Word In Life Study Bible
A NATION SELLS ITS SOUL
Mic.3:11
What would you say about a country where justice is for sale, truth depends on what you can afford, and spirituality is determined by your ability to pay? You might say that such a land had sold its soul. When even the moral values of a culture are defined in terms of money, then the society is in deep trouble.
Judah was a deeply troubled society in Micah’s day. Three categories of leaders—the judges, the priests, and the prophets—had put their services up for sale (Mic. 3:11). The issue was not that they were being paid; obviously they needed to earn a living. But they had corrupted their offices by allowing money to distort their leadership. Rather than saying what was true, right, and just, they said whatever they were paid to say. They grew wealthy from their positions, but their integrity went bankrupt.
The amazing thing was that these so-called leaders somehow believed that the Lord would continue to underwrite their hypocritical ways. They brushed off the warnings of an impending invasion by a foreign army that Micah and other prophets were giving. “Is not the Lord among us?” they replied. “No harm can come upon us.”
But they were sorely mistaken. The Lord had written them off in their impenitence. He was not about to allow them to go on violating His Law and still enjoy peace and affluence.
Do you see any parallels between ancient Judah and our own society today? If you are in a position of leadership, especially where you are rendering moral and ethical decisions or giving advice, consider whether you ever allow money to taint your official responsibilities. If so, realize that the Lord has been known to destroy corrupt leaders.
Study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible, copyright 1993,1996, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible appearing at this web site are for personal use only.
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