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Daily Devotions

Micah

Micah 
Day 
Day 79

"That they may successfully do evil with both hands"

Text: Micah 7:3

A GRIM PICTURE

Micah painted a grim picture of the nation when the faithful and upright perish.

“That they may successfully do evil with both hands-
The prince asks for gifts,
The judge seeks a bribe,
And the great man utters his evil desire;
So they scheme together.”
Micah 7:3

1. “That they may successfully do evil with both hands”

a) To do evil with one hand is bad enough.
b) To do evil with both hands is to speak of being deeply caught up with evil.
i) “Both hands” is a symbolic expression.
ii) It suggests doing evil with all might and strength.
c) Thus, they ensure “success”.
i) Evil plans are concocted.
ii) They are successfully carried out.

2. “So they scheme together”

a) Evil of this nature is seldom achieved single-handedly.
b) A group of evil people would band together to achieve the evil success they wish.

3. Three groups of people named:

a) “The prince asks for gifts”
i) Because he belonged to the royal family, he would have access to the king.
ii) He would render help provided he received appropriate gifts.
iii) The word “ask” may be understood as “demand”.
b) “The judge seeks a bribe”
i) He is supposed to uphold justice.
ii) He has the authority to decide on the outcome of any case brought before him.
iii) He could rule in favour of any party he chooses.

He seeks bribes because he has become corrupt. He would rule in favour of the one who is able to offer the highest bribe.

c) “The great man utters his evil desire”

He is called “a great man” because he seems to be able to come up with cunning schemes. He plans with the corrupt princes and judges to achieve these goals.
This was the state of affairs in the days when the faithful people disappeared.