Speaking Out Against Wikedness

The prophet Micah spoke out against wiked leaders:

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, to Israel his sin.
9 Hear this, you leaders of the house of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right;
10 who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness.
11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us."
12 Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.

Micah 3:8-12

Of course as part of the Old Testament Prophet's Club this type of rebuke of government and religious leaders was part of his job description.

Micah rebukes government leaders and rulers for dispising justice and distorting "all that is right." They did this through:

• bloodshed (unjustified killing of innocent citizens)
• wickedness (actions against God's laws)
• accepting bribes to influence judgements

Micah rebukes religious leaders (priests and prophets) for:

• teaching for a price (only if people could pay)
• for engaging in fortune-telling and also doing it for a profit

These religious leaders would use the name of the LORD in vain and issue false profecies of peace and prosperity.

Micah rebukes them all and warns that trouble and destruction await Jerusalem.

Sometimes "filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD" we too need to speak out against sinful and wicked leaders.