Micah 3

Introduction

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I. Government of a Nation (v. 1-4)

A. God gave a specific purpose for government: uphold justice (v. 1)

1. The leaders of Judah should have known what true justice looked like, they were able to look at God’s perfect Law

a. However, they lived the total opposite of what is just: they hated good and loved evil, devouring people (stealing from them and breaking them down)

b. They were the leaders, they ought to have known better. They purposefully rejected the right thing to feed their own desires

2. Problems occur when a nation’s leaders pursue selfishness, greed, and run over anyone beneath them to achieve and hold onto power (v. 2-3)

a. The leaders of Israel and Judah “destroyed people instead of developing them” (John Maxwell, Maxwell Leadership Bible, p. 1073: all quotes onward from Maxwell are from this page)

b. They tried to call on God, ask for His blessings and might have read their Bibles, but God would not answer

1. Why? “They distorted justice instead of upholding justice for the common man” (Maxwell)

2. God does not look down with pride on those who practice evil. He hides His face from them. No answer or special blessings will come from the God of Justice

B. Leaders of nations have an important, God-given job to do. It’s their responsibility to do it well

1. Romans 13:1–4 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”

a. It’s their job to uphold justice as the rulers and it is our job as the citizens to submit to their authority

b. Not because they are perfect or dispense justice perfectly. Rather, because God anointed government to fulfill the role of leadership for a nation. We submit to them as another way to submit to God

2. The beautiful thing about how America is structured is that we have an opportunity as citizens to choose which leaders will uphold Godly justice

a. That’s why it’s important for Christians to vote

1. We can take that privilege and freedom as a responsibility to do our part as Christians to encourage Godly ways are upheld

2. We are not necessarily voting for which candidate is the most Christian religiously or morally. Rather, we are voting for the candidate who knows justice and will uphold it

b. We enjoy precious freedoms in this nation to worship how we see fit, without intense persecution. We have liberty to take different views on government, education, careers, etc. We have an opportunity to protect those blessings, if not for ourselves, then for our kids and grandkids.

3. It’s easy to see that with poor leadership a nation can turn God’s face away. Let’s ensure that as Christians we do our part by leading people back to God by doing what is right

II. Prophets of God (v. 5-8)

A. A prophet is God’s messenger. His purpose was to proclaim what God wanted; everything that God said, even things that he didn’t like.

1. But the prophets in Micah’s day manipulated their messages based on what was happening to them (v. 5)

a. They have plenty and people were nice then the message was good

b. If people didn’t bend over backwards for them then the message was condemnation.

2. They went to other sources for their messages instead of God (v. 7)

a. They went to witchcraft and played it off as holy and Godly

b. “They misled people into confusion, instead of leading them in a cause, namely, God’s cause” (adapted from Maxwell).

3. As a result, the people were wandering away from God. When God’s spokesman is corrupt then so are his followers. Therefore, judgment was falling on the prophets as punishment for them and a warning for the people (v. 6)

B. Micah, on the other hand, was vastly different (v. 8)

1. He was filled with power from God’s Spirit. He displayed the qualities one would expect: selflessness, boldness, trust in the Lord, God being the primary focus of His messages, etc.

2. How can you tell if a person’s messages are from God?

a. What is the result of the message: justice or greed?

b. What is the focus: God or self?

c. Are sins called out for what they are or do we preach inclusion no matter what you’re doing?

3. If we are walking toward God then we will stand on His truth, begin walking in His ways, do what is right even when it is unpopular, abandon sin, and trust in God

a. When we dedicate ourselves to walking in God’s ways then we are filled with the power of His Spirit and our actions will be radically different than those who live for themselves by their own power

b. That’s why it’s so critical to be familiar with God’s truth by spending time in His Word on a regular, consistent basis. We get to know God and His ways

4. The lead spokesman can make a huge difference in people’s spiritual lives

a. If someone steps into the role of spokesman for God then there is an immense responsibility (James 3:1)

b. What the preacher says is a direct reflection on the Person, Character, and work of God. Will people be brought closer to Him or be led astray?

c. Keep growing closer to God through His Word. We can hold each other accountable and all be filled with power, His Spirit, justice, and courage

III. Leaders and their Responsibility (v. 9-12)

A. These leaders were meant to walk the straight and narrow path, yet, they twisted it

1. The rulers abhorred justice, twisting things

2. The priests, prophets, and leaders all took bribes to teach, convict, and proclaim

a. They claimed to lean on God, but they perverted justice and seeking greed. Doing the exact thing God warned them not to do. “They took bribes for themselves instead of taking responsibility for the people” (Maxwell)

b. Exodus 23:6–8 ““You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.”

3. Therefore, Micah pronounced doom on Jerusalem just as he did on Samaria in ch. 1.

B. Leaders of God’s people have a responsibility to adhere to God’s paths and put others first

1. All people who take the role of leader ought to do their best to live up to that responsibility. Whether you’re…

a. A father who lives by example to love his wife and teach his kids the right way to live

b. An elder in the church who watches over the spiritual health of the congregation

c. A mother who is supporting her husband and influencing her kids for right living

d. A worker who is trying to work hard and show someone else how to do what you do

e. A Christian who is trying to lead someone to Christ

2. We can all be leaders in something. It’s a scary responsibility, and yet, a privilege when we make a journey together

a. You only have to be one step ahead of someone to lead them somewhere. Where will you lead them?

b. “Leadership isn’t about winning. It’s about bringing people with you to the finish line” -John Maxwell.

3. Start by following God’s path and put others first. We can all learn and grow toward Christ together

Conclusion

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