Micah 2:1-3 Devising wickedness on their beds - Day 331

The graphic language of what James would later call being lured and enticed by passions and desires.

The intro to Micah in ESV study bible points out that Micah wrote in a time of prosperity in Judah.  So this chapter with theme of "Woe to the Oppressors", probably didn't make him very popular.  But I guess popularity was never one of the goals of a prophet.

So this is a warning to the people of Judah, not to a bunch of heathens.  These people have taken breaking the 8th (stealing) and 10th commandments to an art form.  Lie awake at night thinking about ways to steal, oppress or covet and before they even have breakfast, they go out and do it.  In theory, they should have learned the commandments as children.  In theory, they should have learned that the God of Israel knows the thoughts and intents of the heart.  In theory, they should know that what they were doing may be hidden from others, but it is not hidden from God.  And God being just would punish their evil thoughts and deeds.

Calvin and Luther would look at this as a temptation from the right, of what happens when people have prosperity.  In theory, people should be content when they have a competent share of this world's goods.  But the devil uses their flesh to lure and entice into More, I must have more to be happy.  The wealthy can covet even the little that their neighbor has.  Not only do they think about these things, their prosperity has enabled them to have the resources to carry out their evil devices.  The poor may be guilty of the same thoughts, but they don't have the means to steal and oppress.

However, instead of learning from the law, many in Judah had to be warned by the prophet.

Application

In Paul we can miss the legitimate role of the law in the life of believers.  It cannot justify or sanctify.  But it can restrain the flesh.  In Micah we see a people unrestrained by the law.  The have the ability to do evil, so they do it.  We must not be like that.