Therefore thus says the LORD: Look, I am planning against this family an evil from which you cannot free your necks; Nor shall you walk with head held high, for it will be an evil time. Micah 2:3 NABRE
Micah is a prophet saying he received a special call from God to denounce injustice and immorality. He lived during the times of King Ahaz, Jotham and Hezekiah, just before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian Empire. This oracle is a calling out of those who are well-to-do who are taking advantage of the poorer members of society. Micah is clear in this denunciation. The people with power seem to spend all their time coveting, robbing and cheating; they spend their nights making their plans, and the days carrying out these plans. What is odd is they seem to be people of faith, for the words the prophet puts on their lips are words of acknowledgement that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Micah’s teachings are practical applications which highlight violence and injustice as well as coveting the goods of another. The root of theft, robbery and fraud is lust and greed, which ultimately leads to violence. The Lord tells them their punishment will be oppression, they will be looked down upon and it will be an evil time for them. Soon after the Babylonian Empire conquers the people and takes them in exile.
Often, we see weaker members of society being oppressed by those in power. It is a repeated behavior, a few in power grab as much as they can taking even from the neediest. In time this is bad for the entire community, it is only through cooperation and lifting up the whole community when prosperity perpetuates. Micah put God at the center of the punishment, but this behavior is its own end. A greedy society always fails.
Do you grab for as much resources as you can? Do you work to cooperate and lift up all?
In the cycle of societies a few in power grab as much as they can taking even from the neediest. In time this is bad for the entire community, it is only through cooperation and lifting up the whole community when prosperity perpetuates. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #greed #lust #Micah #everybodyalways#god#jesuschrist#jesussaves#godisgood#dailydevotion#biblestudy#scripture#bibleverse#verseoftheday#cross#last#gospels#loveeachother#godisgreat#thisVineyard#youversion#everythingalways