Part 3 of our series: Micah - Whenever a nation is spiritually unhealthy, it shows up in its leaders. In Micah chapter 3 the prophet first addresses the corrupt governing leaders of Israel who had misused their power for their own benefit. Secondly, Micah rebukes the religious leaders of Israel who were not rebuking or correct the people for their disobedience. Micah models the power of a just and true prophet who relies on the power of God to lead. Why should we care? Because we each have power and influence, we can either use that power and influence for good or evil. We can either commit injustices with the authority God has given us or we can act just and true. Either way, we must answer to God for those deeds.
READ:
Micah 3:1-12 • Proverbs 13:14 • Proverbs 21:13 • Matthew 15:14 •
• Who are “heads of Israel” and the “rulers of the house of Israel” that Micah is addressing in verse 1 and 2?
What analogy does he use for their injustices? What does the analogy mean? How were Israel’s governing
leaders treating the people they governed? Is it the responsibility of those who oversee justice to know
what justice is? Explain.
• What is God’s declaration of judgement against Israel’s corrupt governing leaders and their injustices
against the people? According to Micah 3:4 and Proverbs 13:14, what is one of the consequences of living
as if there is no God?
• What injustices were the religious leaders (prophets and priests) guilty of in Micah’s day? Where do you
see evidence today of false/impure motives among some of the religious leaders in America? Why did Jesus
say impure religious leaders are “blind guides leading the blind” (Matthew 15:14)?
• According to Micah 3:8, what are some of the marks of Godly leadership? Why did Micah fit this
description? What role does repentance play in turning a people or nation back toward God?
DISCUSS: • How is Micah’s preaching and message regarding a nation’s leaders still relevant today? How can bad
leaders be both a judgment from God and a reason for judgement?
• Micah said, “you hate what is good and you love what is evil.” Do you see that same scenario playing out in
our nation today? How does this affect a nation? How does this affect the church?
• Do you want ministers/leaders in the church to point out sin? If you were a church leader, what sins
and/or injustices of our time need addressing?
• How does this passage point us to Jesus? What kind of leader is Jesus?
PRAY:
Pray for a mighty work of the Spirit in the hearts of our local, national and international governing leaders.
Pray that God would work in and through our spiritual leaders to shepherd and guide our souls to truth.
RESPOND:
Choose one governing leader and one religious leader, and pray Micah 3:8 over them this week (That they
would be filled with power, filled with the Spirit of the Lord, filled with justice and strength, boldly declaring
the truth of God.)
Sermon Notes
Micah - do justice • love kindness • walk humbly
Part 3 – Judgement Against Israel’s Leaders
Micah 3:1-12
The leaders of a nation can be both a judgment from God and a reason for judgement.
If we stop listening to God, there may come a time when He stops listening to us.
A false gospel tells us to come to Jesus to get health, wealth, and prosperity. The true gospel tells us to come
to Jesus to get Jesus.
God’s judgment against a nation is not turned by better laws, better congress, better presidents. God’s
judgment is turned by the repentance of its people.