BibleWare/BibWare.bin/bibref/mhc.exe/MIC.TXT

Text File | 1996-06-12 | 18KB | 322 lines

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** Micah was raised up to support Isaiah, and to confirm his
predictions, while he invited to repentance, both by threatened
judgments and promised mercies. A very remarkable passage, #Mic
5| contains a summary of prophecies concerning the Messiah.

* The wrath of God against Israel. (1-7) Also against Jerusalem
and other cities, Their precautions vain. (8-16)

#1-7 The earth is called upon, with all that are therein, to
hear the prophet. God's holy temple will not protect false
professors. Neither men of high degree, as the mountains, nor
men of low degree, as the valleys, can secure themselves or the
land from the judgments of God. If sin be found in God's people
he will not spare them; and their sins are most provoking to
him, for they are most reproaching. When we feel the smart of
sin, it behoves us to seek what is the sin we smart for. Persons
and places most exalted, are most exposed to spiritual diseases.
The vices of leaders and rulers shall be surely and sorely
punished. The punishment answers the sin. What they gave to
idols, never shall prosper, nor do them any good. What is got by
one lust, is wasted on another.

#8-16 The prophet laments that Israel's case is desperate; but
declare it not in Gath. Gratify not those that make merry with
the sins or with the sorrows of God's Israel. Roll thyself in
the dust, as mourners used to do; let every house in Jerusalem
become a house of Aphrah, "a house of dust." When God makes the
house dust it becomes us to humble ourselves to the dust under
his mighty hand. Many places should share this mourning. The
names have meanings which pointed out the miseries coming upon
them; thereby to awaken the people to a holy fear of Divine
wrath. All refuges but Christ, must be refuges of lies to those
who trust in them; other heirs will succeed to every inheritance
but that of heaven; and all glory will be turned into shame,
except that honour which cometh from God only. Sinners may now
disregard their neighbours' sufferings, yet their turn to be
punished will some come.
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* The sins and desolations of Israel. (1-5) Their evil
practices. (6-11) A promise of restoration. (12,13)

#1-5 Woe to the people that devise evil during the night, and
rise early to carry it into execution! It is bad to do mischief
on a sudden thought, much worse to do it with design and
forethought. It is of great moment to improve and employ hours
of retirement and solitude in a proper manner. If covetousness
reigns in the heart, compassion is banished; and when the heart
is thus engaged, violence and fraud commonly occupy the hands.
The most haughty and secure in prosperity, are commonly most
ready to despair in adversity. Woe to those from whom God turns
away! Those are the sorest calamities which cut us off from the
congregation of the Lord, or cut us short in the enjoyment of
its privileges.

#6-11 Since they say, "Prophesy not," God will take them at
their word, and their sin shall be their punishment. Let the
physician no longer attend the patient that will not be healed.
Those are enemies, not only to God, but to their country, who
silence good ministers, and stop the means of grace. What bonds
will hold those who have no reverence for God's word? Sinners
cannot expect to rest in a land they have polluted. You shall
not only be obliged to depart out of this land, but it shall
destroy you. Apply this to our state in this present world.
There is corruption in the world through lust, and we should
keep at a distance from it. It is not our rest: it was designed
for our passage, but not for our portion; our inn, but not our
home; here we have no continuing city; let us therefore arise
and depart, let us seek a continuing city above. Since they will
be deceived, let them be deceived. Teachers who recommend
self-indulgence by their doctrine and example, best suit such
sinners.

#12,13 These verses may refer to the captivity of Israel and
Judah. But the passage is also a prophecy of the conversion of
the Jews to Christ. The Lord would not only bring them from
captivity, and multiply them, but the Lord Jesus would open
their way to God, by taking upon him the nature of man, and by
the work of his Spirit in their hearts, breaking the fetters of
Satan. Thus he has gone before, and the people follow, breaking,
in his strength, through the enemies that would stop their way
to heaven.
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* The cruelty of the princes, and the falsehood of the prophets.
(1-8) Their false security. (9-12)

#1-8 Men cannot expect to do ill, and fare well; but to find
that done to them which they did to others. How seldom do
wholesome truths reach the ears of those in high stations or in
authority! Those who deceive others are preparing confusion for
their own faces. The prophet had ardent love to God and to the
souls of men; deep concern for his glory and their salvation,
and zeal against sin. The difficulties he met with did not drive
him from his work. He had this strength; not from and of
himself, but he was full of power by the Spirit of the Lord.
Those who act honestly, may act boldly. And those who come to
hear the word of God, must be willing to be told of their
faults, must take it kindly, and be thankful.

#9-12 Zion's walls owe no thanks to those that build them up
with blood and iniquity. The sin of man works not the
righteousness of God. Even when men do that which in itself is
good, but do it for filthy lucre, it becomes abomination both to
God and man. Faith rests in the Lord as the soul's foundation:
presumption only leans upon the Lord as a prop, and would use
him to serve a turn. If men's having the Lord among them will
not keep them from doing evil, it never can secure them from
suffering evil for so doing. See the doom of wicked Jacob;
Therefore shall Zion for your sake be ploughed as a field. This
was exactly fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem by the
Romans, and is so at this day. If sacred places are polluted by
sin, they will be wasted and ruined by the judgments of God.
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* The peace of the kingdom of Christ. (1-8) The judgments to
come upon Jerusalem, but the final triumph of Israel. (9-13)

#1-8 The nations have not yet so submitted to the Prince of
Peace, as to beat their swords into ploughshares, nor has war
ceased. But very precious promises these are, relating to the
gospel church, which will be more and more fulfilled, for He is
faithful that has promised. There shall be a glorious church for
God set up in the world, in the last days, in the days of the
Messiah. Christ himself will build it upon a rock. The Gentiles
worshipped their idol gods; but in the period spoken of, the
people will cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and
delight in doing his will. The word "halteth," describes those
who walk not according to the Divine word. The collecting the
captives from Babylon was an earnest of healing, purifying, and
prospering the church; and the reign of Christ shall continue
till succeeded by the everlasting kingdom of heaven. Let us stir
up each other to attend the ordinances of God, that we may learn
his holy ways, and walk in them, receiving the law from his
hands, which, being written in our hearts by his Spirit, may
show our interest in the Redeemer's righteousness.

#9-13 Many nations would assemble against Zion to rejoice in her
calamities. They would not understand that the Lord had
collected them as sheaves are gathered to be threshed; and that
Zion would be strengthened to beat them to pieces. Nothing has
yet taken place in the history of the Jewish church agreeing
with this prediction. When God has conquering work for his
people to do, he will furnish them with strength and ability for
it. Believers should cry aloud under distresses, with the prayer
of faith, not with despondency.
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* The birth of Christ and conversion of the Gentiles. (1-6) The
triumphs of Israel. (7-15)

#1-6 Having showed how low the house of David would be brought,
a prediction of the Messiah and his king