YHWH. It is true spiritual judgment. Furthermore he knows that he brings it in the power of YHWH. And unlike the other prophets he does not utter platitudes and what people want to hear, he speaks of transgression and sin, precisely what they do not want to hear, and he does it because that is the burden of the Spirit Who is within him..