Day 653: Micah 3- Dependent Power

​And I said:
Hear, you heads of Jacob
    and rulers of the house of Israel!
Is it not for you to know justice?--
2     you who hate the good and love the evil,
who tear the skin from off my people
    and their flesh from off their bones,
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.

6 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;
7 the seers shall be disgraced,
    and the diviners put to shame;
they shall all cover their lips,
    for there is no answer from God.

8 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.
9 Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob
    and rulers of the house of Israel,
who detest justice
    and make crooked all that is straight,
10 who build Zion with blood
    and Jerusalem with iniquity.
11 Its heads give judgment for a bribe;
    its priests teach for a price;
    its prophets practice divination for money;
yet they lean on the Lord and say,
    “Is not the Lord in the midst of us?
    No disaster shall come upon us.”
12 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.
 
Meditation
True power is discovered in total dependence on God’s Word, work, and Spirit. God’s power is counter-intuitive, discovered in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10), and deployed in sacrifice. Faithful dependency on God for power will lead to fruitful participation in His work.
 
Israel’s leaders misunderstood God’s power and mislead God’s people. Micah’s oracle condemns heads of Judah and rulers of Israel as well as prophets, judges, and teachers. There was corruption in the court, prophets vainly promising peace for profit, and money exchanged for mediums. The incredible corruption diagnosed by Micah called for clear justice from God.
 
Contrary to the crooked leaders, Micah was a prophet filled with the power of God, His word and Spirit. The power of Micah’s demand for justice came only through God’s word and by God’s Spirit.
 
Corrupt leaders look for power in typical places- position, prosperity, and popularity. I understand this temptation and shutter when I see the swift justice Micah promises. Where is hope?
 
Jesus Christ is the true prophet who came as the Word made flesh. Jesus used His power for others, taking the form of a servant, and giving His life as a ransom for many. Jesus satisfied justice and taught that true power is found in being a willing loser for other’s gain, dying for others to live. Jesus demonstrated this with His own life and work, too.
 
Emptying ourselves is the path to true power, in faith, trusting God’s word, work, and Spirit with all our lives. Grace invites you to true power of total Divine dependence.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Where do you look for power? Do you identify more with the corrupt leaders or the dependent prophet?
 
-Why is it difficult to understand the gospel trajectory of power proclaimed by the word and work of Jesus?
 
-How does the reality of gospel power fuel faithfulness in your life and leadership? This is to ask, as you meditate on Christ giving Himself for you, how does this empower you to give your life for others?
 
Key Verse
8 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.