Micah was a prophet who saw the church through God\u2019s eyes, and it caused his soul to wail and lament. He was seeing in the Spirit what God saw: the deep, hideous sins of the people and their shepherds and leaders. He saw idolatry, a harlot church making a harlot\u2019s wages.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked\u2026. For her wounds are incurable. For it is come to Judah; it has come to the gate of my people\u2014to Jerusalem\u201d (Micah 1:8-9, NKJV)<\/em>. Micah\u2019s lament goes even further. \u201cBut disaster came down from the Lord to the gate of Jerusalem\u2026. For the transgressions of Israel were found in you\u201d (Micah 1:12-13)<\/em>.<\/p>\n Micah saw an incurable disease among God\u2019s people and an inescapable judgment. Look at what God calls rebellion, and see the cause of his controversy with them:<\/p>\n 1. A new scheme of covetousness concocted by mercenary servants of God, having to do with money, property, success.<\/p>\n 2. An emphasis on self: \u201cWoe to those who devise iniquity\u2026. because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and take them by violence, also houses, and seize them. So they oppress a man and his house\u2026\u201d (Micah 2:1-2)<\/em>.<\/p>\n 3. Rejection of the prophet\u2019s warnings and telling people that judgment preaching is not of God, that it is contrary to his character. \u201c\u2019Do not prattle,\u2019 you say to those who prophesy\u2026 \u2018Is the Spirit of the Lord restricted?\u2019\u201d (Micah 2:6-7)<\/em>.<\/p>\n The false prophets and robbing shepherds told Micah to shut up, saying things like, \u201cDon\u2019t preach so much judgment! We are God\u2019s people; he loves us. There will be no judgment on us.\u201d The literal interpretation means, \u201cDrop it! Drop this message of judgment on God\u2019s people. Stop reproaching good people. This is not of God.\u201d<\/p>\n Listen to Micah\u2019s answer to these false followers: \u201cSo they shall not prophesy to you; they shall not return insult for insult\u2026. Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly?\u201d (Micah 2:6-7)<\/em>. In other words, if this message is not preached, the reproach of this place will never be turned back.<\/p>\n