The Crooked, Corrupt, and Calamity

I want to try something a bit different today.

Who is a leader that you admire?

This could be a political leader, a Sunday school teacher, an educator, an influencer, or even a family member. Write that person’s name on your outline. Write one thing that you admire about that person. I’d love for you to share that with the person on your right (if you’re on the end of a row, share the other way).

Who is a leader that you detest?

Again - this could be any kind of leader and then note one reason or attribute that makes you not like this person. This time, share that with the person on your left (unless you’re on the far end - then share with the person on your right).

Now, I know, this could spark a lot of conversations, but I hope it gets us thinking. You see, there is a sad reality in our world - that crookedness and corruption abound - in government, business, and sadly even in religious circles. The leaders who are in places of influence and authority set the tone for whether a nation, town, organization, church, or family acts with integrity or is mired by corruption.

Did you know that there is an annual CPI - Corruption Perceptions Index?

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)

This CPI is run by an organization called “Transparency International.” Their mission is “to stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society.”

Annually, they rank nations on a scale of 1-100 - 1 being the worst, 100 being the best. For several years now, the nation at the top of this scale is Denmark with a score of 90. Apparently, according to Transparency International - they are the most open, transparent and least corrupt nation in the world - though with a score of 90, they are not perfect.

Perpetually at the bottom of the list is Somalia - with a score of 12 in 2022. Just last year, they elected a President to a second, non-consecutive term, who almost immediately disbanded two “key anti-corruption bodies” in the government. That war-torn nation has been in a fight for survival for many years - and the fight seems to have no end in sight.

In case you’re wondering about the United States - we got a score of 69 last year, up from the prior year of 67. Apparently we have a ways to go as well.

Unfortunately, as you can imagine, there is...

Corruption in the Religious World

...as well.

There is no shortage of Pastors, Priests, and Religious leaders who have used their positions to gain excessive wealth, power, and influence - compromising the message of the Gospel. There have been controversies around sexual abuse and infidelity among leaders in nearly every denomination of Christianity and in nearly every religion.

I wish I could say that there was a different story among Southern Baptists. Just last year, the Sexual Abuse Task Force published a list of about 700 pastors and church leaders who have been accused of sexual abuse or infidelity. In a convention of over 50,000 churches and over 14 million people - that is a small number - but frankly 1 would be too many.

Sadly, this is not a new thing. Martin Luther wrote against the same kinds of corruption in the church of His day.

As we continue our study in the book of Micah, we’ll see that Micah preached against the same corruption and crookedness among political and religious leaders in his day as well.

Because our world is stained and mired by sin, we will be in this fight until Christ returns.

Introducing Micah 3

In Micah chapter 3, he begins a new sermon - this time - pointed specifically at the governing leaders and the prophets of his day. It appears that the corruption and injustice that we saw in the society at large in chapter 1 was learned from their leaders. Their crooked practices and corrupt activities were going against God’s standard and would result calamity for the nation.

Now, before we get into the content, I want to briefly discuss the structure of this chapter. Sometimes poetry can be a bit challenging to read and understand. The nature of poetry forces us to slow down and observe.

One commentator noted that this sermon/chapter seems to be divided into three even stanzas - each of 4 verses.

Leaders (1-4)

Prophets (5-8) - with a little caveat about Micah’s ministry

Judgment for all (9-12)

As I wrestled to understand this chapter, there was another image or format that seemed to jump out at me - following that same pattern.

Leaders (1-3)

God’s response (4)

Prophets (5)

God’s response (6-7)

Micah’s perspective (8)

The result on the nation (9-12)

It almost took the shape of the letter “Y” as I worked on it. I don’t know if that would help you process this chapter, but if you decide to go back and reflect on this more later today or this week, consider how the structure of the chapter might help us understand it’s message and then apply it.

Let’s dive into Micah’s message. He begins with what seems like a charge against the governing leaders, essentially saying...

Crooked governing leaders will not be heard by God (Micah 3:1-4)

purpose of political/governing leaders

flourishing of nation

prosperity of the people

executing justice by upholding the laws of the nation

security

act for the good of the nation, state, county, town

What do we often see?

some genuine desire to serve - here in Poolesville leaders serve voluntarily so there should be a genuine motivation behind those who serve as a commissioner,

polarization

personal gain - people going in average and gaining a ton of wealth through “public service”

Seeking the good of the party above the good of the nation

this may be one of the reasons why God calls us to pray for our leaders- so there will be peace for us and for the nation.

We may not always see crooked leaders, but often their actions and paths are not very straight either.

Micah called out against Israel’s political or governing leaders...

Micah 3:1–3 ESV

And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?— you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones, who eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones in pieces and chop them up like meat in a pot, like flesh in a cauldron.

Israel’s leaders were acting like foreign leaders

Assyrians would brutally destroy the people they conquered - even flaying them - removing their skin

Loving evil, hating good - an affection for crooked practices and ungodly behavior- seizing property, taking advantage of the vulnerable

practically cannibalizing the very people they should have been caring for.

God’s response to Israel’s crooked leaders…a deaf ear.

Micah 3:4 NLT

Then you beg the Lord for help in times of trouble! Do you really expect him to answer? After all the evil you have done, he won’t even look at you!”

God’s point through Micah is that he won’t listen to their cries for help when disaster comes.

post 911 -

everyone was holding up signs saying - “God Bless America” and asking - how could God allow this to happen?

Remember: The USA is not Israel/Judah - we are not a theocracy

We may be a great nation, and one of the most just, but we are far from perfect and still require judgment from time to time. 911 may or may not have been God’s judgment to us, but it should alert us to the problem of evil in this world - and in our nation.

When challenges do come, I pray that our leaders, that we, would have the right heart to cry out to God from a place of justice and uprightness - not from any sense of entitlement or sense of self dignity.

Micah’s message wasn’t only for the political leaders. He also prophesied against the religious leaders, essentially saying that...

Corrupt religious leaders will not hear from God (Micah 3:5-7)

what is the purpose of religious or spiritual leaders?

preach the Word of God

guide the congregation or group spiritually

shepherd the people of God

care for those in need - especially the weak and disadvantaged, vulnerable

Often we do see that - I hope that your religious leaders/your elders, your pastor are men who lead this way.

As I mentioned earlier - too often we’ve heard of Pastors and leaders

falling into sin

taking advantage of weakened and vulnerable people

getting excessively wealthy by preaching a gospel of prosperity - “if you give more to me, God will bless you”

In Israel and Judah - the religious leaders, the prophets, were not preaching the Word of God - they were tickling the ears of whomever would fill their pockets and their stomachs.

Micah 3:5 ESV

Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths.

Rather than turning to God and His Word for a message - they were turning to the people - “if you feed/pay me well, then I’ll preach peaceful messages for you, but if you don’t, I will preach condemnation.” What a corrupt way of acting, preaching.

As a result...

Micah tells them that they will not hear from the Lord - it will be a season of darkness.

Micah 3:6–7 NLT

Now the night will close around you, cutting off all your visions. Darkness will cover you, putting an end to your predictions. The sun will set for you prophets, and your day will come to an end. Then you seers will be put to shame, and you fortune-tellers will be disgraced. And you will cover your faces because there is no answer from God.”

A prophet in Micah’s day should be silent without a message from the Lord. Pastor’s today are powerless without God’s Word and God’s Spirit to guide.

A couple hundred years after Micah’s prophecy and after the return from exile - there was a period of spiritual darkness. For roughly 400 years, there was little to no clear spiritual voice. There was religious activity and there were sacrifices and worship services, but it seems that many of the prophets were silent. This may very well be because of the corruption that we see in the prophets and religious leaders. The filling of bellies and padding of pockets resulted in silence from God.

In our day, the matter of compensation for pastors is often a touchy subject. Some churches have taken the mindset - “Lord, you keep our pastor humble, we’ll keep him poor.” On the other hand, some churches without a healthy biblical structure and accountability can swing the other way - giving the primary pastor too much power and too much money - paying them like CEOs.

I’m grateful for the way that we have tried to strike a healthy balance here - enough to provide - not too much, not too little. Thank you.

Paul writes that a pastor/elder must not be a “lover of money” (1 Tim. 3:3) or “greedy for gain” (Titus 1:7). As you pray for your elders - especially for Armal and me since we receive compensation for the work that we do here, please pray that contentment would mark our perspective on money. Pray that we would all continue to be motivated by the ministry of the Word and guided by the Spirit And not by any worldly gain that might come as a result of the roles in which we serve.

Both the religious and political leaders of Micah’s day were failing the people - and more importantly, were failing God’s expectations. In the last stanza, Micah communicates that...

Calamity is the result of failed leadership (Micah 3:9-12)

Because of how the leaders led the nation - destruction/calamity would ensue.

Micah 3:9–12 NLT

Listen to me, you leaders of Israel! You hate justice and twist all that is right. You are building Jerusalem on a foundation of murder and corruption. You rulers make decisions based on bribes; you priests teach God’s laws only for a price; you prophets won’t prophesy unless you are paid. Yet all of you claim to depend on the Lord. “No harm can come to us,” you say, “for the Lord is here among us.” Because of you, Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field; Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins! A thicket will grow on the heights where the Temple now stands.

What an indictment! Bribery, corruption, murder, false teaching - this marked the political and religious leaders.

Jerusalem as a city sits atop a mountain range. It is surrounded by hills and even the town itself is made up of multiple peaks - one of those peaks is Mt. Zion - where the Temple sits. God says that when this destruction comes it will be plowed like a field.

Living here in and around Poolesville, we see a lot of open fields. We can see some mountains in the distance, but we ultimately know that crops don’t grow best on mountains. It’s as though God is going to begin anew. He’s going to level the mountain - removing these people from their positions of authority and power.

In about 587 BC - roughly 150 years after Micah served, the Babylonian army came and destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. Micah’s message and God’s judgment came to fruition.

We may not lead nations or civil governments, and most of us are not called to be religious leaders, but we all lead in various capacities - we lead our families, work groups, friends, neighbors. Like the leaders in Israel and Judah, we must beware the calamity, destruction is the result of crooked and corrupt leadership.

In the areas where you and I lead, how are we doing? Are we marked by crookedness that results in more power? Are we motivated by wealth so much that we corrupt God’s standards of how we should live?

Right in the middle of the chapter, Micah seems to make a caveat. He contrasts his calling and activity with that of the false prophets. In a way, we could say that he is providing...

Characteristics of Godly leaders (Micah 3:8)

Micah notes:

Micah 3:8 ESV

But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.

Let’s consider briefly the three characteristics that he lays out. First of all, a godly leader should be...

Empowered by the Spirit of God

Rather than using crooked tactics and corrupt methodologies to gain power, God’s leaders should be empowered by the Spirit of God.

The Bible communicates that if we are God’s children, if we have responded to His call and accepted his gift of salvation, then we also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit indwells us to serve Him and serve His people. The Spirit helps us to pray, guides our activity, grants us boldness when needed, gives us the words we need to say.

repent when the spirit convicts

respond when the spirit prompts us to action - even at our own expense

Godly leaders need to be empowered by God’s Spirit.

Secondly, godly leaders...

Execute justice by the standard of God

Micah says that he acts with “justice and might” - because of the empowerment from God. Justice should be an equal justice. This is not tipping the scales in favor of one outcome - this is taking a balanced view - using the Word of God as the standard.

God detests when we show favoritism - whether to the rich or to the poor. Sure we need to help those in need, but we shouldn’t bend standards in their favor. We also shouldn’t pander to the wealthy and rich. We certainly should not get personal gain from our execution of justice.

Finally, a godly leader should be willing to...

Expose sins according to the Word of God

It is sometimes difficult for us to want to confront sin. We want to speak with grace and mercy - and we should - but that doesn’t mean that we redefine what sin is and what it isn’t.

The question becomes - whose sin do we expose and to whom.

First of all, we expose and address our own sins - confessing to God and to those that we’ve offended.

Matthew 7:1–6 NLT

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

When our house is in order, then we’ve been given the task of exposing the sins of brothers and sisters in Christ - members in the church. Not so that we can belittle each other, but so that we can urge each other toward holiness. Jesus said in Matthew 18.

Matthew 18:15 ESV

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

Jesus goes on to talk about further steps if the brother or sister doesn’t respond.

Sometimes, we’re tempted to call out sins in the world. There are even some who would stand on street corners and condemn those who are walking by. The Apostle Paul said

1 Corinthians 5:12 ESV

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?

Ultimately God will judge the rest of the world - we are called to help each other move toward holiness.

Our very lives will be an aroma of judgment on the rest of the world - if we are living holy and godly lives.

2 Corinthians 2:15–16 ESV

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

Closing Thoughts

Micah was given a specific role to play in Israel and Judah. He was given a message for the political and religious leaders.

We may want to step out and be like Micah on social media or other places - calling out leaders. I do wonder if a better response would be to use the ballot box for political leaders and use our personal relationships for religious leaders. It does very little to talk about a pastor, author, professor, or Christian influencer across the country - in fact it may do more damage to the testimony of Christ than anything - but if you see sin in me - come and talk to me - I am far from perfect and am accountable to you as a brother in Christ and a fellow member of this church.

Jesus is our best example of a godly leader.

He quoted from Isaiah that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him

He was called to execute justice

He exposed our sin - and then went the extra step - to take our judgment, the calamity that we deserve.

At the beginning, I asked you to write down a couple of names. As we close, write down the crookedness or corruption that the Holy Spirit may have been exposing in your heart. In our time of silent reflection at the end of the service, consider confessing that to the Lord, asking God to help you lead in a way that would honor him. We may not all be called to lead in big ways, but I believe we all lead at some point. May we lead with Godly integrity.

Let’s pray.

Benediction:

Ephesians 6:24 ESV

Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

References:

Calvin, John, and John Owen. Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.

Dever, Mark, The Message of the Old Testament: Promises Made, (Crossway, Wheaton, 2006)

Martin, John A. “Micah.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

Prior, David. The Bible Speaks Today: The Message of Joel, Micah & Habakkuk. Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 1998.

Rusten, Sharon with E. Michael. The Complete Book of When & Where in the Bible and throughout History. Wheaton, IL: Michael E Rusten, 2005.

Um, Stephen. Micah for You. The Good Book Company, 2018.

Waltke, Bruce K. “Micah.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 822–833. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.

https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/micah/

https://bibleproject.com/explore/category/how-to-read-biblical-poetry/

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/5/18/somalias-new-president

https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2022-sub-saharan-africa-corruption-compounding-multiple-crises

https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2022/

ESV Study Bible