Corrupt leaders spread sin like a disease when they fail to live by example and model godly attitudes and behaviour.
Read: Micah 1: 2-13
Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea, prophesying around 750 to 686 BC. Some of the prophecy was given before the Assyrians destroyed Samaria, the capital of the northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC and before the failed invasion of Judah in 701 BC.
So Micah lives to see some of his prophecy actually happen; this must have given extra authority to his words to Judah and his promises of hope for the exiles from Israel.
The leaders and wealthy people in Samaria, Israel’s capital, have cheated and exploited the poor. The prophets based there have denied their calling, preferring to prophecy things that people want to hear, rather than what God says. They have all worshipped idols instead of keeping their worship of Yahweh pure.
And the example set in the capital inevitably spreads throughout the nation.
Sin is contagious!
And because leaders talk to one another, the leaders of Israel influence the leaders of Judah. The corruption spreads, first to Lachish, the second city of Judah, then on to Jerusalem, the capital.
Sin is contagious!
In the original Hebrew, Micah uses a lot of clever puns as he lists the places in Judah that have become “infected”. The sin is increasingly widespread in Judah, and sin always has consequences. Judgement follows sin like night follows day, but where there is judgement, there is always God’s mercy too.
Israel may be beyond saving, but God holds out hope to the people of Judah if only they will learn from Israel’s folly.
Think aboiut 1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT
Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”
Paul quotes the Greek poet Menander, who wrote these words in about 300BC. Think about the friends you keep…are you in danger of being compromise in your faith?
Pilgrim Traveller 