Micah 3:6
Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them.
Therefore the night will come over you
The word "night" in Hebrew is "לַיְלָה" (laylah), often symbolizing a time of judgment or absence of divine revelation. In the context of Micah, this "night" signifies a period of spiritual darkness and confusion for the false prophets who have misled the people. Historically, night is a time when activities cease, and in a spiritual sense, it represents the cessation of God's guidance and favor. The prophetic voice, which should have been a beacon of light, is now silenced, leaving the people in uncertainty and fear.

without visions
The Hebrew word for "visions" is "חָזוֹן" (chazon), referring to divine communication or revelation. In ancient Israel, prophets received visions as a means of conveying God's will to the people. The absence of visions indicates a withdrawal of God's communication, a severe consequence for those who relied on false prophecies. This lack of divine insight leaves the community vulnerable and directionless, emphasizing the gravity of the prophets' deceit.

and darkness—without divination
"Darkness" (חֹשֶׁךְ, choshech) is often used metaphorically in the Bible to describe ignorance, evil, or judgment. "Divination" (קֶסֶם, qesem) refers to the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means. The combination of darkness and the absence of divination underscores the complete spiritual void and the futility of seeking guidance from false sources. This phrase highlights the contrast between true prophetic insight and the deceptive practices condemned by God.

The sun will set on these prophets
The imagery of the sun setting signifies the end of an era or the removal of enlightenment and favor. In the Hebrew context, the sun is a symbol of life, clarity, and God's presence. For the sun to set on the prophets indicates that their time of influence and false authority is over. This metaphor serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and the ultimate accountability of those who misuse their prophetic office.

and the daylight will turn black over them
"Daylight" (אוֹר, or) represents truth, understanding, and divine presence. The transformation of daylight into blackness symbolizes a profound reversal of fortune and the complete absence of God's blessing. This imagery conveys the seriousness of the prophets' transgressions and the resulting divine judgment. It serves as a warning to all who would distort God's message for personal gain, emphasizing the importance of integrity and faithfulness in spiritual leadership.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Micah
A prophet in the 8th century BC, Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea. He prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and his messages were directed towards both Israel and Judah.

2. False Prophets
These were individuals in Israel who claimed to speak for God but were actually misleading the people. They were motivated by personal gain and were not delivering God's true message.

3. Judah and Israel
The divided kingdoms of God's chosen people. Micah's prophecies were directed towards both, warning them of impending judgment due to their sins.

4. Darkness and Night
Symbolic of the absence of divine revelation and guidance. In the context of Micah 3:6, it represents the judgment on false prophets who will no longer receive visions or guidance from God.

5. Divination
A practice condemned in the Bible, often associated with false prophets who sought to predict the future through means not sanctioned by God.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of False Prophecy
False prophets will face judgment and lose their ability to deceive, as God will remove His light from them.

The Importance of True Revelation
True guidance comes from God alone. Believers must discern and seek God's word rather than rely on human interpretations that deviate from Scripture.

Spiritual Darkness as Judgment
Spiritual darkness is a form of divine judgment. When people reject God's truth, they may find themselves in a state of confusion and lack of direction.

Discernment in Leadership
Believers must be cautious about whom they follow and ensure that their leaders are aligned with biblical truth.

The Role of Prophets Today
While the office of prophet as in the Old Testament may not be the same today, the principle of speaking God's truth remains. Believers are called to uphold and proclaim the truth of Scripture.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Micah 3:6 illustrate the consequences of false prophecy, and what can we learn about the importance of truth in our own lives?

2. In what ways can spiritual darkness manifest in today's world, and how can we guard against it?

3. How does the theme of judgment in Micah 3:6 connect with the broader biblical account of God's justice?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure we are following true biblical teaching rather than being misled by false prophets?

5. How can we apply the lessons from Micah 3:6 to discern the authenticity of spiritual leaders and teachings in our communities today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Amos 8:11-12
This passage speaks of a famine of hearing the words of the Lord, similar to the darkness and lack of vision described in Micah 3:6.

Isaiah 8:20-22
These verses warn against seeking guidance from mediums and spiritists, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's word, paralleling the condemnation of false prophets in Micah.

Jeremiah 14:14
Jeremiah speaks against false prophets who deliver messages not from God, echoing the themes in Micah 3:6.
Civil RulersD. Thomas Micah 3:1-6
False ProphetsHomilistMicah 3:5-7
False ProphetsD. Thomas Micah 3:5-7
People
Jacob, Micah
Places
Adullam, Jerusalem, Zion
Topics
Black, Cause, Dark, Darkness, Divination, Divine, Future, Prophets, Vision, You-without
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Micah 3:6

     1469   visions
     4284   sun

Micah 3:5-6

     7774   prophets, false

Library
The Apostasy in Two Days.
In our introduction we gave a number of texts which spoke of the whole of the gospel dispensation as one day; but any period of time distinguished by some extraordinary historic event may be and is also termed a day. The apostasy or dark noonday being under two forms is marked in Bible history as two days. The first form of the apostasy, namely, Catholicism, is called by the Scriptures a "dark day." A Cloudy Day. The second form of the apostasy was not such utter darkness as the first, and is therefore
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day

Bad Ecclesiastics and Base Plots
The priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say: Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.--Micah iii. 11. E furon le sue opere e le sue colpe Non creder leonine ma di volpe. Pulci, Morg. Magg. xix. Chrysostom would fain have taken Philip with him, for Philip grew more and more endeared and more and more useful to him. But Philip, as manager of the Archbishop's household and an assistant in all matters of business,
Frederic William Farrar—Gathering Clouds: A Tale of the Days of St. Chrysostom

Of Councils and their Authority.
1. The true nature of Councils. 2. Whence the authority of Councils is derived. What meant by assembling in the name of Christ. 3. Objection, that no truth remains in the Church if it be not in Pastors and Councils. Answer, showing by passages from the Old Testament that Pastors were often devoid of the spirit of knowledge and truth. 4. Passages from the New Testament showing that our times were to be subject to the same evil. This confirmed by the example of almost all ages. 5. All not Pastors who
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

"And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up Himself to Take Hold on Thee,"
Isaiah lxiv. 7.--"And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee," &c. They go on in the confession of their sins. Many a man hath soon done with that a general notion of sin is the highest advancement in repentance that many attain to. You may see here sin and judgment mixed in thorough other(315) in their complaint. They do not so fix their eyes upon their desolate estate of captivity, as to forget their provocations. Many a man would spend more affection,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Contention Over the Man Born Blind.
(Jerusalem.) ^D John IX. 1-41. [Some look upon the events in this and the next section as occurring at the Feast of Tabernacles in October, others think they occurred at the Feast of Dedication in December, deriving their point of time from John x. 22.] ^d 1 And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. [The man probably sought to waken compassion by repeatedly stating this fact to passers-by.] 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Purpose in the Coming of Jesus.
God Spelling Himself out in Jesus: change in the original language--bother in spelling Jesus out--sticklers for the old forms--Jesus' new spelling of old words. Jesus is God following us up: God heart-broken--man's native air--bad choice affected man's will--the wrong lane--God following us up. The Early Eden Picture, Genesis 1:26-31. 2:7-25: unfallen man--like God--the breath of God in man--a spirit, infinite, eternal--love--holy--wise--sovereign over creation, Psalm 8:5-8--in his own will--summary--God's
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

The Sovereignty of God in Operation
"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be the glory for ever. Amen" (Romans 11:36). Has God foreordained everything that comes to pass? Has He decreed that what is, was to have been? In the final analysis this is only another way of asking, Is God now governing the world and everyone and everything in it? If God is governing the world then is He governing it according to a definite purpose, or aimlessly and at random? If He is governing it according to some purpose, then
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

The Doctrine of the Scriptures.
I. NAMES AND TITLES. 1. THE BIBLE. 2. THE TESTAMENTS. 3. THE SCRIPTURES. 4. THE WORD OF GOD. II. INSPIRATION. 1. DEFINITION. 2. DISTINCTIONS. a) Revelation. b) Illumination. c) Reporting. 3. VIEWS: a) Natural Inspiration. b) Christian Illumination. c) Dynamic Theory. d) Concept Theory. e) Verbal Inspiration. f) Partial Inspiration. g) Plenary Inspiration. 4. THE CLAIMS OF THE SCRIPTURES THEMSELVES: a) The Old Testament. b) The New Testament. 5. THE CHARACTER (OR DEGREES) OF INSPIRATION. a) Actual
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible

Micah
Micah must have been a very striking personality. Like Amos, he was a native of the country--somewhere in the neighbourhood of Gath; and he denounces with fiery earnestness the sins of the capital cities, Samaria in the northern kingdom, and Jerusalem in the southern. To him these cities seem to incarnate the sins of their respective kingdoms, i. 5; and for both ruin and desolation are predicted, i. 6, iii. 12. Micah expresses with peculiar distinctness the sense of his inspiration and the object
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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