Miqueas 3

1 Y dije: Oíd ahora, jefes de Jacob y gobernantes de la casa de Israel. ¿No corresponde a vosotros conocer la justicia?

2 Vosotros que aborrecéis lo bueno y amáis lo malo, que les arrancáis la piel de encima y la carne de sobre sus huesos;

3 que coméis la carne de mi pueblo, les desolláis su piel, quebráis sus huesos, y los hacéis pedazos como para la olla, como carne dentro de la caldera.

4 Entonces clamarán al SEÑOR, pero El no les responderá; sino que esconderá de ellos su rostro en aquel tiempo, porque han hecho malas obras.

5 Así dice el SEÑOR acerca de los profetas que hacen errar a mi pueblo, los cuales cuando tienen algo que morder, proclaman: Paz. Pero contra aquel que no les pone nada en la boca, declaran guerra santa.

6 Por tanto, para vosotros será noche sin visión, y oscuridad sin adivinación. Se pondrá el sol sobre los profetas, y se oscurecerá el día sobre ellos.

7 Los videntes serán avergonzados, y confundidos los adivinos. Todos ellos se cubrirán la boca porque no hay respuesta de Dios.

8 Yo, en cambio, estoy lleno de poder, del Espíritu del SEÑOR, y de juicio y de valor, para dar a conocer a Jacob su rebelión, y a Israel su pecado.

9 Oíd ahora esto, jefes de la casa de Jacob y gobernantes de la casa de Israel, que aborrecéis la justicia y torcéis todo lo recto,

10 que edificáis a Sion con sangre y a Jerusalén con iniquidad.

11 Sus jefes juzgan por soborno, sus sacerdotes enseñan por precio, sus profetas adivinan por dinero, y se apoyan en el SEÑOR, diciendo: ¿No está el SEÑOR en medio de nosotros? No vendrá sobre nosotros mal alguno.

12 Por tanto, a causa de vosotros, Sion será arada como un campo, Jerusalén se convertirá en un montón de ruinas, y el monte del templo será como las alturas de un bosque.

Miqueas 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.