Read Micah 3:9–12
Questions from the Scripture text: Whom does Micah 3:9a–c now address? What do they do (verse 9d–e)? What do they think they are doing (Micah 3:10)? But by what method are they building up Zion/Jerusalem? What motivates her judges (Micah 3:11a)? What motivates her priests (verse 11b)? What motivates her prophets (verse 11c)? Yet, what do they think they are doing (verse 11d)? And in what do they think they re hoping (verse 11e)? Thus, what are they presuming is the outcome (verse 11f)? Therefore, who is to blame for what is about to happen (Micah 3:12a)? And what is about to happen to the city (verse 12b–c)? And to what structure in particular (verse 12d–e)?
What did Micah have power to declare to Israel? Micah 3:9–12 looks forward to the morning sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Micah had power to declare to Israel that their service of the Lord was really just service of themselves, and that God would destroy the very church they thought they were building.
Upon condemning the unfaithful prophets of his day, Micah declared that he was full of power by the Spirit of YHWH to declare to Israel his sin. And that is exactly what he is doing in this passage.
The frightening thing about this passage is that the people it is condemning thought they were serving the Lord (Micah 3:10), depending upon the Lord (Micah 3:11e), and hoping in the Lord (verse 11f). Truly, we are so blind to the condition of our own hearts that we need the Spirit to wield His powerful Word to expose the thoughts and intentions of our heart (cf. Hebrews 4:12–13; Jeremiah 17:9–10).
The problem with those who thought they were doing the Lord’s work in Micah 3:10 is that they were willing to sin in order to get it done (verse 10b). How many, in ministry, are willing to employ a little lying, a little stealing, a little Sabbath breaking, a little disregard of others’ value, etc., in order to advance the work! But they build up Jerusalem with iniquity.
One of the easiest ways to diagnose a Micah-3-mindset is by the love of money. The civil magistrates (Micah 3:11a), priests (verse 11b), and prophets (verse 11c) were all guilty of “serving” for the paycheck. If something else is primary, then you are treating the Lord and His service as a means to your end.
But such service does not build up that part of the Lord’s church in which He has placed you. In fact, the very Zion and Jerusalem they thought they were building up (Micah 3:10) were about to be destroyed precisely because of them (Micah 3:12a–c). Even worse, the Lord’s own temple would be desolated on account of them (verse 12d–e, cf. Romans 2:24). For those who are thinking straight, there is no worse consequence to our actions.
In what areas have you been called to serve the Lord? What wrong ways of accomplishing it are a danger to you? What wrong motivations threaten to make your service sinful?
Sample prayer: Lord, please forgive us for how we have been self-deceived into thinking we were serving well, when we were really just serving ourselves. Thank You for Christ, Who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. For His sake, forgive us, and make us to be like unto Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP29 “You Sons of the Gods” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”