Micah 2
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CHAPTER 2
Man’s Plans and God’s (2:1–5)
1–2 Here Micah denounces the wealthy and powerful people of Israel (both north and south); they plan iniquity and then carry it out because they have the power to do so (verse 1). This shows that the structure and the institutions of society in Israel were controlled by the rich; the rich benefited and the poor suffered. The poor were defrauded; their fields, their houses, their inheritance were all taken from them. This violated the principles of God’s COVENANT; God intended that there should be social justice in the land, not oppression (see Exodus 20:17; 22:21–27; 23:4–9). Violating these covenant principles was an offense not only to the poor but also to God, the protector of the poor.
3–5 In the previous chapter, Micah denounced Israel’s idolatry (Micah 1:7); here he denounces Israel’s oppression of the poor. Both were violations of God’s covenant. Therefore the Lord says, “I am planning disaster against this people—especially against the oppressors, the rich and powerful” (verse 3).
The Lord next quotes a song that ridicules the rich; it’s as if the rich were singing their own lament: “We (the rich) are utterly ruined” (verse 4). Why are they lamenting? Because their possession (their land, their inheritance) is being assigned to traitors(the Assyrians).Therefore,Micah adds, the rich will have no one in the assembly of the LORD (verse 5); they will lose their place as God’s covenant people. When the remnant of Israel (verse 12) returns to the land, the rich of Micah’s day will receive no part in it; they will not be there when the land is again divided by lot among the remnant of Israel.7
False Prophets (2:6–11)
6–7 The false prophets say to true PROPHETS like Micah: “Do not prophesy; stop prophesying about these things, these judgments, this disgrace” (verse 6). “Because,” say the false prophets, “this disgrace will not overtake us.” These false prophets were like the prophets of Jeremiah’s day who said “Peace, peace,” when there was no peace (Jeremiah 6:13–14). The false prophets of Micah’s time didn’t believe that God would do such things—such as bringing judgment on His own people (verse 7).
In the second half of verse 7, the Lord speaks. His words do good to the upright, not harm. Only those who turn from God’s words need to fear His judgments.
8–10 The Lord continues speaking. The rich among His people have risen up like an enemy (verse 8)—an enemy of the poor and an enemy of God. They have driven women (probably widows) from their homes and thereby deprived their children of God’s blessings (verse 9). God had intended that His blessings of wealth and land be evenly distributed among His people, but the rich had ended up taking the biggest share themselves.8
Therefore, the Lord will drive the rich out of the land; those things they have confiscated for themselves will soon be confiscated by others (the Assyrians). The rich oppressors have defiled the land, and therefore they are no longer entitled to remain in it (see Leviticus 18:24–28).
11 In Micah’s time—as in our own—there were “prophets” who promised prosperity (represented here by wine and beer). Such prophets are eagerly listened to; they talk about the Lord’s blessings but they say nothing about His demands. They prophesy what people want to hear, not what God wants to say. Thus they are ideal “prophets” for those who love prosperity more than they love God.
Deliverance Promised (2:12–13)
12–13 Together with words of judgment, the Old Testament prophets also offered words of hope and deliverance; but this deliverance was reserved for the remnant of Israel—that is, the remnant of all Israel, both north and south (verse 12).
Here the Lord continues speaking through Micah. Although Israel will be carried into exile, those who remain faithful to God (the “remnant”) will be restored to their land9 (see Isaiah 10:20–23). God will bring them together like sheep in a pen; they will be safe and secure.
one who breaks open the way will lead them; they will then break through the gate and go out (verse 13). God’s people, God’s kingdom, will “break out” into the whole world. The “One who breaks open the way” is none other than Jesus the Messianic King, who together with the LORD in heaven will go forth at the head of His people.