“But as for me I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.”
– Micah 3:8
What a beautiful verse in the middle of this chapter. Micah at this point has been talking about false prophets as he’s addressed in many different points already in this short book in the Old Testament. But here in Micah 3:8 he says, “But as for me.” He begins talking about his role as a true prophet. He said, “I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord.” Not with the spirit of this world, with an adversary who wants to deceive, with false prophecy, false teaching, that which is not from God. “I’m filled with power with the Spirit of the Lord and with justice and might.”
Believers have been given the Spirit of God so that they can witness to what God has done.
Already in this book, Micah has been a mouthpiece for God’s judgment upon His people for their injustice and their oppression of people. Yet here Micah is saying, “I’m filled with justice and might because I’m filled with the Spirit of the Lord”. And then he says all of this, “I’m filled with power, with the Spirit of Lord, with justice and might.” To do what? “To declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin”. To speak about the seriousness of transgression and sin against God and to call people to turn to Him.
How does this verse, Micah 3:8, lead us to pray? Well, I don’t want to make an exact parallel by any means between followers of Jesus today, you and me have trusted, are trusting in Jesus for salvation, because there are some unique things that characterize Micah here. But when we turn the pages of the New Testament we see these realities applied to every follower of Jesus. This is what Jesus told His disciples before He ascended into heaven, “You will receive…” What? “You will receive power when…” Who? “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” Micah says, “I am filled with power with the Spirit of the Lord.”
Micah 3:8 Reminds Us of the Power of the Spirit in Those Who Follow Jesus
This is an awesome thought. That which Micah experienced as a prophet in the Old Testament every follower of Jesus experiences in the New Testament. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. Micah says, “With justice and might”. Yes, we have the Spirit of God in us. The word of God to us about what is just and right and good. And we have the strength of God living in us, His spirit dwells inside of us. Why? When Micah is saying, “I’m filled with power, the Spirit of the Lord with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.” To tell people about the seriousness of sin and the salvation of God.
Why do we have the power of God’s Spirit living in us? Remember what Jesus said to His disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my…” What? “My witnesses. You will witness to who I am and what I’ve come to do to save people from their sin. You will testify, declare to others their transgression, their sin, and my salvation”. Like Micah 3:8, this is you and me as followers of Jesus in so many ways.
The Power of the Spirit
God, we pray that you’d help us to realize this today. Help us to live in this today, help us to live accordingly today. To realize that wherever we are, whatever our job is, whether we’re a student, we work in this capacity or that capacity, wherever we are, whatever we do, God help us to live filled with your power, with your Spirit inside of us, with justice and might. God help us to do justice, to do that which is right and good.
Strength of your mind, Ephesians 6:10, “Be strong in the Lord in the strength of His might.” And God help us to live in your strength today and with your Spirit in us, help us to declare to other people their transgression and sin and your salvation. God, we pray for Holy Spirit-empowered boldness today to be your witnesses. God, we praise you for Micah’s faithfulness in his day and we pray that you will help us, each one of us to be faithful with your power, your spirit, your justice, your might to declare your word. Help us to be faithful today. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
