A Faithful And True Message

 Micah 3:5-12

No one likes to be misquoted, or have someone tell others that you said something, but you had said nothing of the sort.  Sometimes one of your children may tell the others that you said something, but you never said anything.  Or maybe the boss gets misquoted by an employee.  People of honor want to have their words quoted correctly.  This is especially true with the Lord God.  Reading through the Bible, we often see where God got upset with false prophets and other religious leaders who spoke words in the name of God, words that He had never spoken.  In our Scripture passage for today, the prophet Micah brings God’s Word against such false prophets.

We should expect that our religious leaders bring us the truth about the Lord God.   God expected that from His servants, as well.  However, many of these prophets spoke words that they did not get from Yahweh.  Sometimes the message that He had for the people was a difficult one.  When the people failed to obey His laws, and when they turned instead to the worship of the false, pagan idols, God gave stern warnings, warnings that if they didn’t change their ways, His punishments would follow.  Naturally, no one wants to hear messages like that.  People do not like to hear bad, negative, or depressing news.  Instead, people like to hear good, positive words.  They like upbeat news, and to hear that they are good.  They like pats on the back and being told that their actions don’t matter to God.

This is what the false prophets and religious leaders throughout the Old Testament were doing.  Over the years God had sent His word through the true prophets that because of the people’s disobedience, dire consequences would happen, including war and captivity.  Naturally the people did not want to hear that.  Thus, in order to please their audience, the false prophets spoke only words of peace (vs. 5), contrary to what the true prophets of God spoke.  God warned, though, that He would put them to shame.  They would get no words from Him (vs. 6-7).

Though God would cut off the ministry of the false prophets, the true and faithful servants of His, like Micah, would have His power and wisdom.  God has given His servants His power (II Timothy 1:7; Acts 1:8).  The false prophets were leading the people astray.  Not all those who claim to have messages from God really do.  The false prophets spoke what would please certain people, who in turn, would pay them well.  The false prophets would prophecy peace or “good” messages when they received gifts from the people.  But when they weren’t paid well, they would not bring the messages that were popular to hear.  They were guilty before God of not giving them His Word, and instead were motivated by greed.

God’s Spirit gave Micah power (vs. 8).  Micah warned against the religious leaders accepting bribes for what they would say and preach (vs. 11).  Pastors today accept bribes when they allow those who contribute much to control the church.  Some pastors keep silent over matters that are wrong, or keep silent on certain issues for fear of losing money or members of their congregations.  These pastors are wrong, and the people who manipulate the religious leaders through their money and offerings are equally wrong.

God’s power will also enable us to be His witnesses, especially when we might need to speak against today’s false prophets.  We can’t witness effectively if we rely on our own strength.  Fear will keep us from speaking out for God.  However, like Micah and the others who spoke God’s Word truthfully, we need to trust Him, and expose these false messages.  The best way is to know God’s Word, and the truth contained therein.  That way, when someone comes with a message contrary to the Bible, we will recognize it and can fearlessly expose it as falsehood.