Embedded Files
Power, Justice, & Courage
Acting justly in life only happens by responding properly to the counsel of Christ, so we must not listen to culture or our own hearts (verses 1-7, 9-12).
Micah has addressed the people's idolatry and selfishly motivated covetousness. Now he addresses the judges and political leaders. Instead of properly interpreting and applying God's law, they ruled against good and for evil, and stripped away everything valuable to the people. They were supposed to shepherd and protect the people, but instead, they preyed on them like a predator. The political leaders had an administrative responsibility to maintain continuity and order and guide the people in truth and justice. But they hated justice and twisted the truth and justice so severely to propagate bloodshed and violence for their own personal gain that the people no longer knew justice from injustice. Next, Micah addresses the prophets. Instead of proclaiming truth and redirecting the people towards God, they were leading them away from God for greedy personal gain. If someone gave them what they wanted, they told them what they wanted to hear, but preached false condemnation and calamity when they didn't get what they wanted. Their relationship was designed to induce people to turn to them and give them what they wanted instead of turning to God to get what they truly needed. So every branch of leadership was corrupt, self-seeking, and greedy. But they claimed that God was behind them, for those who followed them, and that God would never discipline or punish them! But God is faithful to hold all who rebel against Him, His truth, and His commandments accountable. First, He tells the judges there will come a time when they cry out to Him in need of justice and mercy, but will receive none. Then He tells the prophets that when they truly need to hear from Him, they won't, and they'll suffer embarrassment and shame. Because of the wicked, selfish, and heartless leadership of God's people, instead of peace, prosperity, and order, the people will experience conflict, hardship, and chaos as Judah is conquered and carried off as slaves. No matter how intelligent humanity is, or how well governments or systems are set up by them are designed to function, all human systems will fail when the chief motivation operating them is "self". When "self" is the motive behind seeking justice, all "justice" comes at the cost of others. Thus, the sinfully selfish human heart is incapable of justice, and only a transformed heart in Christ can truly act justly towards others by loving God with all they are and loving their neighbor as themselves.
Acting justly in life only happens by responding properly to the counsel of Christ, so we must stand firmly in His power, justice, and courage (verse 8).
Micah not only tells us about the disobedient and rebellious selfishness of Judah's leadership, but he also describes what a truly Godly person in the midst of difficult and chaotic times should look like. In contrast to the leaders who are filled with selfishness, Micah says that he's filled with the Holy Spirit! And as a result of the indwelling Holy Spirit, he's filled with power, justice, and courage! The leaders of Judah thought and acted as they did because they were driven by the fear, guilt, shame, regret, and selfishness that result from a sinful and selfish heart. Their rejection of God's word and counsel moved them farther away from God and compelled them to lead others away from God, too. However, Micah was properly motivated by love for God and love for others, and responded by standing firmly on God's truh, following God's counsel, and faithfully and boldly confronting the sinful rebellion of Judah and Israel. Micah knew that God's word and counsel were the greatest good for all people, whether they wanted to hear the truth or not, and he was motivated out of love for them to see them restored to God's blessings. As followers of Christ, indwelt with the same Holy Spirit, we have the same access to His power, justice, and courage. People today still have the same fundamental need to be freed from sin, and we have the only message of hope, justice, and freedom from sin in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. We're called to be witnesses, ambassadors, and disciple makers for Him as we minister boldly in the truth and counsel of God, and sacrificially serve in love for Him and our neighbor. What are we doing with the gospel we've been given? Are we leading ourselves to Christ by heeding His word and counsel, or settling for less and leading ourselves away from Him? Are we leading others to Christ or away from Him, towards the wrong things?
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse