Micah 1 gave us the devastating prophesy. Now in Chapter 2 we earn the "why?"
6.27.22
The MacArthur Bible Commentary delineates chapters 1 and 2 by describing chapter 1 as their sins against God, specifically; and chapter 2 as their sins against their fellow man.
Verse 1 is a "Woe to" and it could apply to anyone at any time in history.
Woe to those who scheme iniquity, who work out evil on their beds! When morning comes, they do it, for it is in the power of their hands.
Micah 2:1
Sin is rarely committed in reality that hasn't been committed in the mind many times before.
One reason "taking your thoughts captive" is such a common admonition is that the mind is where sin is fostered until it can bear its sin fruit. You lay in bed and think terrible thoughts about the people who you want to hurt and when you wake up, if it is within your power, you're likely to act on all of those thoughts and schemes.
Os much the better to stop yourself and change the subject when you start ruminating against people.
Obviously, those in Micah 2:1 did not take that advice. instead, if it was in their power, they worked out their schemes against others.
Verse 2 tells us what the schemes were. These people were scheming to take other people's farms and houses and inheritances. They were robbing their fellow countrymen- because they had the power to do so. God had, specifically, prohibited the permanent trading of land to prevent just this sort of abuse. But they did not honor these commandments.
Verse 3 is God's response to these people and it will be a calamity. He calls this time of recompense, " and evil time." In verse 4, He goes on to describe how these robbers will feel when foreigners come and rob from them.
Verse 6 seems to be Micah's audience telling him not to speak out. They seem to be comfortable speaking their minds but do not want him to speak what's on his mind. This seems to happen a lot in today's snarky world of social media. It's ok to "shout your abortion", but no one is suppose to respond. People can get "cancelled" for sharing a biblical opinion; but no one is suppose to bat an eye at drag shows for children at the public library. It does make me feel a nit better that this seems to have always been the case. They seem to be trying to shout down Micah by telling him not to speak.
MacArthur and Wiersbe ascribe false prophets to speaking in verse 6.
In verse 7 he attributes his words to the Spirit of the Lord and asks, "Do not my words do good to the one walking uprightly?"
Then, in response, he starts speaking more specifically to this group. And he lists the specifics:
- "Recently, my people have arisen as an enemy--
- You strip the robe off of a fellow Israelite (I think it was against the law to keep a man's robe overnight, if it was being held as collateral.)
- Also taking from unsuspecting passers-by
- from those returning from war
- evicting women
- "From her children you take My splendor forever" (I don't know for sure; but it sounds like God speaks about the damage done to a child when faced with the tragedy of mom being evicted and sent out into the streets. God doesn't like it when the kids are hurt.)
In verse 10 he tells his listeners to arise and go, stating that this place is no longer a place of rest due to the uncleanness that will bring destruction. All of that effort to get to the Promise Land and find rest; and just like that, Micah is warning that it is going away.
As always, our faithful Lord ends the bad news with hope for the future when all of this will be behind us and Jesus will round up the remnant, like a shepherd. He will go before them breaking up all obstacles to get them through the gate.
So their King goes on before them, and the Lord at their head.
Micah 2:13b
Such bad news; but always hope to follow. He is so faithful and good.