Miquéias 3

Repreensão aos Líderes e aos Profetas

1 Então eu disse:Ouçam, vocês que são chefes de Jacó,governantes da nação de Israel.Vocês deveriam conhecer a justiça!

2 Mas odeiam o bem e amam o mal;arrancam a pele do meu povoe a carne dos seus ossos.

3 Aqueles que comem a carne do meu povo,arrancam a sua pele,despedaçam os seus ossose os cortam como se fossemcarne para a panela

4 um dia clamarão ao SENHOR,mas ele não lhes responderá.Naquele tempo, ele esconderá deles o rostopor causa do mal que eles têm feito.

5 Assim diz o SENHOR:“Aos profetasque fazem o meu povo desviar-se,e que, quando lhes dão o que mastigar,proclamam paz,mas proclamam guerra santacontra quem não lhes enche a boca:

6 Por tudo isso a noite virá sobre vocês, noite sem visões;haverá trevas, sem adivinhações.O sol se poráe o dia se escurecerá para os profetas.

7 Os videntes envergonhadose os adivinhos constrangidos,todos cobrirão o rostoporque não haverá resposta da parte de Deus”.

8 Mas, quanto a mim, graças ao poderdo Espírito do SENHOR,estou cheio de força e de justiça,para declarar a Jacó a sua transgressão,e a Israel o seu pecado.

9 Ouçam isto, vocês que são chefes da descendência de Jacó,governantes da nação de Israel,que detestam a justiçae pervertem tudo o que é justo;

10 que constroem Sião com derramamento de sanguee Jerusalém com impiedade.

11 Seus líderes julgam sob suborno,seus sacerdotes ensinam visando lucro,e seus profetas adivinham em troca de prata.E ainda se apoiam no SENHOR, dizendo:“O SENHOR está no meio de nós.Nenhuma desgraça nos acontecerá”.

12 Por isso, por causa de vocês,Sião será arada como um campo,Jerusalém se tornará um monte de entulho,e a colina do templo, um matagal.

Miquéias 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

The cruelty of the princes, and the falsehood of the prophets. (1-8) Their false security. (9-12)

Verses 1-8 Men cannot expect to do ill, and fare well; but to find that done to them which they did to others. How seldom do wholesome truths reach the ears of those in high stations or in authority! Those who deceive others are preparing confusion for their own faces. The prophet had ardent love to God and to the souls of men; deep concern for his glory and their salvation, and zeal against sin. The difficulties he met with did not drive him from his work. He had this strength; not from and of himself, but he was full of power by the Spirit of the Lord. Those who act honestly, may act boldly. And those who come to hear the word of God, must be willing to be told of their faults, must take it kindly, and be thankful.

Verses 9-12 Zion's walls owe no thanks to those that build them up with blood and iniquity. The sin of man works not the righteousness of God. Even when men do that which in itself is good, but do it for filthy lucre, it becomes abomination both to God and man. Faith rests in the Lord as the soul's foundation: presumption only leans upon the Lord as a prop, and would use him to serve a turn. If men's having the Lord among them will not keep them from doing evil, it never can secure them from suffering evil for so doing. See the doom of wicked Jacob; Therefore shall Zion for your sake be ploughed as a field. This was exactly fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and is so at this day. If sacred places are polluted by sin, they will be wasted and ruined by the judgments of God.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO MICAH 3

In this chapter the prophet reproves and threatens both princes and prophets, first separately, and then conjunctly; first the heads and princes of the people, civil magistrates, for their ignorance of justice, and hatred of good, and love of evil, and for their oppression and cruelty; and they are threatened with distress when they should cry unto the Lord, and should not be heard by him, Mic 3:1-4; next the prophets are taken to task, for their voraciousness, avarice, and false prophesying; and are threatened with darkness, with want of vision, and of an answer from the Lord, and with shame and confusion, Mic 3:5-7; and the prophet being full of the Spirit and power of God, to declare the sins and transgressions of Jacob and Israel, Mic 3:8, very freely declaims against princes, priests, and prophets, all together; who, though guilty of very notorious crimes, yet were in great security, and promised themselves impunity, Mic 3:9-11; wherefore the city and temple of Jerusalem are threatened with an utter desolation, Mic 3:12.