Exploring the Meaning of Micah 2
By New Christian Bible Study Staff
Premeditated evil is worse than evil done on the spur of the moment, because the will to do evil is more involved. In Micah 2:1, 2, the hand represents power 1 , and when the evildoer treats his power as his god, the penalty is great. The planning that goes into coveting is a similar thing.
In Micah 2:3-5, the family means the church - the state of spiritual life - as it was in both kingdoms, Israel and Judah. The words here tell that both these parts of the church will be devastated, first one and then the other. Thus, in the end, there will be none left in the land of Canaan, and there will be no choosing of inheritance, as was done with Joshua back when the land was first divided amongst the 12 tribes. (See Joshua 13 through 16). To cast a cord is to use a measuring cord to plot out a piece of land.
Micah 2:6, 7. To drop down means to drop knowledge down to one who does not know, that is, to teach. Those who are in evil are not humble enough to be taught. Only those who “walk uprightly” profit from teaching about the Lord and His Word.
Micah 2:8,9. People who are not humble enough to learn truths become enemies to good people. They will try to argue away the truths from someone who uses them to fight temptations. In these verses, the stolen garment means truths 2 . The war means temptations. The gentle love of feeling close to the Lord, and the love of innocence 3 , will be attacked by evil people who will try to destroy them by scoffing and denial.
Micah 2:10, 11. The unteachable people of that dying church will perish. They will only accept teachings from a prophet who promises wine and strong drink. In a good sense, wine in the Word represents truth, as when it's used in the holy supper. But, like all natural things, the meaning can sometimes be used in the opposite way, as here, where it means the falsities of evil. 4
Micah 2:12, 13. There will still be a few people who remain good, and true. These will be gathered by the Lord as a flock to its fold. From their speaking they can be judged, and then led on to the new church established by Jehovah.
The takeaways for us, reading this text 2600 years later, could be boiled down to these truths:
- Don't premeditate evil.
- We need to be humble enough to learn truths about the Lord.
- If we walk uprightly, we have a chance to receive truth, and practice it, and benefit from what we learn.
- If we remain good and true, the Lord can lead us.
Footnotes:
1. For reference, see Arcana Coelestia 4402[9].
2. See Arcana Coelestia 8942.
3. See Arcana Coelestia 5608[8].
Joshua 16
1
And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel,
2
And goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth,
3
And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Beth-horon the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea.
4
So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.
5
And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Ataroth-addar, unto Beth-horon the upper;
6
And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanath-shiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah;
7
And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.
8
The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.
9
And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.
10
And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.
