Focus Scripture: Micah 3:8-10
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 and to Israel his sin. Hear this, you rulers of the house of Jacob and chiefs of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong!
I, for one, have learned to dread political campaigns and mistrust politicians. Too often those running for public office spin their messages/promises to cater to what they believe the people want to hear. When they finally get into office, political leaders seeking to cull favor among their political peers in the system, often forget about what is right and wrong, good and evil, beneficial or harmful for the people. Instead, their hunger and thirst for power and prestige overrule the preferences of the people, while matters of justice are cast aside. Many politicians feel no sense of accountability, as the people continue to suffer.
Although such occurrences appear to be contemporary on the face of it, a look at the book of Micah reminds us that greed, corruption, and injustice are pernicious, ingrained, longstanding practices of many people in positions of power. Filled with the spirit of the Lord and prophesying from about 737–696 BC, Micah reprimanded Israel because of political dishonesty and corruption.
In the 8th century, Micah did not sit by idly and watch the chiefs of the house of Israel commit injustice before his very eyes. No. Instead, he witnessed against injustice, used his judgment and wisdom to call out specific deeds, held leaders accountable for their actions, set high standards, and dared to express outrage over what he observed.
The message is no less urgent in the 21st century. In the spirit of Micah, we need to raise our voices about the political corruption and consequent suffering of God’s people. In our prophetic zeal, we need to keep in mind the message and methods of Micah. Like Micah, we need to admonish the “chiefs” we have placed in political offices. Let us remind them of what the LORD requires of people in leadership roles:
He has shown you, O man [and woman], what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8, NKJV)