Micah Chapter 2
1 Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds! When the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
2 They covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
3 Therefore the LORD says: "Behold, I am planning against these people a disaster, from which you will not remove your necks, neither will you walk haughtily; for it is an evil time.
4 In that day they will take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, saying, 'We are utterly ruined! My people's possession is divided up. Indeed he takes it from me and assigns our fields to traitors!' "
5 Therefore you will have no one who divides the land by lot in the LORD's assembly.
6 "Don't prophesy!" They prophesy. "Don't prophesy about these things. Disgrace won't overtake us."
7 Shall it be said, O house of Jacob: "Is the LORD's Spirit angry? Are these his doings? Don't my words do good to him who walks blamelessly?"
8 But lately my people have risen up as an enemy. You strip the robe and clothing from those who pass by without a care, returning from battle.
9 You drive the women of my people out from their pleasant houses; from their young children you take away my blessing forever.
10 Arise, and depart! For this is not your resting place, because of uncleanness that destroys, even with a grievous destruction.
11 If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood lies: "I will prophesy to you of wine and of strong drink;" he would be the prophet of this people.
12 I will surely assemble, Jacob, all of you; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as a flock in the middle of their pasture; they will swarm with people.
13 He who breaks open the way goes up before them. They break through the gate, and go out. And their king passes on before them, with the LORD at their head.
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Micah Chapter 2 Guide
Following this the prophet states the cause of the imminent judgment. The sin consists in devising evil at night and practicing it in the morning, and the abuse of authority. Covetousness, expressing itself in oppression, was the peculiar sin of the rulers. Against this Jehovah proceeds in just retribution, "I devise an evil."
The prophet then describes the mockery of observers who would imitate their sorrow, and finally declares that they will be utterly dispossessed. In the midst of his prophesying Micah was interrupted by false prophets, who charged him not to prophesy, protesting against his message, basing their objection to his announcement of judgment on the fact of God's goodness. To this objection Micah, in the name of Jehovah, answers that the changed attitude of His people toward Him accounts for Jehovah's change toward them. His people had risen up as an enemy.
He then charged the people to depart, declaring that such teaching could not give them rest, and then breaking out in indignant satire against the people who allowed themselves to be misled by false prophets.
This first message uttered in the hearing of the nations concerning the chosen people, closes with words spoken directly to Jacob. Its burden is evidently forthcoming deliverances, but as to detail it is undefined.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Micah Chapter 2 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The sins and desolations of Israel. -- (1-5)
- Their evil practices. -- (6-11)
- A promise of restoration. -- (12, 13)
Verses 1-5
Woe to the people that devise evil during the night, and rise early to carry it into execution! It is bad to do mischief on a sudden thought, much worse to do it with design and forethought. It is of great moment to improve and employ hours of retirement and solitude in a proper manner. If covetousness reigns in the heart, compassion is banished; and when the heart is thus engaged, violence and fraud commonly occupy the hands. The most haughty and secure in prosperity, are commonly most ready to despair in adversity. Woe to those from whom God turns away! Those are the sorest calamities which cut us off from the congregation of the Lord, or cut us short in the enjoyment of its privileges.
Verses 6-11
Since they say, "Prophesy not," God will take them at their word, and their sin shall be their punishment. Let the physician no longer attend the patient that will not be healed. Those are enemies, not only to God, but to their country, who silence good ministers, and stop the means of grace. What bonds will hold those who have no reverence for God's word? Sinners cannot expect to rest in a land they have polluted. You shall not only be obliged to depart out of this land, but it shall destroy you. Apply this to our state in this present world. There is corruption in the world through lust, and we should keep at a distance from it. It is not our rest: it was designed for our passage, but not for our portion; our inn, but not our home; here we have no continuing city; let us therefore arise and depart, let us seek a continuing city above. Since they will be deceived, let them be deceived. Teachers who recommend self-indulgence by their doctrine and example, best suit such sinners.
Verses 12, 13
These verses may refer to the captivity of Israel and Judah. But the passage is also a prophecy of the conversion of the Jews to Christ. The Lord would not only bring them from captivity, and multiply them, but the Lord Jesus would open their way to God, by taking upon him the nature of man, and by the work of his Spirit in their hearts, breaking the fetters of Satan. Thus he has gone before, and the people follow, breaking, in his strength, through the enemies that would stop their way to heaven.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.