Woe to the Oppressors. Micah 2:1-13
INTRODUCTION TO MICAH
Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah, but their activities lay apart. Micah lived in the country and was concerned with both Israel and Judah, while Isaiah’s career is closely associated with the fortunes of Jerusalem.
The book of Micah shows a clear understanding of the events of the time. He foresaw the invasions of Shalmaneser and Sennacherib, the dispersion of Israel, and the destruction of Jerusalem. Alone among the prophets he foretells the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, Mic_5:2. “His special office, as a herald of coming judgment, causes a predominant severity of tone; but all harshness is softened into exquisite beauty at the close.
Judgment Sent Forth unto Victory
I. JUDGMENT, Micah 1-3
2. For Oppression, Mic_2:1-13
WOE TO THE OPPRESSORS
Woe (judgment is coming) to those who devise wickedness And plot evil on their beds! When morning comes, they practice evil Because it is in the power of their hands.
They covet fields and seize them, And houses, and take them away. They oppress and rob a man and his house, A man and his inheritance. [Isa_5:8; Exo_20:17; Lev 25:23ff.]
Therefore, thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am planning against this family a disaster (exile) [Like a noose] from which you cannot remove your necks; Nor will you be able to walk haughtily and erect, For it will be an evil time [of subjugation to the invaders].
“On that day they shall take up a [taunting, deriding] parable against you And wail with a doleful and bitter song of mourning and say, ‘We are completely destroyed! God exchanges the inheritance of my people; How He removes it from me! He divides our fields to the rebellious [our captors].’
“Therefore, you will have no one stretching a measuring line [dividing the common land] For you by lot in the assembly of the LORD. [Rev_21:27]
‘Do not speak out,’ so they speak out. But if they do not speak out concerning these things, Reproaches will not be turned back.
“Is it being said, O house of Jacob: ‘Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient? Or are these [prophesied judgments] His doings?’ Do not My words do good To the one walking uprightly?
“But lately My people have stood up as an enemy [and have made Me their antagonist]. You strip the ornaments off the garment Of those unsuspecting passers-by, Like those returned from war.
“You evict the women (widows) of My people, Each one from her pleasant house; From her [young, fatherless] children you take away My splendor and blessing forever [by putting them among the pagans, away from Me].
“Arise and depart [because the captivity is inevitable], For this [land] is not the place of rest Because of the defilement that brings destruction, A painful and terrible destruction.
“If a man walking in a false spirit [spouting deception] Should lie and say, ‘I will prophesy to you [O Israel] of wine and liquor (greed, sensual pleasure),’ He would be the acceptable spokesman of this people. [Jer_5:31]
“I shall most certainly assemble all of you, O Jacob; I shall surely gather the remnant of Israel. I shall bring them together like sheep in the fold [multiplying the nation]; Like a flock in the midst of its pasture. The place will swarm with many people and hum loudly with noise.
“The breaker [the Messiah, who opens the way] shall go up before them [liberating them]. They will break out, pass through the gate and go out; So their King goes on before them, The LORD at their head.” [Exo_23:20-21; Exo_33:14; Isa_63:8-9; Hos_3:5; Amo_9:11]
THE HARVEST OF GREED AND INJUSTICE
Mic_1:1-16 dealt with sins against the first table of the law; this deals with those against the second. Evil must sooner or later befall those who devise evil against their neighbors, covet their goods, and oppress their persons. So absolute would be the destruction, that estates would no longer descend from father to son, or be measured by lot, Mic_2:5; and the people would become hard and callous to the prophet’s voice, Mic_2:6. Yet through it all God’s Spirit would yearn over His people, Mic_2:7-13; His words would still comfort humble souls. But the cruelty of men who despoiled their poor neighbors, not only of their ornaments but of the tunic next their skin, would bring disaster upon the entire nation. The guilty people must prepare to arise and depart, for Canaan could no longer be their home.
But even from captivity God would restore His people, breaking the way through walls of difficulty. Our Breaker is the Lord Jesus who broke the way for us from the prison-house of death. Let us follow Him as He passes on His way to victory.
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