Jerusalem's Corrupt Leaders

[Read Micah 3:1-12]

One of the most helpless feelings in life is having a problem and not knowing where to turn for help. It’s one of the biggest struggles that people often experience when moving to a new community—especially when their family is not part of that community. They’ve been removed from all of their support systems and haven’t created any new ones yet, so they feel helpless and lost a little bit. 

I remember coming to this realization right after we moved here. I was out on a bike ride, way away from home, and got a flat tire. I had no one to call for help at the time. In Minnesota, I knew people everywhere and never thought twice of going on a long bike ride or worrying about possibly breaking down. But at that time, I didn’t know anyone and felt a little lost and helpless. Thankfully, a friendly stranger picked me up and gave me a ride home. 

That’s a helpless feeling, but do you know what feels even more helpless? When you are in need of help and you have no God to turn to. That’s a terrible, helpless place to be. There you are, all alone in the world with no one looking out for you, no one to care for you, no one to protect you. It’s a terribly helpless feeling. 

Things get even worse when you find yourself in situations where you're facing injustice and corruption. I’m not sure how many of you have experienced this before, but it’s a terrible feeling. You find yourself in a situation where it seems like everything has been calculated against you. Every time you try to have a conversation with someone, they’ve already made up their mind—or they’ve already been convinced of a different story, or a different version of the story. No matter where you turn, it seems like someone has already been there, poisoning the well, turning people against you. You can sense that someone is corrupting things, but you can’t figure out who’s doing it. You feel the injustice of it all, but there’s nowhere to turn because someone has already gotten to everyone you normally turn to. Talk about a helpless feeling, especially if you don’t have God to turn to. 

It’s not just important to have God to turn to in the midst of these situations, it’s also extremely important to be reminded that God is just and that He doesn’t simply ignore corruption and injustice. Ecclesiastes reminds us, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.” (Ecclesiastes 3:17, ESV). It’s this reminder that God will eventually bring every evil thought and every evil deed into judgment. He will make it all right in the end. It may seem like he’s looking the other way right now, or that he’s allowing injustice and corruption to go unchecked, but eventually God will bring it all into judgment and will make it right in the end. 

This is an important reminder as we read this morning’s passage from Micah because this morning's passage is filled with rebukes and imagery about the corruption and injustice happening amongst Jerusalem’s leaders. Micah covers three groups of leaders in this passage, but it’s really his way of saying that they’re all corrupt and they all promote injustice and God is going to do something about it. 

He begins by coming after the judges and rulers of Jerusalem. He says, “And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel!” (Micah 3:1, ESV). The “heads of Jacob” seems to be a reference that traces back to the book of Exodus. If you remember the story, Moses’ father-in-law saw that Moses was handling every single judicial case in Israel. So, he gave him some advice to begin delegating this work out a bit. We read, “Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves.” (Exodus 18:25–26, ESV). Most commentators believe these are the heads of Jacob being referenced in this morning's passage—basically they are what we would call judges today. 

What does he say about the judges of Jerusalem? He says, “Is it not for you to know justice?— you who hate the good and love the evil…” (Micah 3:1–2, ESV). Judges who do not know justice. Worse than that. These judges hate what is good and love what is evil. So, it’s not just that these judges are ignorant of what are the right decisions that need to be made—or the proper ruling of cases—but these judges are actively choosing injustice because they love evil. Talk about a helpless feeling. Where do you turn when the justice system has been completely corrupted?

It gets worse because later on he says, “Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel…” (Micah 3:9, ESV). This time, however, he’s not focusing on the judges, but more on the rules of Israel—the politicians. They’re going to get a rebuke too. He says, “…rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity.” (Micah 3:9–10, ESV). These politicians also hate justice and have distorted all of the laws of the land. They have built some beautiful things. They had created some massive structures that were feats of engineering, that people marveled at. Yet, Micah says they’ve done it through corruption and injustice. They’ve built these things with the blood of their people and through sinful corrupt means. He’s not impressed. 

Then he turns to the prophets. “Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths.” (Micah 3:5, ESV). This sounds similar to what we read a couple weeks ago. These prophets are saying “Peace, Peace” when there is no peace. Rather than fulfilling the calling God has given them, they are leading God’s people astray. 

Notice what Micah points out with the prophets, and what is at the root of all of the other corruption and injustice he talks about—money. He says that the prophets give a different message based on how much money they are getting. If someone doesn’t give them money, they rip them to shreds. If someone gives them money, they tell them what they want to hear. It’s not just the prophets. It’s all of these wicked leaders. We read, “Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money…” (Micah 3:11, ESV). It’s all of them. The so-called judges are making their decisions based on bribes. The so-called prophets are giving messages for a price. The so-called politicians have structured everything in the city in such a way that they get rich on their people. It’s all about profit and money. 

This is why Micah takes the gloves off and gives a very graphic image. He’s saying this specifically about the judges but I think it's relevant to all of the corrupt leaders we’ve talked about. He says, “…who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones, who eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones in pieces and chop them up like meat in a pot, like flesh in a cauldron.” (Micah 3:2–3, ESV). This is what they’re doing to God’s people—not literally, but basically. Micah says that these so-called leaders are not only leading God’s people astray, but they are devouring God’s people for their own purposes. They are cannibals, who are getting fat by eating their people. The image is so striking because he paints them as basically being animals. 

And they’re all working together. The judges are in the pocket of the politicians. As long as the money keeps coming their way, the judges will keep ruling in favor of the politicians. As long as the judges keep ruling in favor of the politicians, allowing them to unjustly devour the people, the politicians will keep feeding those judges money. And as long as the prophets keep getting a cut of the deal, they will keep blessing their wickedness by saying “Peace” when there is no peace, or by saying “Is not the LORD in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.” (Micah 3:11, ESV). 

It’s such an evil, wicked picture. Think about what it would have felt like to be the average Joe in that situation. You couldn’t turn anywhere. You try to turn to your leaders and all they are doing is trying to figure out how to take advantage of you. You try to bring the injustice to the court system, and they keep ruling against you. You try to go to the prophets, the spiritual leaders, and they not only praise those who are doing evil BUT they also rebuke you and tear into you because you’re not giving them money. Talk about a helpless situation. 

This is why God comes with these words: “Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.” (Micah 3:12, ESV). This is spoken to all of these leaders. Because of THEM Zion will be plowed like a field. Because of their wickedness and selfishness—because they have devoured God’s people in corruption and injustice—Jerusalem will be like a rock pile in a field. The temple mount—or the temple in which God was supposed to dwell—will become like a wooded hill—a deserted place for the animals to dwell in. It will all be deserted and destroyed. 

As is typical of Micah, throughout the passage he gives us glimpses of God’s poetic justice on each of these wicked leaders. That’s what he’s getting at in this passage. To the rulers who spent all of their time and energy building beautifully engineered buildings and structures, ravaging and destroying God’s people in order to do it—God will tear it all down, turn it all to rubble, and give it to the wild animals. It will all turn to nothing and they will have devoted their time and energy and devoured God’s people for nothing.  

He also has a word to the judges: “Then they will cry to the LORD, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil.” (Micah 3:4, ESV). These judges who ignored the cries of those who looked to them for justice, will be ignored when they cry to God. These judges who turned their head to evil—looked the other way—will find that God has hidden his face from them in their time of need. 

Here’s what he says to the prophets: “Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.” (Micah 3:6–7, ESV). These prophets who claim to see visions—will now only see black and darkness. To these prophets who elevated themselves by being bought and paid for by corrupt judges and politicians, their lives will end in total shame. To those prophets who kept their mouth shut to the evil and wickedness around them, God will keep his mouth shut when they come to him.

God does not look the other way when politicians devour their people, and when judges love evil and hate good and promote injustice, and when false teachers keep their mouths shut to the evil and wickedness going on around them. God will act in justice and righteousness. He will bring all of it into the light and judge every single evil word and deed in total and complete justice. 

In the midst of this, Micah brings a contrast to all of this corrupt unjust leadership. He says, “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.” (Micah 3:8, ESV). This is Micah setting himself apart from not only the false prophets, but all of the wicked and corrupt leaders. In contrast to them, he truly knows justice.

Now, I want to step back and remind us of something we talked about in the very first sermon of this series—but comes back up in this passage. You can actually see it throughout this passage in this repeated line: “…who tear the skin from off my people…who eat the flesh of my people…who lead my people astray…” (Micah 3:2–3, 5, ESV). These are Micah’s people. He’s not some prophet sitting on an ivory tower above the people, looking down on them. He’s one of them, which is why he’s so ticked off. You will not treat MY people this way! You will not devour MY people. He knows them and loves them and is going to speak up for them. 

Micah also points out how he’s different from these corrupt leaders. He says, “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD… (Micah 3:8, ESV). This is Micah’s way of saying that he has been truly called by God to be a prophet—and the insinuation is that these other leaders have not. They are only doing what they’re doing because it will get them what they want. In contrast, God has called Micah to preach to these people and it will not get him ahead in life at all—but that doesn’t matter. In all reality, fulfilling God’s calling on his life is going to cause him pain and trial—and by calling out the sins of the corrupt leaders, will most likely cause him financial harm and possible legal issues. Yet, none of that matters. Micah is not bought and paid for—except by his God. He will do what God has told him to do, go where God has told him to go, and will say what God has told him to say. That’s what sets him apart as a true leader or God’s people. 

Micah points out that’s what’s different about him. He says, “I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD…to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.” (Micah 3:8, ESV). Unlike the false prophets, Micah’s calling was to address the sins and willful disobedience of God’s people. That also sets him apart as a true prophet and leader of God’s people. 

In this passage, you should hear echoes of something we talked about in the Gospel of John. Remember when Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit coming and said “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…” (John 16:8, ESV). This is the role of the Holy Spirit—to convict people of their sin and judgment. So, it shouldn’t surprise us when a prophet, who is filled with the Holy Spirit, says that his calling is to fulfill the work of the Holy Spirit by convicting people of their sins and transgressions. This is what sets him apart as a true leader of God’s people. 

There’s one more aspect in here about Micah that’s really important to notice. He says, “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD… (Micah 3:8, ESV). This power that he talks about is really talking about his ability to endure—to persevere. Bruce Waltke says, “The sign of the Spirit's presence was not ecstasy but the ability to persevere vigorously, valiantly, and victoriously on the side of justice in the face of uncommon hostility.” (Waltke,174). Remember the image I gave earlier in the sermon, everyone was allied against Micah—the politicians, the judges, and other prophets. All of the levers of power were aligned against him. Everyone would begin to hate him. It would be extremely exhausting and feel hopeless and helpless at times. The only way he would be able to endure is through the power of the Holy Spirit. This, too, is what set him apart as a true leader of God’s people. 

Here’s what’s powerful in all of this. In the midst of such wickedness and hostility and injustice, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Micah continued to faithfully declare the sins and transgressions of God’s people, continued to point out the judgment from God coming as a result, and continued to call them to repentance. And guess what? We read this in Jeremiah: “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the people of Judah: ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “ ‘Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.’ Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them?”(Jeremiah 26:18–19, ESV). They repented and God relented. Isn’t that incredible? Really, it’s incredible on both fronts. It’s incredible that a people who had gotten to that point of wickedness would repent AND it’s incredible that God would relent from people who had gotten to that point of wickedness. 

There’s so much here for us to remember. On the one hand, we must never abandon our calling to call out sin and wickedness in the world. This is part of what the Holy Spirit is doing in and through us. It doesn’t matter how helpless it may seem, how wicked the nation seems, how hard their hearts are, we must never abandon this calling. Perhaps, God will use our faithful rebuke to bring them to repentance and new life in Jesus Christ. 

It’s also this reminder that nobody is beyond God’s mercy. Nobody. Even these wicked and corrupt judges and politicians and false-teachers could receive God’s mercy by repenting and turning to Jesus Christ in faith. This is true of the most wicked person you know. This is true for you too. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection can cover every level of corruption and wickedness. Jesus endured the corruption and injustice and false teaching of his day and laid down his life on the cross, so that they—and we—could be forgiven. Even as he hung on the cross he said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34, ESV). He will say the same thing for all who repent of their own wickedness and corruption and look to him in faith.