Micah 3:1-12

Leadership is vital to the success of any organization and to the well-being of any nation.  Israel was experiencing a crisis in leadership.  Instead of having leaders that encouraged them in righteousness and punished evil; the leaders were practicing unrighteousness and persecuting those who spoke out on behalf of God.  Much time has passed and the names of nations are different but we see very similar correlations to our world today.  Corruption is wide spread and those who call for repentance and proclaim the Word of God are ignored, ridiculed and persecuted.  Micah’s message warning of God’s coming judgment is as relevant in today’s world as it was in the day he penned these words.

THE CORRUPTION OF THE POLITICIANS: The political leaders in Israel were driven to corruption through the abuse of their power.  Instead of serving the people and promoting righteousness; they exploited the people and practiced unrighteousness.  The leaders oppressed the people with taxes in order to make themselves rich.  They were violet towards any who would complain or question their actions.  The political leaders treated the people as if they were animals.  They would kill them and the language makes goes so far as to imply cannibalism.  The people were consumed while the leaders were fat and lazy.  God calls us to practice a servant style of leadership where we help those who are under our influence and leadership.  God’s way is always the best and most effective way for us to live.

THE CORRUPTION OF THE PROPHETS: The priests and prophets were men chosen by God to represent Him before the people.  They were supposed to speak His Word and live with a trust in the Lord.  Unfortunately, the religious leaders were not any better than the political ones.  They spoke what the people wanted to hear.  They accepted bribes from the people so that the rich would appear to have God’s approval since they were representing God.  The politicians exploited the people and the prophets were paid to give them approval from God.  This cooperation between the leaders was corruption at its height.  God would not simply stand by and let this happen.  The leaders forgot that their power and position came from God and God is not fooled.  He would come and destroy the nations and judge the leaders.  The leaders would become slaves and the nations they ruled would become heaps of rubble.  It is a dangerous thing to ignore the Law of God and exploit the people He has called us to serve.