The people within Samaria
and Jerusalem fell away from their relationship with the LORD, and
the prophet Micah began to address their apostasy. Judgment from the
LORD was going to fall upon them because of the ways of their
leadership who loved evil and hated good. These leaders would not
only performed wicked acts but they would also strip and pillage
their own people as though they were preparing them for a “boiling
pot” or “cauldron”. In chapter three and verse five
Micah began to shift his words to address the false “prophets”
who were among the people and the judgment that would come against
them where we read:
Thus says the LORD
concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their
teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that puts not into their mouths, they
even prepare war against him.
The
verse begins, “Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets
that make my people err,” Micah
began with the phrase, “Thus says the LORD”
which lets us know the source of his words, “The LORD”
or “Yehovah or Jehovah”. Though Micah wrote them, “The
LORD” is sharing these words,
and they are directed to “the prophets”
which means “spokesman, speaker or heathen prophet” “that
make my people” or “members
of one's people, compatriots, or country-men” “err”
which means “wander, go astray, or stagger”. Though these false
prophets shared with the people, their words only resulted in the
people going astray from the LORD.
The
verse continues, “that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace;”
Micah's description of these prophets' actions was, “that
bite with their teeth” which describes either the “biting of
the lip” as those to conceal the truth or “devouring” through
their false words. Rather than warning of coming judgment, these
prophets not only “bite with their teeth” but they “cry,
Peace” which conveys the idea that the people will enjoy peace
rather than destruction.
Finally
the verse says, “and he that puts not into their mouths,
they even prepare war against him.” Micah
went on to add, “and he that puts”
or “sets, puts on, puts upon,appoints, assigns and
designates” “not into their mouths” which refers to
eating, “they even prepare” or “consecrate, sanctify,
dedicate, and are hallowed, holy, sanctified, and separated” for
“war against him” or “battle” against the ones who
will not feed them.
The actions of these
prophets described by “the LORD” through the prophet Micah
is that they take advantage of the people, and their prophecies are
based upon how the people care for them. If the people feed them and
give them benefits, they “cry peace”. However, if the
people do not “put into their mouths”, they “prepare
war” against them. In other words, the prophet's words are
based upon the prophet's own benefit rather than being from God. We
can imagine why “the LORD” is displeased with this
behavior, and as we ponder these conditions, we may understand why
“the LORD” was so upset with these false teachers. It
seems that “truth travels on the back of a snail, and a lie travels
on the back of a soaring eagle”. The key for us is to continue to
look into the word of God and realize when words or prophets are
untrue, and as we stay faithful to Jesus Christ and His words, unlike
these false prophets, we will be in alignment with God.
Next
time Micah prophesies the fate of the false prophets,
so read ahead, and
we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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