Micah 5:11-15

Purposing to remove iniquity -- Micah 5:11-15: God told them that they would not have nor need their fortified cities. It was not that cities were wrong but that those cities had been places where they had devoted themselves to the service of idolatry. It was also in those cities that the people decided that they did not need God to control their lives. Instead they felt that they were doing quite well on their own. God, not some fortified city, would be their protection. He would be their single focus for worship and service. God's desire was that the people seek help only at His hand. So we have the promise that He would cut off witchcrafts and sorceries and that there would be no more soothsayers.

God also told the people that idolatry would be cut off. The idea of serving a thing as a god that was made by your own hand is the height of nonsense. The people had not been content to worship the true and living God. He was invisible. They wanted gods that they could see so they made gods of wood, stone and metal. Isaiah wrote, "I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin." (Isaiah 1:25) Obviously a grove of trees is not wrong but they even took certain groves and turned them into places of idolatrous worship. Their groves were symbols of false gods. Both the cities and the groves that had been used for idolatrous worship would be destroyed. God promised furious revenge to be poured out upon the nations that refused to obey Him and that led His people into idolatry.