Miqueas 3

1 Y dije: Oíd ahora, príncipes de Jacob, y cabezas de la Casa de Israel: ¿No pertenecía a vosotros saber el derecho?

2 Que aborrecen lo bueno y aman lo malo, que les roban su cuero y su carne de sobre sus huesos;

3 Y que comen la carne de mi pueblo, y les desuellan su cuero de sobre ellos, y les quebrantan sus huesos y los rompen, como para echar en caldero, y como carnes en olla.

4 Entonces clamarán al SEÑOR y no les responderá; antes esconderá de ellos su rostro en aquel tiempo, por cuanto hicieron malas obras.

5 Así ha dicho el SEÑOR acerca de los profetas que hacen errar a mi pueblo, que muerden con sus dientes, y claman: Paz, y al que no les diere que coman, aplazan contra él batalla;

6 por tanto, de la visión se os hará noche, y oscuridad del adivinar; y sobre los profetas se pondrá el sol, y el día se entenebrecerá sobre ellos.

7 Y serán avergonzados los profetas, y se confundirán los adivinos; y ellos todos cubrirán su labio, porque no tendrán respuesta de Dios.

8 Pero yo estoy lleno de fuerza del Espíritu del SEÑOR, y de juicio, y de fortaleza, para denunciar a Jacob su rebelión, y a Israel su pecado.

9 Oíd ahora esto, cabezas de la Casa de Jacob, y capitanes de la Casa de Israel, que abomináis el juicio, y pervertís todo el derecho;

10 que edificáis a Sion con sangre, y a Jerusalén con injusticia;

11 sus cabezas juzgan por cohecho, y sus sacerdotes enseñan por precio, y sus profetas adivinan por dinero; y se arriman al SEÑOR diciendo: ¿no está el SEÑOR entre nosotros? No vendrá mal sobre nosotros.

12 Por tanto, a causa de vosotros Sion será arada como campo, y Jerusalén será montones de ruinas, y el monte de la Casa como cumbres de 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.