Faith Formation: Micah - Justice, Kindness, humility

Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry, 'Peace' when they have something to eat but declare war against those who put nothing into their mouths. Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without revelation. The sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God. But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. Micah 3:5-8

The book of 1Samuel began with a story like this. The sons of Eli the priest who oversaw the sacrifices at Shiloh "were scoundrels; ... for they treated the offerings of the LORD with contempt." 1 Samuel 1:11-17 When people brought animal sacrifices the sons of Eli took the best portions for themselves, even before the most valuable part offered to God, the fat, was burned off. They also asked for raw meat from the sacrifices to roast. If anyone refused they took it by force. If one wanted assurance from one's offering, the priest needed to be paid off. (They also sexually abused the women who served at the entrance to the tent of the LORD.) As a result, "The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread." Eli's eyesight "had begun to grow dim so that he could not see." 1 Samuel 3 Night had descended on the priesthood entrusted to keep Israel faithful to God. As the story of 1 Samuel unfolded the Ark of God was captured by the Philistines, Eli the last faithful priest died, and two of his sons were killed. God did not totally abandoned Israel. The Ark was returned, and Samuel became God's judge and prophet. Still the people longed for a king like their neighbors. Thus began the institution of kingship in Israel, Saul, David and Solomon. God called it a rejection of God as king in favor or some kind of earthly savior.

The prophets of Jerusalem whom Micah opposed were advisors to the king and others with wealth and power. They surrounded the king and his entourage with affirmation and positive words. They cried, "Peace," because that is how they stayed fed and well off. Flattery got them what they desired. Feed them and they would say nice encouraging words. Do not pay them and they will utter curses, "declare war." Money and flattering loyalty spoke in place of God. Jeremiah and Ezekiel made this accusation against the flattering prophets too. "... from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. ... they did not know how to blush." Jeremiah 6:13-15 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have uttered falsehood and envisioned lies, I am against you, says, the Lord GOD. My hand shall be against the prophets who see false visions... Because, in truth, because they have misled my people, saying 'Peace,' when there is no peace, and because when the people build a flimsy wall, these prophets smear whitewash on it." Ezekiel 13:8-10 While the prophets were aware of the armies of Assyria and Babylon and the devastation of siege and war, the peace they desired, the soothing words of peace being peddled by the flattering prophets, was a peace of well-being, shalom, the wholeness of life. But whereas Micah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel desired this peace for the people, the prophets, advisors to the king and powers of the land who were entrusted to deliver peace, did so only with words and proclamations, and only when they themselves were well off, paid off, or well fed.

Prior to his critique of the fawning words to the leaders, telling them everything is OK, the people are happy, so pay us well not rock the boat, Micah gave his real criticism. The prophets "lead my people astray." The prophets may have acted purely out of self-interest and self serving, but they harmed the people, even perhaps the king and his advisors, into complacency or a condition of being duped by a false word. When things looked bad, or night was descending on the people, they seduced everyone with the promise of "Peace," "it will be OK." The imagery of leading people astray by those who were well fed, hearkens back to the gruesome imagery Micah used about those who "eat the flesh of my people." Micah might have said that they were wolves in sheep's clothing. Hans Walter Wolff comments that the Hebrew word "lead astray" has two nuances. It can have the sense of aimless wandering or being lost. It can also describe the gait of those who stagger and reel in drunkenness, oblivious to everything around them. Micah earlier accused them of being preachers of "wine and strong drink." The Rome Caesars kept the people happy with bread and circuses, distractions so no one really knew what really happened. Repeated assurances of "its OK," or "trust me," or "Peace" can do the same.

"Therefore it shall be night to you..."

Do Justice. Love Kindness. Walk humbly with God.

Pastor Tim Bauer