Micah is a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah around 725 BC. In his prophecy, he predicts the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel (and their capital Samaria) which happened in 722 BC. He also warned Judah of God’s judgment on them if they did not repent and change their ways.
“Do not prophesy,” their prophets say. “Do not prophesy about these things; disgrace will not overtake us.” Should it be said, O house of Jacob: “Is the Spirit of the LORD angry? Does He do such things?”
[The LORD said,] “Do not My words do good to him whose ways are upright?” (Micah 2:6-7)
There were many voices speaking in ancient Israel. There were many “prophets.” There were many people claiming to be speaking for the LORD. Micah mentions these other prophets in 2:6. He identifies them as “their prophets.” These are the prophets that everyone liked.
If a liar and deceiver comes and says, “I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,” he would be just the prophet for this people! (Micah 2:11). This is the message that people wanted to hear. “Everything is okay. Good times will keep coming. God is loving. He does not mind your actions. Life is good. The economy is good. Have some more beer and wine and keep partying!”
Let’s face it. We all like good news. None of us like to be rebuked. We like to think we are spiritual and, at the same time, we like to do the things we want to do. The OT prophets were not popular because they refused to tow the party line. “Do not prophesy about these things,” they were told. “Keep quiet. God is not angry. He does not do such things.”
I like God’s response, “Do not my words do good to him whose ways are upright.” In other words, God once again reminds us that His words of warning are not to meant to harm but to confront us with the destructive nature of sin. We all like good news. But oftentimes we need to hear the hard message. We need to see our sin for what it is. We need to stop playing games with the realities of life.
You see God’s heart (and Micah’s heart) in this passage. The message of rebuke is not a pleasant message. But if it is given in love, then it is meant to do good. And those who have a heart for righteousness, those who have a true desire to seek God, will respond positively. I think of Proverbs 9:8, Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Proverbs 15:31 has a similar thought, He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. It is our response to a “life-giving rebuke” that reveals our heart. When we hear a hard truth spoken in true love, then we have to decide what type of person we want to be. We will either hate/blame/attack the speaker so that we can continue on our own path of self-gratification and self-destruction…or we will take the words to heart and seek to alter our course back in the direction of God, righteousness and life.
Lord, teach Me to hear Your voice…whether it be in the honest reading of Your Word, the convicting proddings of Your Spirit, or in the loving rebuke and the wise counsel of a faithful friend.