There is nothing necessarily wrong with having money. If it is gained honestly and shared generously, wealth can rightly be seen as a blessing from God. But the rich who are addressed in Micah 2 had selfishly accumulated their assets through force and fraud. Coming from a rural area, Micah had no doubt seen ordinary people being crushed by powerful landowners. As is common in our own culture, many were driven by greed and materialism. Not content with what God had already given them, people coveted their neighbor’s fields, houses, or inheritance. Even as they lay awake at night, the dominant would “devise” wicked plans, eager to carry them out the next day (v 1-2). What these proud oppressors did not realize is that the LORD was also “devising” plans, and His plans always prevail. So what was God planning? “A time of disaster” will overtake the evildoers, and their lot will be totally reversed. They had used violence to acquire their fields; now they will suffer the same fate. The coming destruction will be thorough indeed (v 3-5). As might be expected, Micah’s preaching did not make him a popular figure. But sadly, opposition arose not just from the greedy elite, but also the corrupt religious leaders. They spoke up to defend the rich and attack the prophet! Trying to silence Micah, they say that a gracious God would never endorse such harsh words of judgment. Like Satan, they claim that sinners will not die. These false prophets were telling people what they wanted to hear, shaping their message to gain social acceptance and influence (v 6-7a). God answers them by acknowledging that He does indeed “do good to him who walks uprightly,” but that lately His people had “risen up as an enemy” against Him! They had robbed men of their clothes, women of their homes, and children of their inheritance. These were no minor infractions, for by their exploitation of others, they had become the adversary of God. Because of their sin, they will be taken out of their place of “rest” in the promised land (v 7b-10). As a sarcastic footnote, Micah adds that the only preacher these people would accept is the one who promises an abundance of alcohol! This is what they want: more wine and beer to keep them oblivious of the coming disaster (v 11). Though the city will fall and the people will go into exile, the chapter ends with a message of hope. For “the remnant” of the upright, there will be a day of restoration. The LORD will bring them back to their homeland; and Jesus, the true Shepherd-King, will bring eternal salvation to all His elect (v 12-13). For further meditation: