Why Judah Is In Trouble (Part II)
(Micah 3:1-12)

I. The Perversion of Justice (v. 1–4)
A. The leaders and rulers treatment of Israel & Judah were harsh and unjust. (v.1-3)
a. The political and civic leaders were robbing and stealing people’s resources and lands.
b. The leaders disregarded biblical qualifications for leadership in Israel. (Ex. 18:17–23)
B. God will not respond positively to the prayers of the wicked and may not respond to the wayward Christian. [Is. 59:1-2] (v. 4)
a. Reasons Why God May Not Respond to a Christian’s Prayer:
1. Living in unconfessed sin. (Prov. 28:9)
2. Demonstrating unloving attitudes and actions. (1 Pet 3:7)
3. Lack of faith and sinful motives (Heb 11:6; James 1:6-7, 4:2-3)

II. The Prophesying for Pay (v. 5–8)
A. The prophets used their positions to gain money from the people and told them false information (v.5).
a. The motives of false teachers and prophets:
1. Personal Gain (1 Tim 6:3-5)
2. Intentional deception to draw a crowd for themselves (Mt 7:15-17, Acts 20:28-30)
3. They tell people what they want to hear (2 Tim 4:3-4)
B. In judgment, God will put an end to the false prophets (v.6-7).
a. The Prophetic Gift of Revelation
1. For True Prophets, God would reveal to the prophet what to say, which would be conveyed to the people. This data had to come to pass with 100% accuracy.
2. False prophets would reveal to people information they thought people would want to hear. They would use what is referred to as inductive divination.
C. Micah is the true prophet that speaks for God (v.8)

III. The Promise of Judgment (v. 9–12)
A. Micah pronounces Judgment on the people and on Jerusalem.
a. Micah’s Charge: The Whole System of P’s Are Rotten to the Core
1. Politicians – Israel and Judah’s leaders are all crooked and only look out for themselves.
2. Priests – Are greedy and only teach your best life now, but only if you pay them.
3. Prophets – Are giving false prophecies for pay and leading God’s people to ruin by not warning them of their sins.
b. God had always warned Israel of rebellion. (cf., 1 Kings 9:6-9)


Points to Ponder:
A. If you are a Christian then you are a leader. Are there areas of your leadership that are not under the full purview of Biblical ethics? Are you like these fallen leaders or like Micah? Where do you fall short but more importantly, will you do something about it?

B. We see the same things in our own day that Micah saw in His day and many are asking, “Where is God?” We need to remember to be patient. God is bringing everything to its place and to its conclusion in His own time.

Walt Kaiser, “Micah 3 Commentary,” Online. Accessed 08/26/22. https://www.preceptaustin.org/micah_3_commentary
Gary V. Smith, Hosea, Amos, Micah, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2001), 490–91.
John A. Martin, “Micah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1985), 1482.
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology – Divination
John Calvin, “Micah 3 Commentary,” Online. Accessed 08/27/22. https://www.preceptaustin.org/micah_3_commentary