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"I will cut off sorceries from your hand"

Text: Micah 5:12

THE PRACTICE OF DARK ARTS

There was an express commandment from the Lord that Israel must not tolerate the practice of “the dark arts” (Deuteronomy 13; 18:9-14). But these words fell on deaf ears and in the period of the kings, sorcery was much sought after by many people.

“I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
And you shall have no soothsayers.”
Micah 5:12

1. “I will cut off sorceries from your hand”

a) The word “sorceries” would include a number of things:

i) Dreamer of dreams Deuteronomy 13:3

ii) Fire-walking Deuteronomy 18:10a

iii) Witchcraft Deuteronomy 18:10b

iv) Soothsaying Deuteronomy 18:10c

v) Interpreters of omens Deuteronomy 18:10d

vi) Conjurers of spells Deuteronomy 18:11a

vii) Mediums Deuteronomy 18:11b

viii) Spiritists Deuteronomy 18:11c

ix) Calling up the dead Deuteronomy 18:11d

x) Diviners Deuteronomy 18:14

b) These were called “abomination to the LORD” (Deuteronomy 18:12).

c) “From your hand”

i) This phrase describes how easily available these people were.

ii) They were not even hidden but were in plain view.

2. “And you shall have no soothsayers”

a) Isaiah also addressed this problem.

b) He addressed those who were seeking “mediums and wizards” (Isaiah 8:19a).

c) The people were seeking answers from the dead (Isaiah 8:19c).

d) Micah had to tell the nation about what God would do.

e) He would cut off sorceries and soothsaying from the new nation He would develop.

f) They have no place among the true and faithful remnant in the future.

Isaiah was correct when he raised this question, “Should not a people seek their God?” (Isaiah 8:19b).