June 26 Micah 3-5 Prophets Need Real Power

In Micah 3, the LORD rebukes the leaders, priests, and prophets for misleading the people. I'd like to focus on what is said about the prophets.

The false prophets profess what will be pleasing to the people hearing their message - "peace." Proclaiming an unwelcome message will result in the people "waging war." God is angry at both the false prophets for their false message and at the people for creating an unwelcome atmosphere to hear from the LORD.

Micah declares, "I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD (being filled with the Spirit as opposed to the Spirit being upon a person is very rare in the OT - another whole study for another day - the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the OT) and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob (the Jewish people) his transgression, to Israel his sin." In such an unwelcoming atmosphere to bad news, God empowers Micah to preach TRUTH to His people. Micah preaches the message from God for the people, not a message from the people (what they want to hear) for the people.

It is like a person going to a doctor for a physical. The person makes it uncomfortable for the doctor to give bad news. So, the doctor doesn't disclose that the person has a deadly, but easily curable disease. Instead, the doctor says everything is great, the person is happy, and then they die needlessly. This is criminal on the part of the doctor and crazy on the part of the patient. That is exactly what was going on in Israel between the prophets and the people. Of course, the prophets willing to speak were all quacks!

We as people need to be open to unpleasant truth about ourselves from God's word. Every Sunday (daily if we read the Scriptures ourselves), we should be convicted of the sin in our life if the preacher is preaching truth. We should encourage (Hebrews 13:17) a truth teller in the pulpit and support that ministry.

If you have a preacher in the pulpit who faithfully preaches the truth of God's Word weekly without hesitation, then thank God for Him and then thank your preacher often. Don't take faithfulness in the pulpit for granted. And respond to God's truth - it will cure you!

If you are a pastor, be empowered by the Holy Spirit and pray often for a fresh filling of Him. You can't do this hard work on your own - the atmosphere is just too tough.