Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets
who lead my people astray,
who cry “Peace”
when they have something to eat,
but declare war against him
who puts nothing into their mouths.
Micah was a prophet who prophesied at the same time as Isaiah. He prophesied both gloom/doom messages but also hope and prosperity messages. In the above verse we read that Micah is calling out the false prophets of the day. He doesn’t name one so we might assume this was a group of prophets. It was not unusual for prophets to speak over the nation. It was the nations job to discern the true from the false. That was a tough job. Remember, they didn’t have access to Scripture like we do. It is hard for the church to discern between true and false teacher. Imagine in the day Micah spoke. However, there were some ways to tell. Apparently it was common for false teachers to receive a gift for their prophesy. Balaam the prophet and his engagement with King Balak might be the most notable story we have about that practice (Numbers 22). One of the challenges with this practice was that the prophet tended to adjust the message they delivered depending on the gifts they received. The greater the gift the more pleasant the message. That is what Micah is calling out in the above passage. To those who gave a great abundant gift the prophet would prophesy “peace” over them. However, when the person hiring the prophet did not put anything into the “mouth” of the prophet (line their pockets with cash) they would “declare war” against them. Peter warns us about these same false teacher tendencies:
2 Peter 2:1-3 (ESV)
False Prophets and Teachers
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2 Peter 2:13-14 (ESV)
suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!
Greed is the downfall of those who teach. Many people will change their message, craft their message and/or taint their message to tickle the ears of hearers if there is more in it for them. Beware of false teachers.
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