As the LORD continued to
chastise the people within the city, Micah the prophet wrote of His
displeasure with the businessmen because they used inaccurate scales
and bags with “deceitful weights” to take advantage of
their patrons. Though these men thought they were escaping judgment
for their wicked ways, the LORD was watching, and there was no
running from His eyes. In chapter six and verse twelve of his
prophesy, Micah writes more concerning these “rich men”
who were “full of violence”, “lies” and
“deceit” where we read:
For the rich men
thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken
lies,
and their tongue is
deceitful in their mouth.
The
verse begins, “For the rich men thereof are full of violence,”
Micah refers to the businessmen of the city as he declared, “For
the rich men” or “wealthy, haughty and impious men”
“thereof are full” which means “filled, armed,
accomplished and satisfied” “of violence” or “wrong,
cruelty, injustice and oppression”. These men were not wicked in a
minor way, but they were “full” of cruelty and injustice.
The
verse goes on to say, “and the inhabitants thereof have
spoken lies,” In addition to
the “rich men”
being filled with “violence”
Micah said, “and the inhabitants”
which were those who “dwelt, sat, remained and abode” within the
city “thereof have spoken”
or “declared, conversed, commanded, promised, warned,
threatened” “lies” or “disappointment, deception and
falsehood”. Even the dwellers within the city spoke lies and
deception with one another.
Finally
the verse says, “and their tongue is
deceitful in their mouth.” Micah
went on to add, “and their tongue”
which refers to their “language or talk” “is
deceitful” which literally
means “letting down or relaxing” and points to the “laxness,
slackness and treachery” which was “in their mouth” or
“the part of the body used in speaking”. In other words, when
they spoke, their words were filled with deceit and treachery, and
they demonstrated no care for anyone they harmed with their words.
As we can see,
the LORD's inditement against these wicked businessmen was pointed
and direct. These men had become “wealthy” from their
vicious and ungodly ways, and as we meditate upon their
characteristics, a personal inventory might be a good idea. Do we
have “violent” ways about us? Have we “spoken lies”
to others with whom we have to do? Is our “tongue”
“deceitful” in our mouths when we engage in business with
other people? If any of these are true, let us heed the warning given
to these “rich men”, and may we turn from our wicked ways
to the true and living God through His Son Jesus Christ.
Next
time Micah writes how the LORD will make the “rich
men” “sick”
and “desolate”,
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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