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plowing the city

Micah 3:1-12 (JDV)

Micah 3:1 Then I said, “Now listen, leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Aren’t you supposed to know what is just?
Micah 3:2: You hate good and love evil. You tear off people’s skin and strip their flesh from their bones.
Micah 3:3 You eat the flesh of my people after you strip their skin from them and break their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.”
Micah 3:4 They will cry out to Yahveh, but he will not answer them. He will hide his face from them at that time because of the crimes they have committed.
Micah 3:5 This is what Yahveh says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, proclaim peace when they have food to sink their teeth into but commit to war against the one who puts nothing in their mouths.
Micah 3:6 Therefore, it will be a night for you– without visions; it will grow dark for you– without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.
Micah 3:7 Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners disappointed. They will all cover their mouths because there will be no answer from God.
Micah 3:8 As for me, however, I am filled with power by the Breath of Yahveh, with justice and courage, to proclaim to Jacob his rebellion and to Israel his sin.
Micah 3:9 Listen to this, leaders of the house of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert everything right,
Micah 3:10, who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with injustice.
Micah 3:11 Her leaders issue rulings for a bribe, her priests teach for payment, and her prophets practice divination for silver. Yet they lean on Yahveh, saying, “Isn’t Yahveh among us? No disaster will overtake us.”
Micah 3:12 Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become ruins, and the temple’s mountain will be a high thicket.

plowing the city

It’s plowing time again for our garden plot here in Delco. That make this passage all the more appropriate.

Micah spoke out against a corrupt leadership. The priests, prophets and political heads were stirring up the people to war against those who refused to give them tribute or bribes. As such, they were devouring their people. The greed and violence was so prominent that the LORD had determined to plow the whole city of Jerusalem like a field. God cannot stand it when people who call themselves by his name take advantage of each other for their own profit. He will judge them.

LORD, forgive us for making choices on the basis of selfish gain. Teach us to deal honorably with each other because we are yours.