Miquéias 6
James Montgomery Boice · Citado em PreceptAustin
Miquéias 6
Boice - To act justly is most important, for it does not mean merely to talk about justice or to get other people to act justly. It means to do the just thing yourself. Lewis says Micah 6:8 is "talking about rights and what is just and what is proper within the covenant community of Israel."
Miquéias 6
Boice - No society is ever entirely upright or godly; there are always evil people in it. But in a well-functioning society the evil are suppressed and those of good character are prominent and rule the land. In times of moral breakdown this is inverted. Her (Jerusalem's) residents speak lies and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. - NLT paraphrase = "Your citizens are so used to lying that their tongues can no longer tell the truth." Lies (falsehoods) (08267)(sheqer - שֶׁקֶר from shāqar = to deal deceitfully) refers to a deceptive statement, “breaking faith with others by presenting deception/falsehood rather than truth” (NIDOTTE) Sheqer describes words or activities that are "false," in the sense of being without basis in fact or reality. Sheqer is used with particular reference to false testimony, as in court. It speaks of something which is utterly false which the hearer interprets as true and thus is misled or deceived. The ninth commandment said “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Ex 20:16, cp Dt 19:18) Zechariah warned against false oaths or perjury (Zech. 5:4; 8:17, cp Jer 5:2). Such deceit is listed in Ps as the act of an adversary (Ps. 27:12), motivated by arrogance (Ps 119:69) and the purpose is to destroy someone through slanderous words (Isa. 32:7). Thoralf Gilbrant - The OT focuses much attention on false prophets, who proclaimed self-generated messages with no foundation in revelation from God. The Book of Jeremiah contains numerous passages exposing the wickedness of such deceitful men (Jer. 14:14; 20:6; 23:14, 25f; 27:14ff; 29:9, 21). They proclaimed their dreams, founded on nothing but their own imaginations (23:32). They were merely eager to gain for themselves, pronouncing oracles of hope and prosperity when peace was not on the horizon (8:10f). Jeremiah noted in disbelief that the people loved those who taught falsehood (5:31; 27:10). They actually preferred prophets whose way of life was wind and lies (Mic. 2:11). Isaiah and Zechariah also mentioned teachers of error (Isa. 9:15; Zech. 10:2; 13:3). The true basis of their message was revealed when Micaiah the prophet told King Ahab that a lying spirit was functioning through the mouth of his prophets to lure him to his death (1 Ki. 22:22). Idols were also described as deceptions, for people worshiped them even though the idols had no life in them (Jer. 10:14f). They were described as teachers of falsehood because of the empty promises associated with them. A person who makes an idol carries a lie in his hand and is too deluded to realize that there are no grounds for worship; it is a piece of stone or wood (Isa. 44:20; Jer. 51:17; Hab 2:18). Lies most commonly take the form of willfully inaccurate words, often described as lying lips or lying tongues. Such deceit is one of the seven things God hates (Prov. 6:17), and He warns that such lies only achieve their objectives for a short time (12:19; 21:6). Deceptive speech is often connected with hatred (10:18; 26:28) and animosity (Ps. 109:2). Those who are righteous reject falsehood (Prov. 13:5) and pray to be delivered from it (Ps. 120:2). Falsehood is particularly reprehensible for a leader (Prov. 17:7), and David declared that no one guilty of it could serve him (Ps. 101:7). At times, deception can be expressed in actions, rather than words. God described Israel as a nation of thieves, who took what they wanted, even though they had no basis for claiming ownership (Hos. 7:1). In addition, the soldier who reported Absalom's fatal predicament to Joab protested that it would be an act of treachery to kill the young man in the face of King David's orders (2 Sam. 18:13). The psalmist spoke of those who persecute the godly with no solid grounds for their actions (Ps. 119:78, 86). The prophets accused Judah of deception, calling them "offspring of deceit." Not only had the Jews fooled men, but they had falsely promised God that they would turn to Him with their whole heart (Jer. 3:10). Other passages broaden the range of usage for sheqer. The Book of Proverbs warns against gaining bread by deception (Prov. 20:17), promising that the wicked will earn deceptive wages (Pr 11:18). The latter verse may refer to wages earned by deceiving others or to wages which fail to provide the satisfaction for which the wicked hope. Sheqer appears occasionally in idiomatic expressions. David complained that he had guarded Nabal's sheep "in vain," perhaps implying that he felt he had been misled (1 Sam. 25:21). Job complained that his companions were "smearers" or "forgers" of lies; their charges against him were groundless (Job 13:4). And when Jehu tried to evade queries about his conversation with Elisha, his friends replied, "Lie!" Jeremiah made a similar reply to accusations that he intended to defect to the Babylonians (Jer. 37:14). (The Complete Biblical Library Old and New Testament) Seqer translated in NAS - deceit(2), deceitful(3), deceiving(4), deception(3), deceptive(3), false(17), false hope(1), falsehood(19), falsehoods(1), falsely(19), liar(1), lie(14), lies(5), lying(12), lying visions(1), perjury*(1), slander*(1), treacherously(1), useless(1), vain(1), wrongfully(3). Sheqer - 109v - Ex 5:9; 20:16; 23:7; Lev 6:3, 5; 19:12; Deut 19:18; 1 Sam 25:21; 2 Sam 18:13; 1 Kgs 22:22f; 2 Kgs 9:12; 2 Chr 18:21f; Job 13:4; 36:4; Ps 7:14; 27:12; 31:18; 33:17; 35:19; 38:19; 52:3; 63:11; 69:4; 101:7; 109:2; 119:29, 69, 78, 86, 104, 118, 128, 163; 120:2; 144:8, 11; Pr 6:17, 19; 10:18; 11:18; 12:17, 19, 22; 13:5; 14:5; 17:4, 7; 19:5, 9; 20:17; 21:6; 25:14, 18; 26:28; 29:12; 31:30; Isa 9:15; 28:15; 32:7; 44:20; 57:4; 59:3, 13; Jer 3:10, 23; 5:2, 31; 6:13; 7:4, 8f; 8:8, 10; 9:3, 5; 10:14; 13:25; 14:14; 16:19; 20:6; 23:14, 25f, 32; 27:10, 14ff; 28:15; 29:9, 21, 23, 31; 37:14; 40:16; 43:2; 51:17; Ezek 13:22; Hos 7:1; Mic 2:11; 6:12; Hab 2:18; Zech 5:4; 8:17; 10:2; 13:3; Mal 3:5 Paul describes men like these men in Judah - "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,” “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS” (Ro 3:13-note) Tongue is deceitful - This description reminds us of the longstanding tradition of many Native American tribes where the phrase "speaking with a forked tongue" meant that they were lying, and were no longer considered worthy of trust. Deceitful (07423)(remiyah - רְמִיָּה) has two meanings which have been a source of controversy (which will not be discussed here - see TWOT article). (1) It describes on one hand laxness, that which is slack or lazy, as referring to an idle hand (Pr 10:4, 12:24, cp the slothful man = Pr 12:27). Remiyah can mean to do something with slackness or "negligently" (Jer 48:10). (2) The second sense of remiyah is deception, deceit, fraud or treachery and refers to what is not truth or correct (Job 13:7) For example, remiyah is used to describe a deceitful tongue (Ps 120:2-3 where deceitful in Lxx = dolios = treacherous, crafty - see root dolos below, cp Ps 52:2, Job 27:4, Micah 6:12). Remiyah in KJV = deceitful 4, deceitfully 3, deceit 2, slothful 2, false 1, guile 1, idle 1, slack 1; Remiyah - 15v - Job 13:7; 27:4; Ps 32:2; 52:2; 78:57; 101:7; 120:2-3; Pr 10:4; 12:24, 27; 19:15; Jer 48:10; Hos 7:16; Mic 6:12 What a contrast with the David's description of the godly man - "How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit (Lxx = dolos = cunning ~ taking advantage of another through craft and underhanded methods, this word was originally used to describe bait for fish! Woe!)!" (Ps 32:2) The Septuagint (translated into English) says "their tongue has been exalted in their mouth" where the word for "exalted" is hupsoo which BDAG defines (definition #2) as "to cause enhancement in honor, fame, position, power, or fortune." We see the negative sense of hupsoo (which would clearly be the case in Micah 6:12) in Mt 23:12, Lk 14:11, Luke 18:14. Today in the Word on violence and deceitful - Despite the mind-numbing brutality of the Joseph Stalin regime in the Soviet Union, his propaganda machine did its job well. Many Russians hailed him as a hero and a savior, including a young school girl who was chosen to greet Stalin on one occasion. Years later, this woman recalled Stalin taking her onto his lap, smiling like a loving father. She was starry-eyed, and she cherished the moment for many years. Only later did she learn that during this period, Stalin had her parents arrested and sent to the labor camps, never to be seen again. Such deceit staggers the imagination. Regarding the Soviet regime, we could say: what else could we have expected from leaders who denied the existence of God and sought to stamp out His memory? But it's harder to explain away the deceit and treachery on the part of God's chosen people. The prophets Hosea and Micah catalogued the nation's sins, with Micah carrying a particular burden for the cruel injustice that marked the nation in his day. Micah 6:13 So also I will make you sick, striking you down, desolating you because of your sins. I make Leviticus 26:16; Deuteronomy 28:21,22; Job 33:19-22; Ps 107:17,18; Isaiah 1:5,6; Jeremiah 14:18; Acts 12:23 in Lamentations 1:13; 3:11; Hosea 5:9; 13:16 REAPING SIN'S RECOMPENSE So (Therefore) - This is a term of conclusion. which in this context speaks of the principle of divine retribution. Tit for tat. What goes around comes around. Reaping what one sows (Gal 6:7-8-note) Based on the "mountain" of evidence (the "avalanche" of crimes - Micah 6:10-12) against Israel's corrupt practices summed up in the word sins, God's verdict is to make these evil men in Israel them sick, struck and desolate (cf God's "promise" in Dt 28:20). Israel had sown the wind and would now reap the whirlwind (Hos 8:7) - note that it's delayed and it's greater (not just wind but whirlwind! Woe!) I will make you sick, striking you down (ESV = "I strike you with a grievous blow") You here refers primarily to Jerusalem and Judah the final sickening blow coming from Nebuchadnezzar's complete crushing of the nation and people in 586BC. Why? "Because of your sins!" Woe! Let us as NT believers take heed and pay attention, for God is the same just God He was in the OT, so let us be quick to run for refuge in our Rock Jehovah Jesus (Christ Our Rock), not just for our initial salvation (justification), but for our daily salvation (progressive sanctification), keeping "short accounts" of our sins, not sweeping them under the rug (Pr 28:13-note) but putting them under the blood (1Jn 1:9-note). Thank you Jesus for being God's indescribable Gift (2Cor 9:15)! Amen