Corrupt Leaders
Category: Failure of justice
Could endure: Rule with fairness, defend the weak.
“Act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 16:19–20; Proverbs 29:4.
Chose wrongly: Detested justice, distorted the truth.
“Her leaders judge for a bribe.” (Micah 3:11)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 1:23; Ezekiel 22:27.
Endured (negatively): Zion reduced to rubble.
“Because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble.” (Micah 3:12)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 26:18; Lamentations 2:15.
Why (wrong motive): Greed, self-interest, corruption.
“You who hate good and love evil.” (Micah 3:2)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 17:23; Isaiah 5:20.
Result: Judgment, land destroyed.
“Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination.” (Micah 3:6)
Cross-Refs: Amos 8:9–11; Matthew 23:35.
False Prophets
Category: Failure of truth
Could endure: Speak God’s word faithfully.
“I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression.” (Micah 3:8)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 23:28; 2 Peter 1:21.
Chose wrongly: Prophesied for pay and personal gain.
“If a prophet comes along and tells you lies… he would be just the prophet for this people!” (Micah 2:11)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 30:10; 2 Timothy 4:3–4.
Endured (negatively): Stripped of vision, exposed as frauds.
“Night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination.” (Micah 3:6)
Cross-Refs: Lamentations 2:14; Matthew 7:15–19.
Why (wrong motive): Greed, desire for popularity.
“If you feed them, they proclaim peace; if you do not, they prepare to wage war against you.” (Micah 3:5)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 6:13–14; Ezekiel 13:19.
Result: Shame and disgrace.
“The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced.” (Micah 3:7)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 18:20; Revelation 21:8.
Priests for Hire
Category: Failure of holiness
Could endure: Serve God’s people freely, as called.
“You received without paying; give without pay.” (Matthew 10:8 — principle, NT echo)
Cross-Refs: Numbers 18:7; Malachi 2:7.
Chose wrongly: Taught for money.
“Her priests teach for a price.” (Micah 3:11)
Cross-Refs: Ezekiel 22:26; Malachi 2:8–9.
Endured (negatively): Became despised and untrustworthy.
“Therefore because of you… Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble.” (Micah 3:12)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 23:1–2; Matthew 21:12–13.
Why (wrong motive): Greed, love of wealth.
“They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them.” (Micah 2:2)
Cross-Refs: Exodus 18:21; 1 Timothy 6:9–10.
Result: Lost their honor and place of influence.
“Zion will be plowed like a field.” (Micah 3:12)
Cross-Refs: Amos 8:11; Malachi 2:9.
The Rebellious People
Category: Failure of covenant faithfulness
Could endure: Walk humbly with God.
“What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 10:12; Matthew 22:37–40.
Chose wrongly: Practiced violence, dishonesty, and idolatry.
“The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains.” (Micah 7:2)
Cross-Refs: Hosea 4:1; Romans 3:10–12.
Endured (negatively): Became prey for enemies.
“The ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire.” (Micah 7:3)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 59:14–15; Amos 5:12.
Why (wrong motive): Greed, corruption, rejection of God.
“Her rich men are violent; her people are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully.” (Micah 6:12)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 12:2; Titus 1:16.
Result: Judgment and exile.
“Therefore I will make you ill and destroy you because of your sins.” (Micah 6:13)
Cross-Refs: Leviticus 26:33; Micah 1:16.