Micah 2:1-11

People's Plans and God's Plans

1 How terrible it will be for those who plan to harm others! How terrible for those who make evil plans before they even get out of bed! As soon as daylight comes, they carry them out. That's because they have the power to do it.
2 If they want fields or houses, they take them. They cheat men out of their homes and property.
3 So the LORD says to them, "I am planning to send trouble on you. You will not be able to save yourselves from it. You will not live so proudly anymore. It will be a time of trouble.
4 At that time people will make fun of you. They will tease you by singing a song of sadness. They will pretend to be you and say, 'We are totally destroyed. Our enemies have divided up our land. The LORD has taken it away from us! He has given our fields to those who turned against us.' "
5 So you won't even have anyone left in the LORD's community who can divide up the land for you.

Some Prophets Aren't Really Prophets at All

6 "Don't prophesy," the people's prophets say. "Don't prophesy about bad things. Nothing shameful is going to happen to us."
7 People of Jacob, should others say, "The LORD isn't angry with us. He doesn't do things like that"? The LORD replies, "What I promise brings good things to those who lead honest lives.
8 But lately my people have attacked one another as if they were enemies. You strip the rich robes off those who happen to pass by. They thought they were as safe as men returning from a battle they had won.
9 You drive the women among my people out of their pleasant homes. You take my blessing away from their children forever.
10 Get up! Leave this land! It is no longer your resting place. You have made it 'unclean.' You have completely destroyed it.
11 Suppose a prophet goes around telling lies. And he prophesies that you will have plenty of wine and beer. Then that kind of prophet would be just right for this nation!

Micah 2:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO MICAH 2

In this chapter complaint is made of the sins of the people of Israel, and they are threatened with punishment for them. The sins they are charged with are covetousness, oppression, and injustice, which were premeditated, and done deliberately, Mic 2:1,2; therefore the Lord devised evil against them, they should not escape; and which would bring down their pride, and cause them to take up a lamentation, because they should not enjoy the portion of land that belonged to them, Mic 2:3-5; they are further charged with opposing the prophets of the Lord, the folly and wickedness of which is exposed, Mic 2:6,7; and with great inhumanity and barbarity, even to women and children, Mic 2:8,9; and therefore are ordered to expect and prepare for a removal out of their land, Mic 2:10; and the rather, since they gave encouragement and heed to false prophets, and delighted in them, Mic 2:11; and the chapter is concluded with words of comfort to the remnant among them, and with precious promises of the Messiah, and the blessings of grace by him, Mic 2:12,13.

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