Micah 2: 6-11…..A resumé.

6. “Do not preach”—thus they preach—
“one should not preach of such things;
disgrace will not overtake us.”
7. Should this be said, O house of Jacob?
Has the LORD grown impatient?
Are these his deeds?
Do not my words do good
to him who walks uprightly?
8. But lately my people have risen up as an enemy;
you strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly
with no thought of war.
9. The women of my people you drive out
from their delightful houses;
from their young children you take away
my splendour forever.
10. Arise and go,
for this is no place to rest,
because of uncleanness that destroys
with a grievous destruction.
11. If a man should go about and utter wind and lies,
saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”
he would be the preacher for this people!

Comment: I do not usually put in the ‘verse’ numbers, which you probably know were not in the original but have been to try and help people find places and understand the meanings. Sometimes, I think that they help, sometimes they don’t.

I’m not sure what the word translated ‘preach’ here was in the original language but as some other translations use ‘prophesy’ which I think is more likely the meaning of the word. And in addition I think this is a record of the response of the listeners to Micah’s prophecy and his reply, both on his own and God’s behalf.

• v6 & 7. They are saying stop your prophesying, we don’t like it, God is not going to let trouble fall on us. You should be saying that God is not an impatient God. Is He likely to send a message like you are speaking. Tell us that God blesses the ‘good’. They infer that they think that they are good.
• v8-10. Micah replies i) I’m a Jew – inferred – and lately you, my people, have risen up as God’s enemies. ii) Then, speaking as the voice of God, he accuses them of robbing, mistreatment of women and children. He then warns them that extremely unsettling judgement is coming!
• v11. Micah claims that they want prophecy justifying debauchery and self-centredness. It would be full of ‘hot air’ and lies, but it would make them happy!

Prayer: Please give us leaders and preachers who speak Your true message, O God.