"Do not preach" - thus they preach - "one should not preach such things; disgrace will not overtake us." Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Is the LORD's patience exhausted? Are these things his doings? Do not my words do good to one who walks uprightly? But you rise up against my people as an enemy; you strip the robe from the peaceful, from those who pass by trustingly with no thought of war. The women of my people you drive out from their pleasant houses; from their young children you take away my glory forever. Arise and go, for there is no place to rest, because of the uncleanness that destroys with a violent destruction. If someone were to go about uttering empty falsehoods, saying, "I will preach to you of wine and strong drink," such a one would be the preacher for this people!"
Micah, one of the LORD's prophets, had harsh words to say. He spoke to the wealthy and greedy landowners who gobbled up fields and homes. He spoke against the "prophets" who defended the actions and attitudes of the powerful who justified everything they wanted to do regardless of the Law of God or of the people. Sycophant is the term used for those who curry favor, lick boots, or kiss butts important and powerful people, thinking they will benefit themselves. They have no regard for anyone or anything else, particularly those who are poor or vulnerable. The prophets of the powerful responded to Micah's preaching against "those who devise wickedness and evil deeds on their beds!" They ordered Micah not to preach anything that might call into question to ways of the wealthy.
"'Do not preach' - thus they preach - 'one should not preach such things; disgrace will not overtake us.'" Essentially, they told Micah, "Stay out of our business. We are innocent. Matters of politics and economics are not your concern." Rather those preachers were like those who said, "Lord, Lord," but whose did not speak for the One who says, "Thus says the LORD, ...." They claimed God's protection and the blessing of the LORD's patience, "slow to anger." They were offended by the idea that wealth and success did not come from God's blessing but from their own evil scheming. They protested that they did "good" and walked "uprightly." Micah told them the truth of their exploitation against "my people." They stripped the clothing from peaceful people who trusted the authorities word that there would be no war. They drove women and children from their simple, "pleasant" homes. Micha wanted nothing to do with their deceptive lies. Micah, like so many of the LORD's prophets, experienced the backlash of those who preached flattery and fantasy.
A story: Once King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied with King Ahab of Israel to fight against Aram to reclaim territory. Jehoshaphat wanted assurance that the LORD would make it successful. He and Ahab inquired of Micaiah of Imlah, whom Ahab hated because he never gave a favorable word of the LORD to the king whose unfaithfulness and wickedness were renown. At an assembly of prophets, all were predicting success, so Micaiah said, "Sure attack and you will be successful." Ahab knew that was not the true word of the prophet of the LORD. He asked again and said, "tell me the truth in the name of the LORD." Micaiah predicted defeat. Zedekiah, a flattering prophet, slapped Micaiah on the cheek for speaking against the kings and the prophets. Ahab died in the fighting. Jehoshaphat fled in terror.
Words of others: Isaiah wrote as though to "faithless children ... who will not hear the instruction of the LORD; who say to the seers, 'Do not see,' and to the prophets, 'Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things; prophesy illusions; ..." Isaiah 30:8-11 Amos confronted King Jeroboam of Israel about his impending death and the exile of the people. Amaziah, a priest, said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there, but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the kings' sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom." Amos 7:10-15 Hosea announced days of woe and the leaders of the people said, "The prophet is a fool; the man of the spirit is mad." Amos 9:7 Jeremiah complained to God about all the harsh things he was called to say, but he submitted, he could do nothing else. He denounced the false prophets who said, "You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you true peace in this place." Jeremiah 14:13 Or again, "They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, 'Peace, peace, when there is no peace.'" Jeremiah 6:14 For all his efforts Jeremiah imprisoned and thrown into a muddy cistern, and later rescued.
At the end of Micah's poem, he returned to the preachers of flattery and pleasure. They preached wine and strong drink so those who became intoxicated might not see or care that they were being exploited, taken advantage of, until it was too late. Flattery of the powerful and flummoxing the people. Often the prophets warning boiled down to this: Beware the promises of the powerful. They work for their own benefit not yours."
Do Justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly with God.
Pastor Tim Bauer
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