"HER HEADS JUDGE FOR A BRIBE, HER PRIESTS TEACH FOR PAY, AND HER PROPHETS DIVINE FOR MONEY. Yet they lean on the Lord, and say, “IS NOT THE LORD AMONG US? NO HARM CAN COME UPON US.”
Micah 3:11 (NKJV)
Comment: In this passage of the Bible, we could see the trend of things in Israel at the time of prophet Micah.
a. The heads or rulers, those who are at the leadership, judge for a bribe (Micah 3:11). In other words, money given to them would determine whether they would give justice or not to the person concerned.
b. And the priests who supposed to teach the people the principles of God, the law, also do that for money. They would have to be paid before they do what God did assign them to do. Those who had money are the ones that would be privileged to be part of the teaching they organized (Micah 3:11).
c. Whilst the prophets divine or see vision for people on the basis of money (Micah 3:11).
With all these, the same people at the leadership still leaned or depended on God for His protection, goodness and every benevolence or kindness. They say: "IS NOT THE LORD AMONG US? NO HARM CAN COME ON US" (Micah 3:11 NKJV).
All that are mentioned in the passage that those who are at the leadership in Israel were doing are being done in the church of Christ today and the government of nations.
a. Those in the political leadership and the judicial system are highly corrupted.
b. And in the church, the ministers of God who should be trusted are after money (Philippians 3:18,19). The truth of God's Word is not preached and taught again.
c. The prophets in the church collect consultation money or fees before they could be seen for counselings or prayers (2 Corinthians 11:20).
We see mysterious things happening in the church at times, we tend to query God, asking Him Why would He allow such a thing to happen to a believer or a minister of His? But most of such things happened when a believer or a minister has done wrong or gone astray, derailed from God's precepts or principles.
a. This same believer or minister who is not living in line with God's Word is still trusting God to be his or her defence or protection.
b. They still believe that no harm would befall or come on them.
But the truth is, If the devil found his property in your life, he definitely will strike you very hard (John 15;30). The issue is not with God mainly but the adversary (1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:10). Even If God decided to overlook whatever you are doing wrong, the adversary, the devil, the accuser of brethren, the believers, would not overlook. The devil is watching and ready to accuse day and night: " . . . FOR THE ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN WHO ACCUSED THEM BEFORE OUR GOD DAY AND NIGHT . . . " (Revelation 12:10).
If God chose to overlook every now and then when you missed it, the devil would always be there to stand and question the integrity and justice of God (Job 1:9-12; 2:4-6). Whatever you are doing wrong, contrary to the Word of God, or the principles found in the Bible; gives an inroad or incursion to the devil in your life.
It would be a false hope and a mirage for a believer or a minister who is underhanded—not honest and aboveboard—to be claiming that God is with him or her or among their people. Claiming that no harm would come on him or her, or on their home or those who identify with them.
It takes holiness (1 Peter 1:15,16), walking in the precepts of God, in the principles found in the Bible, for the devil to be allayed, or be kept in an arm's length. When holiness and purity is not in place (Hebrews 12:14), God's wall of protection and defence are made crumble (Ecclesiastes 10:8).
Peace.