Criticizing the prophet of the Lord

Verse 6 says, “‘Do not prophesy,’ so they prophesy. But if they do not prophesy about these things, insults will not be turned back.” NASB (1995) renders the verse as, “Do not speak out,’ so they speak out. But if they do not speak out concerning these things, reproaches will not be turned back.” (1) Those who were criticizing Micah’s prophetic ministry may have been the people of Israel or the false prophets. It may have been both. In Israel, prophets who proclaimed negative prophecies were often regarded with suspicion and persecuted. (2) The people of Israel believed in God’s faithfulness and love, but they were unwilling to pay attention to His other attributes, namely His righteousness and holiness. (3) Other prophets received similar criticism: “But you made the Nazirites drink wine, and you commanded the prophets, saying, ‘You shall not prophesy!’” (Amos 2:12). “So now hear the word of the Lord: you are saying, ‘You shall not prophesy against Israel nor shall you prophesy against the house of Isaac’” (Amos 7:16). Isaiah, who lived at the same time as Micah, had the same experience (Isa. 30:10).

The sins of the people of Israel

However, the people of Israel were exploiting their poor brethren. That was the same as opposing the Lord Himself. Therefore, the problem did not lie in Micah’s inspired prophecy, but in the people’s unbelief and greed. The people were committing two great sins. (1) One was that they were exploiting the poor. “Recently My people have arisen as an enemy – you strip the robe off the garment from unsuspecting passers-by, from those returned from war.” This was a violation of Exodus 22:25-27. (2) The other was that they were oppressing widows and orphans. “You evict the women of My people, each one from her pleasant house. From her children you take My splendor forever.” Isaiah also denounces the same sin: “So as to deprive the needy of justice and rob the poor among My people of their rights, so that widows may be their spoil and that they may plunder the orphans” (Isa. 10:2). The judgment for the people’s sin is exile. “Arise and go, for this is no place of rest because of the uncleanness that brings on destruction, a painful destruction.” The land of Canaan was given to the people of Israel as a place of rest. However, if they sinned, the land would vomit them out. This is the content of the Land Covenant (Deut. 29-30). Micah discerned and declared that those who spoke only prophecies that pleased the people were false prophets. A false prophet is one “who speaks nonsense to this people.” Even in our day, there are vessels of the Lord who speak the truth, and there are those who speak only what is pleasant to the ear. Let us ask the Lord to give us ears to discern which one is speaking the truth.