3:9,10
Micah addresses the leaders in no uncertain terms. They are the ones who need to hear. When leaders are going against God’s ways they act as if God’s servants need to listen to them, as if God’s servants are the ones on trial, but in reality it is the godless leaders who are on trial, who have questions to answer. Jesus reminded Pilate that he only had “power” because God gave it to him. In the early preaching in Acts we find the apostles making it clear that Jews had responsibility for putting Jesus to death, they needed to respond. Today we find the world in the west putting believing Christians “on trial” (usually metaphorically, but sometimes actually on trial) for speaking the word of God, but it is leaders who are the ones who are actually on trial.
The leaders in Micah’s day abhorred justice and perverted fairness. The economy was built on bloodshed and lies. We need to be very careful about this today as well, for our economy may well be built on exploitation of poorer nations. There examples of good being produced in badly run factories abroad where workers are poorly paid and health and safety is considered an inconvenience. Let me give you another possible example. From time to time we hear of needing more nurses from abroad, do the countries they come from not need nurses? Just a thought.
3:11,12
Decisions were made on the basis of who would pay a bribe, instead of simply making the best and right decision. “Priests teach for pay”. Someone may produce a “Christian” book, or deliver a sort of teaching, not on the basis of seeking to faithfully explain God’s word, but on the basis of making money. Prophets were likewise, giving the word they were paid to give. All the while they were doing this, they claimed to have the Spirit of the Lord, to be working on His behalf. So judgement would come upon the land. The place would become like a ploughed field, and Jerusalem a heap of rubble. This happened when Babylon invaded Jerusalem.
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