Miquéias 3
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Miquéias 3
Wiersbe: The description of these rulers’ actions reminds you more of ravenous beasts than of human beings. Instead of being faithful shepherds who protected the flock (Micah 2:12; 7:14), they attacked the sheep, skinned them alive, butchered them, chopped them up, and made stew out of them! But the day would come when these wolves in shepherds’ clothing would cry out for God’s mercy, but no mercy would be given. Micah 3:4 Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds. Then Mic 2:3,4; Jeremiah 5:31 cry Ps 18:41; Proverbs 1:28; 28:9; Isaiah 1:15; Jeremiah 2:27,28; Ezekiel 8:18; Zechariah 7:13; Matthew 7:22; Luke 13:25; John 9:31; James 2:13 he will even Deuteronomy 31:17,18; 32:19,20; Isaiah 59:1-15; Jeremiah 33:5 as Isaiah 3:11; Romans 2:8,9 Then they will cry out to the LORD - When is "then?" When the judgment of God falls on them (all the disasters of which Micah had already prophesied in Micah 1-2)! Presumably when the exceeding ferocious Assyrians invaded and defeated the Northern Kingdom in 722BC and Babylonians the Southern Kingdom of Judah in 586BC. Sin is deceitful (Heb 3:13-note on the deceitfulness of sin), so when these leaders sinned (and when we sin), they did not seriously consider (or they refused to believe) that God would truly punish them. They falsely (deceptively) reasoned that surely He would not follow through! But Micah predicts with the time sensitive word "then" (be sensitive to the Spirit's strategic use of this important expression of time) that the day of accounting would come upon them. And when they felt themselves drowning so to speak, they would seek God's help, but it would be as they say "too little, too late." Beloved, we all do well to heed Micah's warnings against "heedlessness!" Our flesh is the same depraved flesh as Israel's leaders and is therefore prone to wander, to cause others to wander and not to wonder about God's just punishment. The crying out of these evildoers has a parallel in the NT, in John's description in the Revelation, when God's wrath would be finally and fully unleashed on the entire world. There we encounter a group that are uniquely named the earth dwellers will who "cry out" to God in the day when His full fury falls on them in time of the the horrific "Bowl Judgments" in Rev 16:9, 11, 21-note. Cry out (02199)(za'aq) means to cry out, to call out for help (especially when in distress), to appeal (even making public sounds of physical and/or emotional anguish - Ex 2:23, 2Chr 20:9, Job 35:9). Za'aq can be summoned in the sense of to be assembled (Jos 8:16; Jdg 6:34, 35; 18:22, 23) Finally, za'aq can mean to issue a proclamation by sending out an official written document with instructions or principles (Jonah 3:7) The Septuagint translates za'aq with krazo in Micah 3:4. Za'aq can refer to an appeal to a superior for help in time of trouble as in Ps 107:6, 13, 19, 28. Ps 107 19-20 is my favorite for in it we see how He delivered them... Then (see Ps 107:18 for when is "then"? Interesting!) they cried out to the LORD in their trouble. He saved them out of their distresses. 20 He sent His Word and healed them (see related study - Jehovah Rapha: The LORD our Healer) them, and delivered them from their destructions. (Ps 107:19,20) Allen notes the irony in the cries of these evildoers - The term cry out is a technical one for appeal to a judge for help against victimization. The woman of Shunem exercised this legal right of protest when she returned home after seven years in Philistia and found her farm taken over by others: she appealed to the king, who saw to it that justice was done (2Ki 8:1–6). No such equity had these judges shown. In return they would find their own appeals to God unavailing in their hour of need. But - a painful term of contrast! He will not answer them - Solomon records that "He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered." (Pr 21:13) and "He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination." (Pr 28:9) See also Isa 1:15-note, Ps 66:18-note (cf Job 27:8,9, Pr 15:8, 29, Jn 9:31) Isaiah's words parallel Micah's... But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that (term of conclusion) He does not hear. 3 For (term of explanation) your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken falsehood, your tongue mutters wickedness. (Isa 59:2-3) He will hide His face from them - This idiom indicates God's wrath and temporary rejection against His covenant people.
Miquéias 3
Wiersbe adds that "a true servant of God declares God’s message regardless of whether the people like it or not. He’d like to be a peacemaker, but sometimes he has to be a troublemaker." Compare the assurance with which Micah could speak the true Word of God with what the false prophets had to speak - Jer 23:28 = "straw!" "What is painted fire to real fire?" (M. Henry) Micah surely feared God - it is an axiom - if you fear God, you won't fear men! (cf Jesus' words - Lk 12:5). Davis makes a great point we all do well to ponder - This (with justice and courage), incidentally, reminds us that character, and not merely gifts (cf. ‘power’), stamps a servant as genuine. He does not simply ‘make a living’, but there is a certain godly passion that percolates within him and drives his ministry. Justice was sorely lacking in the corrupt magistrates (Mic 3:1). Micah's use of this word in the context of a judgment message also suggests that God is just in judging His chosen people for their breaking of the Mosaic covenant. Waltke - “The sign of being filled with the Spirit is speaking of justice” Patterson - The touchstone of Micah’s message is “doing what is right” or practicing justice (mishpat) Courage (Might, power, strength) (01369)(geburah from gibbor = speaks of strength of a warrior) conveys the basic sense of strength, power, might (valiant might). With respect to the kings of Israel, geburah refers to what their power produced (1Ki 15:23; 16:5, 27). All geburah or power belongs to the Lord and men have power only because He gives it to them (1Chr. 29:11-12). Geburah can refer to the strength of animals (horse = Ps 147:10; Job 39:19) and men (Jdg 8:21; Ps 90:10). Because God possesses wisdom and power (Job 12:13), no one can overturn what he does (Job 12:14–15). Geburah also conveys the following meanings = force, valor, victory, mastery, might, mighty act, power, strength. Mounce - With his might, God will vindicate his people (Ps 54:1); he will save them to make known his mighty power (Ps 106:8), resulting in praise to him for his mighty acts (106:2). God does not delight in the strength of horses or men’s legs, but in the fear of the Lord (147:10–11). The Hebrew root gibbor (01368) is commonly associated with warfare and has to do with strength and vitality of the successful warrior as he goes out to meet the enemy (cf Acts 4:13 which uses the Greek word for boldness parrhesia, a key word in Acts 2:29, 4:29, 31, 28:31) (See related study of God's great Name - El Gibbor-Mighty God). Barker - This word (geburah) has been defined as “a holy courage that enables him to face any danger in delivering his testimony.” (Ed: This is reminiscent of Paul's parting exhortation to young Timothy who may have been a bit "timid" - 2Ti 1:7-see discussion of Timothy's timidity) Here in Micah 3:8, the Lxx translates geburah with dunasteia = exercise of power, the stem "duna-" or "dyna-" has the basic sense of "being able" (cf related word is used to translate some of the OT uses of geburah - dunamis). Micah displays manliness ("guts" so to speak). Baker - Geburah depicts the nature of God’s mighty deeds. It describes the strength of the Lord’s right hand that delivers His anointed (Ps. 20:6[7]), meaning all of His powerful acts as well as His power and might in general (Deut. 3:24; 1 Chr. 29:11, 12; Job 26:14; Ps. 65:6[7]; 66:7). It describes the strength of various things: animals (Job 41:12[4]; Ps. 147:10); people (Judg. 8:21; Eccl. 9:16). It indicates the might or power by which the Lord’s powerful king reigns (1 Chr. 29:30); or the bravery and valor of the king’s warriors (Judg. 8:21; Prov. 8:14; Isa. 3:25). It refers to the strength of persons that may prolong their lives (Ps. 90:10). Its usage is flexible and can refer to the power of the sun (Judg. 5:31); or the strength of an army or military plan (2 Kgs. 18:20). Geburah - 61v - NAS translates geburah as courage(1), might(26), mighty(1), mighty acts(3), mighty deeds(4), mighty ones(1), mighty strength(1), power(9), strength(13), strong(1), triumph(1). Exodus 32:18 But he said, "It is not the sound of the cry of triumph, Nor is it the sound of the cry of defeat; But the sound of singing I hear." Deuteronomy 3:24 'O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours? Judges 5:31 "Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD; But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might." And the land was undisturbed for forty years. Judges 8:21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Rise up yourself, and fall on us; for as the man, so is his strength." So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments which were on their camels' necks. 1 Kings 15:23 Now the rest of all the acts of Asa and all his might and all that he did and the cities which he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 1 Kings 16:5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha and what he did and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did and his might which he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 1 Kings 22:45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might which he showed and how he warred, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 2 Kings 10:34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu and all that he did and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 2 Kings 13:8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 12 Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 2 Kings 14:15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did and his might, how he fought and how he recovered for Israel, Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 2 Kings 18:20 "You say (but they are only empty words), 'I have counsel and strength for the war.' Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me? 2 Kings 20:20 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and all his might, and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 1 Chronicles 29:11 "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 12 "Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 30 with all his reign, his power, and the circumstances which came on him, on Israel, and on all the kingdoms of the lands. 2 Chronicles 20:6 and he said, "O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. Esther 10:2 And all the accomplishments of his authority and strength, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia? Job 12:13 "With Him are wisdom and might; To Him belong counsel and understanding. Job 26:14 "Behold, these are the fringes of His ways; And how faint a word we hear of Him! But His mighty thunder, who can understand?" Job 39:19 "Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane? Job 41:12 "I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Or his mighty strength, or his orderly frame. Psalm 20:6 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. Psalm 21:13 Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; We will sing and praise Your power. Psalm 54:1 For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, "Is not David hiding himself among us?" Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your power. Psalm 65:6 Who establishes the mountains by His strength, Being girded with might; Psalm 66:7 He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah. Psalm 71:16 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone. 18 And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come. Psalm 80:2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Your power And come to save us! Psalm 89:13 You have a strong arm; Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted. Psalm 90:10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away. Psalm 106:2 Who can speak of the mighty deeds of the LORD, Or can show forth all His praise? 8 Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power known. Psalm 145:4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom And talk of Your power; 12 To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom. Psalm 147:10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. Psalm 150:2 Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Proverbs 8:14 "Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine. Ecclesiastes 9:16 So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded. Ecclesiastes 10:17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time-- for strength and not for drunkenness. Isaiah 3:25 Your men will fall by the sword And your mighty ones in battle. Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 28:6 A spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment, A strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate. Isaiah 30:15 For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing, Isaiah 33:13 "You who are far away, hear what I have done; And you who are near, acknowledge My might." Isaiah 36:5 "I say, 'Your counsel and strength for the war are only empty words.' Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me? Isaiah 63:15 Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious habitation; Where are Your zeal and Your mighty deeds? The stirrings of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained toward me. Jeremiah 9:23 Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; Jeremiah 10:6 There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and great is Your name in might. Jeremiah 16:21 "Therefore behold, I am going to make them know-- This time I will make them know My power and My might; And they shall know that My name is the LORD." Jeremiah 23:10 For the land is full of adulterers; For the land mourns because of the curse. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course also is evil And their might is not right. Jeremiah 49:35 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Behold, I am going to break the bow of Elam, The finest of their might. Jeremiah 51:30 The mighty men of Babylon have ceased fighting, They stay in the strongholds; Their strength is exhausted, They are becoming like women; Their dwelling places are set on fire, The bars of her gates are broken. Ezekiel 32:29 "There also is Edom, its kings and all its princes, who for all their might are laid with those slain by the sword; they will lie with the uncircumcised and with those who go down to the pit. 30 "There also are the chiefs of the north, all of them, and all the Sidonians, who in spite of the terror resulting from their might, in shame went down with the slain. So they lay down uncircumcised with those slain by the sword and bore their disgrace with those who go down to the pit. Micah 3:8 On the other hand I am filled with power-- With the Spirit of the LORD-- And with justice and courage To make known to Jacob his rebellious act, Even to Israel his sin. Micah 7:16 Nations will see and be ashamed Of all their might. They will put their hand on their mouth, Their ears will be deaf. To make known to Jacob his rebellious act, even to Israel his sin (just as was the call on the prophets - Isaiah = Isaiah 58:1 and Ezekiel = Ezekiel 16:2; 20:4; 22:2; 43:10) - Micah's purpose (as is every prophet = not foretellers but forth tellers) was to "reprove, rebuke, exhort, (red = all aorist imperatives) with great patience and instruction" (2 Ti 4:2-note). When one is filled with the Holy Spirit, he has supernatural boldness, which enabled Micah to fearlessly and faithfully proclaim God's judgment against sin! See the relationship between Spirit filling (control) and Speaking boldly (Previously denying Peter in Acts 2:4, 14; Acts 4:29, 31, Stephen in Acts 6:3, 5, 8-10, 7:51-52, 54-60, Paul in Acts 9:17, 20, 22, 27-28, Acts 14:3) Jacob...Israel - see this same combination of names in Micah 2:12 (cp Mic 1:5, 2:12, 3:1, 8, 9). See discussion of these same two words used in combination in Commentary on Micah 1:5. Compare Micah's call to "make known" with God's similar command to Isaiah... “Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, And declare to My people their transgression And to the house of Jacob their sins. (Isa 58:1) Rebellious acts (pesha' in Mic 1:5, 13, 3:8, 6:7, 7:18) ...sin (Mic 1:5, 13, 6:7, 13, 7:9, 19) - So bad was Israel, it took two words to describe their lawlessness. And exposure of these acts always meets resistance! God's prophets always warn them of judgment on sin, with the hope that they might repent! Micah was like Martin Luther who when warned that he must recant his reformation ideas said "Here I stand. I can do no other." Davis - There will always be something surgical about faithful preaching; it will always seek to expose undetected rebellion and hidden idolatry. Genuine believers realize how healthy this is and rejoice to have their sin exposed in this way. In one verse the prophet has encapsulated his ministry: his loneliness (Mic 3:8a), his equipment (Mic 3:8b) and his task (Mic 3:8c). A ministry like his, it seems, is the only antidote to the perversion of preaching in the land. (Ed: cp Lam 2:14). Matthew