Zion with Blood and Jerusalem with Iniquity Micah 3:10

As Micah continued his prophesy over Samaria and Judah, he declared himself to be “full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin”, and because he was, he called upon the “heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel” whom he said, “abhor judgment, and pervert all equity”. In chapter three and verse ten of his prophesy, Micah tells more about how these leaders affected both Zion and Jerusalem where we read:

They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.

The verse begins, “They build up Zion with blood,” Micah first addresses how these godless leaders “build up” or “establish or cause to continue” “Zion” which literally means “parched place” and is another name for Jerusalem, “with blood” which refers to “bloodshed or massacre”. The idea is that they have built the wealth of their city such as “new streets and squares”, and they “adorn” them in such a way that it “advances public interest in both the church and state”, but they do so by murder and slaughter. They think they are doing God and Zion “a good service”, and yet they are doing so “with blood”.

The verse goes on to say, “and Jerusalem with iniquity.” Micah then includes, “Jerusalem” which means “teaching of peace” to the affected area by these pernicious leaders. He wrote how “Jerusalem” was built “with iniquity” or “violent deeds of injustice, unrighteousness, and wrong”. Regardless of these leaders' intentions to make Jerusalem more prosperous, they did so with unrighteous deeds, and whatever building was done would only be for a short period before judgment would fall.

As we think through these words of Micah, perhaps we will be drawn to wonder how our own country or cities have been “built”. Were there “violent deeds of injustice, unrighteousness and wrong” which were involved in their establishment? What about our own personal wealth? Were their deeds of injustice which were used to build it up? As we imagine ourselves in the position of these horrific leaders, we will discover that their place of authority was not an enviable one. May we never “build up” any wealth on the bloodshed backs of others, lest we too know the eventual pattern of judgment that came from the Lord.

Next time Micah will tell of the false impression these leaders had concerning their relationship with the Lord, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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