Micah 2:1-3

News today of more insurrection planned for the Capital as President Biden prepares his first national speech. God help America.

For this is an evil time!

Micah 2:1.2.3.

2 Woe to those who devise iniquity,

And work out evil on their beds!

At morning light they practice it,

Because it is in the power of their hand.

2 They covet fields and take them by violence,

Also houses, and seize them.

So they oppress a man and his house,

A man and his inheritance.

3 Therefore thus says the Lord:

“Behold, against this family I am devising disaster,

From which you cannot remove your necks;

Nor shall you walk haughtily,

For this is an evil time.

The Hebrew term “woe” is used here as a divine threat. In this form, the prophetic oracle is called a “woe pronouncement.” These wicked individuals lay on their beds at night thinking of evil plots. They cannot sleep because they are consumed with wickedness. The Hebrew word used here typically means “god”; however, when used of people it denotes strength or might. These evildoers were powerful, wealthy people with the ability to carry out their schemes and profit by them.

The image is that of an animal with a yoke placed on its shoulders that it cannot remove. The mistreatment of others has given these evildoers the impression that they are better than those upon whom they prey. Faithlife Bible.

The ethical teaching of the prophets regularly included oracles of judgment against greed, theft, and oppression, actions of the powerful in attacking the weak. To covet is not just to have a passing thought; it is a determination to seize what is not one’s own. While the wicked devised iniquity, God made some plans of His own. The idea here is that the disaster of God would be inescapable. NKJ Bible.

Woe to the people that devise evil during the night, and rise early to carry it into execution! It is bad to do mischief on a sudden thought, much worse to do it with design and forethought. It is of great moment to improve and employ hours of retirement and solitude in a proper manner. If covetousness reigns in the heart, compassion is banished; and when the heart is thus engaged, violence and fraud commonly occupy the hands. The most haughty and secure in prosperity, are commonly most ready to despair in adversity. Woe to those from whom God turns away! Those are the sorest calamities which cut us off from the congregation of the Lord, or cut us short in the enjoyment of its privileges. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Amos 5:13 Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time.