Mic 3:2 | KingComments | STEP | Hating and loving relate to their mindset and show the corrupt basic attitude of these people. Not only do they not do the good they ought, but they loathe it, they hate it. It is already sin if someone does not love the good, let alone if he hates it. It is the same with evil. They do evil, but not only that, they like it, they love it. It is already wrong if someone doesn’t flee from evil, let alone if he loves it. These people are not shepherds, but butchers, or even worse, cannibals. Instead of healing what is broken, they break what is whole. Instead of feeding the flock, they feast on it. They don’t shear the sheep, but tear off their skin. Instead of protecting the flock from wild animals, they behave like wild animals among the flock. In John 10, the Lord Jesus uses three terms for these people: thieves, hired hand and wolves ( ). 1. The thief comes secretly and sees the sheep as a source of profit. In order to obtain optimal profit he is prepared not only to steal, but also to kill and even to destroy. 2. A hired hand thinks only of his own safety. As soon as there is danger for himself, he abandons the sheep and flees. 3. The wolf acts according to its own nature. It does not think of profit or danger, but tears and robs, frightens and sows confusion. Tearing off the skin corresponds with our saying ‘bleed someone dry’, or ‘rip someone off’. It means robbing them of everything that makes life somewhat livable for them. They take all their means of existence away from them. ‘Tearing off the skin’ can mean taking off their clothes and ‘flesh from their bones’ can mean their territory.

‏ Micah 3:2

Hating the Good and Loving the Evil

Hating and loving relate to their mindset and show the corrupt basic attitude of these people. Not only do they not do the good they ought, but they loathe it, they hate it. It is already sin if someone does not love the good, let alone if he hates it. It is the same with evil. They do evil, but not only that, they like it, they love it. It is already wrong if someone doesn’t flee from evil, let alone if he loves it.

These people are not shepherds, but butchers, or even worse, cannibals. Instead of healing what is broken, they break what is whole. Instead of feeding the flock, they feast on it. They don’t shear the sheep, but tear off their skin. Instead of protecting the flock from wild animals, they behave like wild animals among the flock.

In John 10, the Lord Jesus uses three terms for these people: thieves, hired hand and wolves (Jn 10:10-13).

1. The thief comes secretly and sees the sheep as a source of profit. In order to obtain optimal profit he is prepared not only to steal, but also to kill and even to destroy.

2. A hired hand thinks only of his own safety. As soon as there is danger for himself, he abandons the sheep and flees.

3. The wolf acts according to its own nature. It does not think of profit or danger, but tears and robs, frightens and sows confusion.

Tearing off the skin corresponds with our saying ‘bleed someone dry’, or ‘rip someone off’. It means robbing them of everything that makes life somewhat livable for them. They take all their means of existence away from them. ‘Tearing off the skin’ can mean taking off their clothes and ‘flesh from their bones’ can mean their territory.