Micah 3:5-8

After 2700 years, somethings never change. God has not, and will not change his expectations and standards for humanity. When Micah preached his messages, God expected governments to provide protection and justice to their people. God has not, and as long as earth remains, He will not change that expectation. God decreed that government, as a human institution, should be a force for righteousness.

God’s ordained role for the prophets has also not changed. Preachers are to lead their people into righteous living, to warn against sin (mistakes and missing the mark) and they are to condemn sin (deliberate acts of disobedience and iniquity). Both preachers and authority were failing God and the people of Israel in Micah’s day. The leadership was abusing their authority, and the prophets were neglecting there’s. Micah condemns them both.

After condemning those in authority, Micah also condemned the preachers. The guides God intended to lead the people into righteousness were instead condoning evil, and selling their services to the highest bidder. They should have been warning Israel of the coming danger; after all, they were in danger to. They seem to think their spiritual position would protect them from the coming wrath. What fools, everyone knows that in war the leadership is the first to be targeted. The false prophets were prosperous and well spoken; they said what the people wanted to hear. Therefore, many of the Israelites followed them to destruction. Micah predicted that in the day of destruction the false prophets would experience shame and disgrace. However, just like the corrupt leadership, Micah does not see them turning away from their evil and repenting.

God still wants preachers to speak out against evil and corruption. However, all aspects of righteousness require balance. It does no good to condemn the darkness if at the same time you do not shine a light. The church must take a stand against injustice and corrupt authority. However, we do not find eternal hope in politics. Eternal hope rests in Jesus Christ and righteousness.