Micah Chapter 7

From The Open Bible Project

7:1 Misery is mine! Indeed, I am like one who gathers the summer fruits, as gleanings of the vineyard: There is no cluster of grapes to eat. My soul desires to eat the early fig.

• (a) The Prophet takes upon himself the voice of the earth, which complains that all her fruits are gone, so that none are left: that is, that there is no godly man remaining, for all are given to cruelty and deceit, so that none spares his own brother.

7:2 The godly man has perished out of the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net.

• (b) He shows that the prince, the judge, and the rich man are all linked together to do evil, and to disguise the deeds of one another.

7:3 Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe; and the powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together.

• (c) That is, the rich man that is able to give money, abstains from no wickedness or injury.
• (d) These men agree among themselves, and conspire with one another to do evil.

7:4 The best of them is like a brier. The most upright is worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen, even your visitation, has come; now is the time of their confusion.

• (e) They that are of most estimation and are counted most honest among them, are but thorns and briers to prick.
• (f) Meaning the prophets and governors.

7:5 Don't trust in a neighbor. Don't put confidence in a friend. With the woman lying in your embrace, be careful of the words of your mouth!

7:6 For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.

7:7 But as for me, I will look to Yahweh. I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.

• (g) The Prophet shows that the only remedy for the godly in desperate evils, is to flee to God for help.

7:8 Don't rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, Yahweh will be a light to me.

• (h) This is spoken in the voice of the Church, which calls the malignant church her enemy.

7:9 I will bear the indignation of Yahweh, because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my case, and executes judgment for me. He will bring me forth to the light. I will see his righteousness.

7:10 Then my enemy will see it, and shame will cover her who said to me, where is Yahweh your God? Then my enemy will see me and will cover her shame. Now she will be trodden down like the mire of the streets.

7:11 A day to build your walls-- In that day, he will extend your boundary.

• (i) That is, when God will show himself to be a deliverer of his Church, and a destroyer of his enemies.
• (k) Meaning the cruel empire of the Babylonians.

7:12 In that day they will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt even to the River, and from sea to sea, and mountain to mountain.

• (l) When the Church will be restored, those that were enemies before will come out of all the corners of the world to her, so that neither fortresses, rivers, seas, nor mountains will be able to stop them.

7:13 Yet the land will be desolate because of those who dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.

• (m) Before this grace appears, he shows how grievously the hypocrites themselves will be punished, seeing that the earth itself, which cannot sin, will be made waste because of their wickedness.

7:14 Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your heritage, who dwell by themselves in a forest, in the midst of fertile pasture land, let them feed; in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

• (n) The Prophet prays to God to be merciful to his Church, when they would be scattered abroad as in solitary places in Babylon, and to be beneficial to them as in times past.

7:15 "As in the days of your coming forth out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous things."

• (o) God promises to be favourable to his people, as he had been before.

7:16 The nations will see and be ashamed of all their might. They will lay their hand on their mouth. Their ears will be deaf.

• (p) They will be as dumb men, and dare brag no more.
• (q) They will be astonished and afraid to hear men speak, lest they should hear of their destruction.

7:17 They will lick the dust like a serpent. Like crawling things of the earth they shall come trembling out of their dens. They will come with fear to Yahweh our God, and will be afraid because of you.

• (r) They will fall flat on the ground because of fear.

7:18 Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn't retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness.

• (s) As though he did not see it, ignoring it.

7:19 He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

• (t) Meaning his elect.

7:20 You will give truth to Jacob, and mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

• (u) The Church is assured that God will perform the truth of his merciful promise, which he had made long ago to Abraham, and to all that would apprehend the promise by faith.