Miquéias 3

1 E disse eu: Ouvi, peço-vos, ó chefes de Jacó, e vós, ó príncipes da casa de Israel: não é a vós que pertence saber a justiça?

2 A vós que aborreceis o bem, e amais o mal, que arrancais a pele de cima deles, e a carne de cima dos seus ossos,

3 os que também comeis a carne do meu povo e lhes arrancais a pele, e lhes esmiuçais os ossos, e os repartis em pedaços como para a panela e como carne dentro do caldeirão.

4 Então clamarão ao Senhor; ele, porém, não lhes responderá, antes esconderá deles a sua face naquele tempo, conforme eles fizeram mal nas suas obras.

5 Assim diz o Senhor a respeito dos profetas que fazem errar o meu povo, que clamam: Paz! enquanto têm o que comer, mas preparam a guerra contra aquele que nada lhes mete na boca.

6 Portanto se vos fará noite sem visão; e trevas sem adivinhação haverá para vós. Assim se porá o sol sobre os profetas, e sobre eles, obscurecerá o dia.

7 E os videntes se envergonharão, e os adivinhadores se confundirão; sim, todos eles cobrirão os seus lábios, porque não haverá resposta de Deus.

8 Quanto a mim, estou cheio do poder do Espírito do Senhor, assim como de justiça e de coragem, para declarar a Jacó a sua transgressão e a Israel o seu pecado.

9 Ouvi agora isto, vós chefes da casa de Jacó, e vós governantes da casa de Israel, que abominais a justiça e perverteis tudo o que é direito,

10 edificando a Sião com sangue, e a Jerusalém com iniqüidade.

11 Os seus chefes dão as sentenças por peitas, e os seus sacerdotes ensinam por interesse, e os seus profetas adivinham por dinheiro; e ainda se encostam ao Senhor, dizendo: Não está o Senhor no meio de nós? nenhum mal nos sobrevirá.

12 Portanto, por causa de vós, Sião será lavrada como um campo, e Jerusalém se tornará em montões de pedras, e o monte desta casa em lugares altos dum bosque.

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.