Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Micah
Book: Micah
Chapter: 7
Overview:
The general prevalence of wickedness.
(1-7) Reliance
On God,
and triumph over enemies.
(8-13) Promises and encouragements for
Israel.
(14-20)
1-7 The
Prophet bemoans himself that he lived among a people
ripening apace for ruin, in which many good persons would
suffer. Men had
No comfort,
No satisfaction in their own
families or in their nearest relations. Contempt and violation
of domestic duties are a sad symptom of universal corruption.
Those are never likely to come to good who are undutiful to
their parents. The
Prophet saw
No safety or comfort but in
looking to the
Lord, and waiting
On God his
Salvation. When
under trials, we should look continually to our Divine
Redeemer,
that we may have strength and
Grace to trust in him, and to be
examples to those around us.
8-13 Those truly penitent for
Sin, will see great reason to be
patient under affliction. When we complain to the
Lord of the
badness of the times, we ought to complain against ourselves for
the badness of our hearts. We must depend upon
God to work
deliverance for us in due time. We must not only look to him,
but look for him. In our greatest distresses, we shall see
No
reason to despair of
Salvation, if
By Faith we look to the
Lord
as the
God of our
Salvation. Though enemies triumph and insult,
they shall be silenced and
Put to shame. Though Zion's walls may
long be in ruins, there will come a
Day when they shall be
repaired.
Israel shall come from all the remote parts, not
turning back for discouragements. Though our enemies may seem to
prevail against us, and to rejoice over us, we should not
despond. Though cast down, we are not destroyed; we may join
Hope in
God's
Mercy, with submission to his correction.
No
hindrances can prevent the favours the
Lord intends for his
Church.
14-20 When
God is about to deliver his people, he stirs up
their friends to pray for them. Apply spiritually the
Prophet's
Prayer to
Christ, to take care of his
Church, as the great
Shepherd of the
Sheep, and to go before them, while they are
here in this world as in a
Wood, in this world but not of it.
God promises in answer to this
Prayer, he will do that for them
which shall be repeating the miracles of former ages. As their
Sin brought them into
Bondage,
So God's pardoning their
Sin
brought them out. All who find pardoning
Mercy, cannot but
wonder at that
Mercy; we have reason to stand amazed, if we know
what it is. When the
Lord takes away the guilt of
Sin, that it
may not condemn us, he will break the power of
Sin, that it may
not have dominion over us. If left to ourselves, our sins will
be too hard for us; but
God's
Grace shall be sufficient to
subdue them,
So that they shall not rule us, and then they shall
not ruin us. When
God forgives
Sin, he takes care that it never
shall be remembered any more against the sinner. He casts their
sins into
The Sea; not near the shore-side, where they may
appear again, but into the depth of
The Sea, never to rise
again. All their sins shall be cast there, for when
God forgives
Sin, he forgives all. He will perfect that which concerns us,
and with this good work will do all for us which our case
requires, and which he has promised. These engagements relate to
Christ, and the success of the
Gospel to the
End of time, the
future restoration of
Israel, and the final prevailing of true
religion in all lands. The
Lord will perform his
Truth and
Mercy, not one
Jot or
Tittle of it shall fall to the ground:
Faithful is He that has promised, who also will do it. Let us
remember that the
Lord has given the security of his
Covenant,
for strong consolation to all who flee for
Refuge to lay
Hold On
the
Hope set before them in
Christ Jesus.