Miqueas 2

1 Juicio contra los ricos opresores
¡Qué aflicción les espera a ustedes que despiertan en la noche,
tramando planes malvados!
Se levantan al amanecer y se apuran a realizarlos,
solo porque tienen el poder para hacerlo.

2 Cuando quieren un pedazo de tierra,
encuentran la forma de apropiárselo.
Cuando quieren la casa de alguien,
la toman mediante fraude y violencia.
Estafan a un hombre para quitarle su propiedad
y dejan a su familia sin herencia.

3 Pero esto es lo que dice el Señor
:
«Pagaré su maldad con maldad;
no podrán librar su cuello de la soga.
No volverán a caminar con orgullo,
porque será un tiempo terrible».

4 En aquel día sus enemigos se burlarán de ustedes
cuando entonen esta canción de lamento acerca de ustedes:
«¡Estamos acabados,
totalmente arruinados!
Dios confiscó la tierra,
nos la ha quitado.
Dio nuestros campos
a los que nos traicionaron».

5 Entonces otros establecerán los límites de propiedad
y el pueblo del Señor
no tendrá voz ni voto
en cómo se reparte la tierra.

6 Falsos y verdaderos profetas
«No digan semejantes cosas
—responde la gente—.
No profeticen así.
¡Esos desastres nunca nos llegarán!».

7 ¿Debes hablar de esa manera, oh familia de Israel?
¿Tendrá paciencia el Espíritu del Señor
con semejante comportamiento?
Si ustedes hicieran lo correcto,
encontrarían consuelo en mis palabras.

8 Sin embargo, hasta este mismo instante
mi pueblo se rebela contra mí, ¡como un enemigo!
Les roban hasta la camisa
a los que confiaban en ustedes
y los dejan tan andrajosos como hombres
que regresan de la guerra.

9 Desalojaron a las mujeres de sus cómodos hogares
y despojaron a sus hijos para siempre de todo lo que Dios les hubiera dado.

10 ¡Levántense! ¡Fuera!
Esta ya no es su tierra ni su hogar,
porque la llenaron de pecado
y la arruinaron por completo.

11 Supongamos que un profeta lleno de mentiras les dice:
«¡Les predicaré las delicias del vino y del alcohol!».
¡Esa es la clase de profeta que a ustedes les gustaría!

12 Esperanza de restauración
«Algún día, oh Israel, yo te reuniré;
juntaré al remanente que quedó.
Volveré a reunirlos como ovejas en su redil
y como un rebaño en su pastizal.
¡Sí, su tierra se llenará nuevamente
de ruidosas multitudes!

13 Su líder irrumpirá, se pondrá al frente
y los sacará del destierro,
a través de las puertas de las ciudades enemigas,
y los llevará de regreso a su propia tierra.
Su rey los conducirá;
el Señor
mismo los guiará».

Miqueas 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

The sins and desolations of Israel. (1-5) Their evil practices. (6-11) A promise of restoration. (12,13)

Verses 1-5 Woe to the people that devise evil during the night, and rise early to carry it into execution! It is bad to do mischief on a sudden thought, much worse to do it with design and forethought. It is of great moment to improve and employ hours of retirement and solitude in a proper manner. If covetousness reigns in the heart, compassion is banished; and when the heart is thus engaged, violence and fraud commonly occupy the hands. The most haughty and secure in prosperity, are commonly most ready to despair in adversity. Woe to those from whom God turns away! Those are the sorest calamities which cut us off from the congregation of the Lord, or cut us short in the enjoyment of its privileges.

Verses 6-11 Since they say, "Prophesy not," God will take them at their word, and their sin shall be their punishment. Let the physician no longer attend the patient that will not be healed. Those are enemies, not only to God, but to their country, who silence good ministers, and stop the means of grace. What bonds will hold those who have no reverence for God's word? Sinners cannot expect to rest in a land they have polluted. You shall not only be obliged to depart out of this land, but it shall destroy you. Apply this to our state in this present world. There is corruption in the world through lust, and we should keep at a distance from it. It is not our rest: it was designed for our passage, but not for our portion; our inn, but not our home; here we have no continuing city; let us therefore arise and depart, let us seek a continuing city above. Since they will be deceived, let them be deceived. Teachers who recommend self-indulgence by their doctrine and example, best suit such sinners.

Verses 12-13 These verses may refer to the captivity of Israel and Judah. But the passage is also a prophecy of the conversion of the Jews to Christ. The Lord would not only bring them from captivity, and multiply them, but the Lord Jesus would open their way to God, by taking upon him the nature of man, and by the work of his Spirit in their hearts, breaking the fetters of Satan. Thus he has gone before, and the people follow, breaking, in his strength, through the enemies that would stop their way to heaven.

Chapter Summary

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.