SundAY sCHOOL lESSON
Corruption
MICAH 3: 1-3, 9-12; 6:6-8
Micah warns against the corruption that is evident in Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah (See Jeremiah 26: 17-19). The warnings and message he shares are consistent throughout the Word. Read Luke 6:36 and James 4:1-3. Mercy always reflects God character and we have to remember our hearts are wicked and deceitful.
Micah 3:1 Then I said, “Listen you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel. Should you not embrace justice, “
Reading Micah 1:2 ; 3:1 ; 6:1-2 The people, leaders and mountains are called on to “Hear” to “listen” to the message from Micah. Leviticus 19:15 calls for justice. Jeremiah 5:5 says that the leaders know better. Amos 5:24 calls for justice to flow like a river.
3:2 “you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones;”
Isaiah 5:20 warns of “Woe” to those who twist the truth. Ezekiel 22:27 says the princes “leaders” seek every evil advantage. Zephaniah 3:3 faults the judges. Ezekiel 34:3 charges them with failure as shepherds.
3:3 “who eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?”
Wicked counsel and woe --Ezekiel 11: 2-7 ; 24:3-7. Deuteronomy 1:45 the Lord stops listening. Isaiah 3:15 the Lord puts the prophets into a stupor. Luke 20:46-47 Jesus has a similar complaint.
3:9 Hear this, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right;
Isaiah 1:23 speaks of rebellious princes. Psalms 58:1-2 says they devise evil. Micah 1:2 tells them the Lord is a witness. Psalms 139: 1-3 tells us we cannot hide from the Lord.
3:10 who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness.
Isaiah 59:7 says they love evil. Jeremiah 22: 17 they love violence. Ezekiel 22:27 the princes are destroyers. Micah 7:2 the godly??
3:11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.”
Leviticus 19:15 Where’s justice? Deuteronomy 16: 18-20 maintain justice. Jeremiah 6:13 greed is everywhere. Ezekiel 13:19 honor God not yourselves. Ezekiel 22:25 the prophets conspire. Jeremiah 23:17 unbending hearts.
Instead listen to God’s desire Amos 5:14. Still righteous proclamation of the gospel should be supported I Corinthians 9:14.
3:12 Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.
Leviticus 26:31 was a warning of disobedience. Jeremiah 26:17-19 shows the value of repentance. Micah 1:6 warns Samaria (Israel). I Kings 9:6-9 tells the result. Isaiah 6:11 warns Judah. Jeremiah 22:6 warns again. Lamentations 5:18 describes Zion (Jerusalem). Luke 13:34-35 Jesus laments over Jerusalem’s future.
6;6 With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Micah 6:2-5 Israel’s indictment. Hebrews 10:4 sin cleansing takes more than animal blood. Psalms 51:16-17 a broken spirit is needed. Psalms 40:6-8 His law in our hearts. Isaiah 57:15 The Lord dwells with the lowly in spirit.
6:7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Isaiah 1:11 enough of empty sacrifices. Exodus 13:2 the first born were consecrated to the Lord. Deuteronomy 18:10 no burning of children for God. 2 Kings 23:10 Josiah a Godly king defiled Topheth so future kings would not burn children there. I Samuel 15:22 God wants obedience before sacrifice.
6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 fear the Lord, walk in his ways. I Samuel 15:22 ; 2 Kings 22:19-20 Josiah was grieved and penitent when he heard God’s word. Isaiah 1:17 learn to do good. Jeremiah 22:3 Do justice. Isaiah 57:15 have a contrite heart. Zechariah 7:9-10 show kindness, mercy. Mark 12:33 love God above all else.
The message of obedience has not changed from the beginning of time. It is constant and still true. Our call is to hear it and incorporate it into our daily lives. May we humble ourselves before the Father, trust in the shed blood of Jesus our Lord, and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us in our lives. May we personify Romans 12:1 and become living sacrifices to our Lord.
Micah 3:1 Then I said, “Listen you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel. Should you not embrace justice, “
Reading Micah 1:2 ; 3:1 ; 6:1-2 The people, leaders and mountains are called on to “Hear” to “listen” to the message from Micah. Leviticus 19:15 calls for justice. Jeremiah 5:5 says that the leaders know better. Amos 5:24 calls for justice to flow like a river.
3:2 “you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones;”
Isaiah 5:20 warns of “Woe” to those who twist the truth. Ezekiel 22:27 says the princes “leaders” seek every evil advantage. Zephaniah 3:3 faults the judges. Ezekiel 34:3 charges them with failure as shepherds.
3:3 “who eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?”
Wicked counsel and woe --Ezekiel 11: 2-7 ; 24:3-7. Deuteronomy 1:45 the Lord stops listening. Isaiah 3:15 the Lord puts the prophets into a stupor. Luke 20:46-47 Jesus has a similar complaint.
3:9 Hear this, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right;
Isaiah 1:23 speaks of rebellious princes. Psalms 58:1-2 says they devise evil. Micah 1:2 tells them the Lord is a witness. Psalms 139: 1-3 tells us we cannot hide from the Lord.
3:10 who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness.
Isaiah 59:7 says they love evil. Jeremiah 22: 17 they love violence. Ezekiel 22:27 the princes are destroyers. Micah 7:2 the godly??
3:11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.”
Leviticus 19:15 Where’s justice? Deuteronomy 16: 18-20 maintain justice. Jeremiah 6:13 greed is everywhere. Ezekiel 13:19 honor God not yourselves. Ezekiel 22:25 the prophets conspire. Jeremiah 23:17 unbending hearts.
Instead listen to God’s desire Amos 5:14. Still righteous proclamation of the gospel should be supported I Corinthians 9:14.
3:12 Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.
Leviticus 26:31 was a warning of disobedience. Jeremiah 26:17-19 shows the value of repentance. Micah 1:6 warns Samaria (Israel). I Kings 9:6-9 tells the result. Isaiah 6:11 warns Judah. Jeremiah 22:6 warns again. Lamentations 5:18 describes Zion (Jerusalem). Luke 13:34-35 Jesus laments over Jerusalem’s future.
6;6 With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Micah 6:2-5 Israel’s indictment. Hebrews 10:4 sin cleansing takes more than animal blood. Psalms 51:16-17 a broken spirit is needed. Psalms 40:6-8 His law in our hearts. Isaiah 57:15 The Lord dwells with the lowly in spirit.
6:7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Isaiah 1:11 enough of empty sacrifices. Exodus 13:2 the first born were consecrated to the Lord. Deuteronomy 18:10 no burning of children for God. 2 Kings 23:10 Josiah a Godly king defiled Topheth so future kings would not burn children there. I Samuel 15:22 God wants obedience before sacrifice.
6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 fear the Lord, walk in his ways. I Samuel 15:22 ; 2 Kings 22:19-20 Josiah was grieved and penitent when he heard God’s word. Isaiah 1:17 learn to do good. Jeremiah 22:3 Do justice. Isaiah 57:15 have a contrite heart. Zechariah 7:9-10 show kindness, mercy. Mark 12:33 love God above all else.
The message of obedience has not changed from the beginning of time. It is constant and still true. Our call is to hear it and incorporate it into our daily lives. May we humble ourselves before the Father, trust in the shed blood of Jesus our Lord, and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us in our lives. May we personify Romans 12:1 and become living sacrifices to our Lord.
