Micah 3

Wicked Leaders Rebuked

What kind of people does God choose to be His servants? Micah 3 tells what Micah said was wrong with those who were supposed to be the leaders of Israel and the servants of God. Look for what he said as you read.

Understanding the Scriptures

Micah 3

Know judgment (v. 1)Be able to judge fairly

Pluck off their skin, eat the flesh of my people, flay their skin, break their bones, chop them in pieces (vv. 2–3)Phrases used to describe the cruelty of the leaders of Israel and Judah. The leaders did not really eat the people. They used their authority to make themselves rich by taking the people’s food, clothing, and property.

Ill (v. 4)Wickedly

Err (v. 5)Sin

That bite with their teeth, … prepare war against him (v. 5)False prophets will say “peace” to those who feed them but will fight against those who will not.

Divine (vv. 6, 11)Foretell the future using means not ordained of God

Sun shall go down over the prophets, seers be ashamed, diviners confounded (vv. 6–7)Phrases that mean that the false prophets will be silenced

Abhor judgment, and pervert all equity (v. 9)Hate fairness and twist what is right

With blood, with iniquity (v. 10)By murder and wickedness

Heads (v. 11)Leaders

Become heaps (v. 12)Be turned into a pile of stones

The mountain of the house as the high places of the forest (v. 12)The temple will become as a hill overgrown with trees and bushes.

Studying the Scriptures

Do activity A as you study Micah 3.

1. Turn It Around

   1. List what Micah 3 said the leaders of the people were doing wrong.

   2. Write about a Church leader you know or use a scripture example and describe his or her qualities in following the Lord and leading others.