A monstrous substitution is taking place. The princes, called to stand at the head of the people, not only do not follow righteousness, but hate it. Their rule is full of injustices, and therefore the prophet likens their deeds to the ultimate evil of cannibalism. It is completely understandable that the Lord turns away from them.

But now we see that He also turns away from those whom He called to serve Him, from prophets who have perverted their calling. They have turned ministry into a profession, and now they are more concerned about income than about proclaiming righteousness. This means that they too have turned away from the Lord, and now He deprives them of the possibility of hearing Him. Now, when Zion and Jerusalem, called to reveal the Lord's presence in the world, are defiled and built with blood, and many of those called to keep faithfulness have usurped the holy thing, what are those to do who do not wish to take part in lawlessness?

Even while remaining a small minority in numbers, they must continue to keep faithfulness to the One who has the power to restore ruined and defiled holy places. It is important to keep the visible temple pure, but it is still more important to keep faithfulness to the One whose Name sanctifies the temple.

The people’s spiritual condition is dreadful. But perhaps the people are striving to escape this condition? Perhaps there are leaders who see the true way and lead the people along it? No, says the prophet Micah: the people’s leaders are even worse. They have no interest in truth; only their own interests matter to them. “Its heads give judgment for a bribe, its priests teach for a price, and its prophets practice divination for money” (v. 11)—how familiar this situation is to us.