mh_parser/vol_split/33 - Micah/Chapter 4.xml

<div2 id="Mic.v" n="v" next="Mic.vi" prev="Mic.iv" progress="87.38%" title="Chapter IV">
<h2 id="Mic.v-p0.1">M I C A H.</h2>
<h3 id="Mic.v-p0.2">CHAP. IV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Mic.v-p1" shownumber="no">Comparing this chapter with the close of the
foregoing chapter, the comfortable promises here with the terrible
threatenings there, we may, with the apostle, "behold the goodness
and severity of God," (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.22" parsed="|Rom|11|22|0|0" passage="Ro 11:22">Rom. xi.
22</scripRef>), towards the Jewish church which fell, severity when
Zion was ploughed as a field, but towards the Christian church,
which was built upon the ruins of it, goodness, great goodness; for
it is here promised, I. That it shall be advanced and enlarged by
the accession of the nations to it, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.1-Mic.4.2" parsed="|Mic|4|1|4|2" passage="Mic 4:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II. That it shall be protected in
tranquility and peace, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.3-Mic.4.4" parsed="|Mic|4|3|4|4" passage="Mic 4:3,4">ver. 3,
4</scripRef>. III. That it shall be kept close, and constant, and
faithful to God, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.5" parsed="|Mic|4|5|0|0" passage="Mic 4:5">ver. 5</scripRef>. IV.
That under Christ's government, all its grievances shall be
redressed, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.6-Mic.4.7" parsed="|Mic|4|6|4|7" passage="Mic 4:6,7">ver. 6, 7</scripRef>. V.
That it shall have an ample and flourishing dominion, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.8" parsed="|Mic|4|8|0|0" passage="Mic 4:8">ver. 8</scripRef>. VI. That its troubles shall be
brought to a happy issue at length, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.9-Mic.4.10" parsed="|Mic|4|9|4|10" passage="Mic 4:9,10">ver. 9, 10</scripRef>. VII. That its enemies shall be
disquieted, nay, that they shall be destroyed in and by their
attempts against it, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.11-Mic.4.13" parsed="|Mic|4|11|4|13" passage="Mic 4:11-13">ver.
11-13</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Mic.v-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4" parsed="|Mic|4|0|0|0" passage="Mic 4" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Mic.v-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.1-Mic.4.7" parsed="|Mic|4|1|4|7" passage="Mic 4:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Mic.v-p1.11">
<h4 id="Mic.v-p1.12">The Prosperity of the Church
Predicted. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Mic.v-p1.13">b. c.</span> 726.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Mic.v-p2" shownumber="no">1 But in the last days it shall come to pass,
<i>that</i> the mountain of the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Mic.v-p2.1">Lord</span> shall be established in the top of the
mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people
shall flow unto it.   2 And many nations shall come, and say,
Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Mic.v-p2.2">Lord</span>, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and
he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for
the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Mic.v-p2.3">Lord</span> from Jerusalem.   3 And he shall judge
among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they
shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.   4 But they shall sit
every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall
make <i>them</i> afraid: for the mouth of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Mic.v-p2.4">Lord</span> of hosts hath spoken <i>it.</i>   5
For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we
will walk in the name of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Mic.v-p2.5">Lord</span>
our God for ever and ever.   6 In that day, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Mic.v-p2.6">Lord</span>, will I assemble her that halteth,
and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have
afflicted;   7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and
her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the <span class="smallcaps" id="Mic.v-p2.7">Lord</span> shall reign over them in mount Zion from
henceforth, even for ever.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p3" shownumber="no">It is a very comfortable <i>but</i> with
which this chapter begins, and very reviving to those who lay the
interests of God's church near their heart and are concerned for
the welfare of it. When we sometimes see the corruptions of the
church, especially of church-rulers, princes, priests, and
prophets, seeking their own things and not the things of God, and
when we soon after see the desolations of the church, <i>Zion</i>
for their sakes <i>ploughed as a field,</i> we are ready to fear
that it will one day perish between both, that the name of Israel
shall be no more in remembrance; we are ready to give up all for
gone, and to conclude the church will have neither root not branch
upon earth. But let not our faith fail in this matter; out of the
ashes of the church another phoenix shall arise. In the last words
of the foregoing chapter we left <i>the mountain of the house</i>
as desolate and waste as the <i>high places of the forest;</i> and
is it possible that such a wilderness should ever become a fruitful
field again? Yes, the first words of this chapter bring in <i>the
mountain of the Lord's house</i> as much dignified by being
frequented as ever it had been disgraced by being deserted. Though
Zion be ploughed as a field, yet God has not <i>cast off his
people,</i> but by the fall of the Jews salvation has come to the
Gentiles, so that it proves to be the riches of the world,
<scripRef id="Mic.v-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.11-Rom.11.12" parsed="|Rom|11|11|11|12" passage="Ro 11:11,12">Rom. xi. 11, 12</scripRef>. This is
the mystery which God by the prophet here shows us, and he says the
very same in the <scripRef id="Mic.v-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.1-Mic.4.3" parsed="|Mic|4|1|4|3" passage="Mic 4:1-3">first three
verses</scripRef> of this chapter which another prophet said by the
word of the Lord at the same time (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.2.2-Isa.2.4" parsed="|Isa|2|2|2|4" passage="Isa 2:2-4">Isa. ii. 2-4</scripRef>), that <i>out of the mouth of
these two witnesses</i> these promises might be established; and
very precious promises they are, relating to the gospel-church,
which have been in part accomplished, and will be yet more and
more, for he is faithful that has promised.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p4" shownumber="no">I. That there shall be a church for God set
up in the world, after the defection and destruction of the Jewish
church, and this in the last days; that is, as some of the rabbin
themselves acknowledge, <i>in the days of the Messiah.</i> The
people of God shall be incorporated by a new charter, a new
spiritual way of worship shall be enacted, and a new institution of
offices to attend it; better privileges shall be granted by this
new charter, and better provision made for enlarging and
establishing the kingdom of God among men than had been made by the
Old-Testament constitution: <i>The mountain of the house of the
Lord</i> shall again appear firm ground for God's faithful
worshippers to stand, and go, and build upon, in their attendance
on him, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.1" parsed="|Mic|4|1|0|0" passage="Mic 4:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. And it
shall be a centre of unity to them; a church shall be set up in the
world, to which the Lord will be daily <i>adding such as shall be
saved.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p5" shownumber="no">II. That this church shall be firmly
founded and well-built: It <i>shall be established in the top of
the mountains;</i> Christ himself will build it upon a rock; it
shall be an impregnable fort upon an immovable foundation, so that
the gates of hell shall neither overthrow the one nor undermine the
other (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.16.18" parsed="|Matt|16|18|0|0" passage="Mt 16:18">Matt. xvi. 18</scripRef>); its
foundations are still in the <i>holy mountains</i> (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.87.1" parsed="|Ps|87|1|0|0" passage="Ps 87:1">Ps. lxxxvii. 1</scripRef>), the <i>everlasting
mountains,</i> which cannot, which shall not, be removed. It shall
be established, not as the temple, upon one mountain, but upon
many; for the foundations of the church, as they are sure, so they
are large.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p6" shownumber="no">III. That it shall be highly advanced, and
become eminent and conspicuous: It <i>shall be exalted above the
hills,</i> observed with wonder for its growing greatness from
small beginnings. The kingdom of Christ shall shine with greater
lustre than ever any of the kingdoms of the earth did. It shall be
as a <i>city on a hill, which cannot be hid,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.5.14" parsed="|Matt|5|14|0|0" passage="Mt 5:14">Matt. v. 14</scripRef>. The glory of this latter house is
greater than that of the former, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.9" parsed="|Hag|2|9|0|0" passage="Hag 2:9">Hag.
ii. 9</scripRef>. See <scripRef id="Mic.v-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.3.7-2Cor.3.8" parsed="|2Cor|3|7|3|8" passage="2Co 3:7,8">2 Cor. iii. 7,
8</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p7" shownumber="no">IV. That there shall be a great accession
of converts to it and succession of converts in it. <i>People shall
flow unto it</i> as the waters of a river are continually flowing;
there shall be a constant stream of believers flowing in from all
parts into the church, as the people of the Jews flowed into the
temple, while it was standing, to worship there. Then many tribes
came to the mountain of the house, to enquire of God's temple; but
in gospel-times many nations shall flow into the church, shall
<i>fly like a cloud and as the doves to their windows.</i>
Ministers shall be sent forth to <i>disciple all nations,</i> and
they shall not <i>labour in vain;</i> for, multitudes being wrought
upon to believe the gospel and embrace the Christian religion, they
shall excite and encourage one another, and shall say, "<i>Come,
and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord</i> now raised among
us, even <i>to the house of the God of Jacob,</i> the spiritual
temple which we need not travel far to, for it is brought to our
doors and set up in the midst of us." Thus shall people be <i>made
willing in the day of his power</i> (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.3" parsed="|Ps|110|3|0|0" passage="Ps 110:3">Ps. cx. 3</scripRef>), and shall do what they can to
make others willing, as Andrew invited Peter, and Philip Nathanael,
to be acquainted with Christ. They shall <i>call the people to the
mountain</i> (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.33.19" parsed="|Deut|33|19|0|0" passage="De 33:19">Deut. xxxiii.
19</scripRef>), for there is in Christ enough for all, enough for
each. Now observe what it is, 1. Which these converts expect to
find in <i>the house of the God of Jacob.</i> They come thither for
instruction: "<i>He will teach us of his ways,</i> what is the way
in which he would have us to walk with him and in which we may
depend upon him to meet us graciously." Note, Where we come to
worship God we come to be taught of him. 2. Which they engage to do
when they are thus taught of God: <i>We will walk in his paths.</i>
Note, Those may comfortably expect that God will teach them who are
firmly resolved by his grace to do as they are taught.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p8" shownumber="no">V. That, in order to this, a new revelation
shall be published to the world, on which the church shall be
founded, and by which multitudes shall be brought into it: <i>For
the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem.</i> The gospel is here called <i>the word of the
Lord,</i> for <i>the Lord gave the word, and great was the company
of those that published it,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.11" parsed="|Ps|68|11|0|0" passage="Ps 68:11">Ps.
lxviii. 11</scripRef>. It was of a divine original, a divine
authority; it began to be spoken by the Lord Christ himself,
<scripRef id="Mic.v-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.2.3" parsed="|Heb|2|3|0|0" passage="Heb 2:3">Heb. ii. 3</scripRef>. And it is <i>a
law,</i> a law of faith; we are <i>under the law to Christ.</i>
This was to go <i>forth from Jerusalem, from Zion,</i> the
metropolis of the Old-Testament dispensation, where the temple, and
altars, and oracles were, and whither the Jews went to worship from
all parts; thence the gospel must take rise, to show the connexion
between the Old Testament and the New, that the gospel is not set
up in opposition to the law, but is an explication and illustration
of it, and a <i>branch growing out of its roots.</i> It was in
Jerusalem that Christ preached and wrought miracles; there he died,
rose again, and ascended; there the Spirit was poured out; and
those that were to preach repentance and remission of sins to all
nations were ordered to <i>begin at Jerusalem,</i> so that thence
flowed the streams that were to water the desert world.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p9" shownumber="no">VI. That a convincing power should go along
with the gospel of Christ, in all places where it should be
preached (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.3" parsed="|Mic|4|3|0|0" passage="Mic 4:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>):
<i>He shall judge among many people.</i> Messiah, the lawgiver
(<scripRef id="Mic.v-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.2" parsed="|Mic|4|2|0|0" passage="Mic 4:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>), is here
<i>the judge,</i> for to him the Father <i>committed all
judgment,</i> and <i>for judgment he came into this world;</i> his
word, the <i>word of his gospel,</i> that was to go forth from
Jerusalem, was the golden sceptre by which he shall rule and judge
when he sits as <i>king on the holy hill of Zion,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.6" parsed="|Ps|2|6|0|0" passage="Ps 2:6">Ps. ii. 6</scripRef>. By it he shall <i>rebuke
strong nations afar off;</i> for the Spirit working with the word
shall <i>reprove the world,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:John.16.8" parsed="|John|16|8|0|0" passage="Joh 16:8">John
xvi. 8</scripRef>. It is promised to the Son of David that he shall
<i>judge among the heathen</i> (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.6" parsed="|Ps|110|6|0|0" passage="Ps 110:6">Ps.
cx. 6</scripRef>), which he does when in the chariot of his
everlasting gospel he goes forth, and goes on, <i>conquering and to
conquer.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p10" shownumber="no">VII. That a disposition to mutual peace and
love shall be the happy effect of the setting up of the kingdom of
the Messiah: <i>They shall beat their swords into
plough-shares;</i> that is, angry passionate men, that have been
fierce and furious, shall be wonderfully sweetened, and made mild
and meek, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Titus.3.2-Titus.3.3" parsed="|Titus|3|2|3|3" passage="Tit 3:2,3">Tit. iii. 2, 3</scripRef>.
Those who, before their conversion, did injuries, and would bear
none, after their conversion can bear injuries, but will do none.
As far as the gospel prevails it makes men peaceable, for such is
<i>the wisdom from above;</i> it is <i>gentle and easy to be
entreated;</i> and if nations were but leavened by it, there would
be universal peace. When Christ was born there was universal peace
in the Roman empire; those that were first brought into the gospel
church were all of <i>one heart and of one soul</i> (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.4.32" parsed="|Acts|4|32|0|0" passage="Ac 4:32">Acts iv. 32</scripRef>); and it was observed of
the primitive Christians how well <i>they loved one another.</i> In
heaven this will have its full accomplishment. It is promised, 1.
That none shall be quarrelsome. The art of war, instead of being
improved (which some reckon the glory of a kingdom), shall be
forgotten and laid aside as useless. They <i>shall not learn war
any more</i> as they have done, for they shall have no need to
defend themselves nor any inclination to offend their neighbours.
<i>Nation shall no longer lift up sword against nation;</i> not
that the gospel will make men cowards, but it will make men
peaceable. 2. That all shall be quiet, both from evil and from the
fear of evil (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.4" parsed="|Mic|4|4|0|0" passage="Mic 4:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>):
<i>They shall sit</i> safely, and none shall disturb them; they
shall sit securely, and shall not disturb themselves, every man
<i>under his vine and under his fig-tree,</i> enjoying the fruit of
them, and needing no other shelter than the leaves of them. <i>None
shall make them afraid;</i> not only there shall be nothing that is
likely to frighten them, but they shall not be disposed to fear.
under the dominion of Christ, as that of Solomon, there shall be
<i>abundance of peace.</i> Though his followers have trouble in the
world, in him they enjoy great tranquillity. If this seems
unlikely, yet we may depend upon it, <i>for the mouth of the Lord
has spoken it,</i> and no word of his shall fall to the ground;
what he has spoken by his word he will do by his providence and
grace. He that is the <i>Lord of hosts</i> will be the <i>God of
peace;</i> and those may well be easy whom <i>the Lord of
hosts,</i> of all hosts, undertakes the protection of.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p11" shownumber="no">VIII. That the churches shall be constant
in their duty, and so shall make a good use of their tranquillity
and shall not provoke the Lord to deprive them of it, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.5" parsed="|Mic|4|5|0|0" passage="Mic 4:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. When <i>the churches have
rest</i> they shall be edified, and confirmed, and comforted, and
shall resolve to be as firm to their God as other nations are to
theirs, though they be no gods. Where we find the foregoing
promises, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.2.2" parsed="|Isa|2|2|0|0" passage="Isa 2:2">Isa. ii. 2</scripRef>,
&amp;c. it follows (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.5" parsed="|Mic|4|5|0|0" passage="Mic 4:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>), <i>O house of Jacob! come ye, and let us walk in the
light of the Lord;</i> and here, <i>We will walk in the name of the
Lord our God.</i> Note, Peace is a blessing indeed when it
strengthens our resolutions to cleave to the Lord. Observe, 1. How
constant other nations were to their gods: <i>All people will walk
every one in the name of his god,</i> will own their god and cleave
to him, will worship their god and serve him, will depend upon him
and put confidence in him. Whatever men make a god of they will
make use of, and take his name along with them in all their actions
and affairs. The mariners, in a storm, <i>cried every man to his
god,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Jonah.1.5" parsed="|Jonah|1|5|0|0" passage="Jon 1:5">Jonah i. 5</scripRef>. And no
instance could be found of a nation's changing its gods, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.2.11" parsed="|Jer|2|11|0|0" passage="Jer 2:11">Jer. ii. 11</scripRef>: If the hosts of heaven
were their gods, they loved them, and served them, and <i>walked
after them,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.8.2" parsed="|Jer|8|2|0|0" passage="Jer 8:2">Jer. viii.
2</scripRef>. 2. How constant God's people now resolve to be to
him: "<i>We will walk in the name of the Lord our God,</i> will
acknowledge him in all our ways, and govern ourselves by a
continual regard to him, doing nothing but what we have warrant
from him for, and openly professing our relation to him." Observe,
Their resolution is peremptory; it is not a thing that needs be
disputed: "<i>We will walk in the name of the Lord our God.</i>" It
is just and reasonable: He is <i>our God.</i> And it is a
resolution for a perpetuity: "We will do it <i>for ever and
ever,</i> and will never leave him. He will be ours for ever, and
therefore so we will be his, and never repent our choice."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p12" shownumber="no">IX. That notwithstanding the dispersions,
distress, and infirmities of the church, it shall be formed and
established, and made very considerable, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.6-Mic.4.7" parsed="|Mic|4|6|4|7" passage="Mic 4:6,7"><i>v.</i> 6, 7</scripRef>. 1. The state of the church
had been low, and weak, and very helpless, in the latter times of
the Old Testament, partly through the corruptions of the Jewish
nation, and partly through the oppressions under which they
groaned. They were like a <i>flock of sheep</i> that were
<i>maimed, worried,</i> and <i>scattered,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.34.16 Bible:Jer.50.6 Bible:Jer.50.17" parsed="|Ezek|34|16|0|0;|Jer|50|6|0|0;|Jer|50|17|0|0" passage="Eze 34:16,Jer 50:6,17">Ezek. xxxiv. 16; Jer. l. 6, 17</scripRef>.
The good people among them, and in other places, that were well
inclined, were dispersed, were very infirm, and in a manner lost
and cast far off. 2. It is promised that all these grievances shall
be redressed and the distemper healed. Christ will come himself
(<scripRef id="Mic.v-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.15.24" parsed="|Matt|15|24|0|0" passage="Mt 15:24">Matt. xv. 24</scripRef>), and send
his apostles to <i>the lost sheep of the house of Israel,</i>
<scripRef id="Mic.v-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.10.6" parsed="|Matt|10|6|0|0" passage="Mt 10:6">Matt. x. 6</scripRef>. From among the
Jews that halted, or that for want of strength, could not go
upright, God gathered a remnant (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.7" parsed="|Mic|4|7|0|0" passage="Mic 4:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), that <i>remnant according to the
election of grace</i> which is spoken of in <scripRef id="Mic.v-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.7" parsed="|Rom|11|7|0|0" passage="Ro 11:7">Rom. xi. 7</scripRef>, which embraced the gospel of
Christ. And from among the Gentiles that were cast far off (so the
Gentiles are described to be, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p12.7" osisRef="Bible:Eph.2.13 Bible:Acts.2.39" parsed="|Eph|2|13|0|0;|Acts|2|39|0|0" passage="Eph 2:13,Ac 2:39">Eph. ii. 13, Acts ii. 39</scripRef>) he raised a
strong nation; greater numbers of them were brought into the church
than of the Jews, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p12.8" osisRef="Bible:Gal.4.27" parsed="|Gal|4|27|0|0" passage="Ga 4:27">Gal. iv.
27</scripRef>. And such a strong nation the gospel-church is that
the gates of hell shall never be able to prevail against it. The
church of Christ is more numerous than any other nation, and
<i>strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p13" shownumber="no">X. That the <i>Messiah</i> shall be the
king of this kingdom, shall protect and govern it, and order all
the affairs of it for the best, and this to the end of time. The
Lord Jesus <i>shall reign over them in Mount Zion</i> by his word
and Spirit in his ordinances, and this <i>henceforth and for
ever,</i> for <i>of the increase of his government and peace there
shall be no end.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Mic.v-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.8-Mic.4.13" parsed="|Mic|4|8|4|13" passage="Mic 4:8-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Mic.v-p13.2">
<h4 id="Mic.v-p13.3">Judgments and Mercies. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Mic.v-p13.4">b. c.</span> 726.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Mic.v-p14" shownumber="no">8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong
hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the
first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of
Jerusalem.   9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? <i>is
there</i> no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs
have taken thee as a woman in travail.   10 Be in pain, and
labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail:
for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell
in the field, and thou shalt go <i>even</i> to Babylon; there shalt
thou be delivered; there the <span class="smallcaps" id="Mic.v-p14.1">Lord</span>
shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.   11 Now
also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be
defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.   12 But they know
not the thoughts of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Mic.v-p14.2">Lord</span>,
neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as
the sheaves into the floor.   13 Arise and thresh, O daughter
of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs
brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will
consecrate their gain unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Mic.v-p14.3">Lord</span>,
and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p15" shownumber="no">These verses relate to Zion and Jerusalem,
here called the <i>tower of the flock</i> or the <i>tower of
Edor;</i> we read of such a place (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.35.21" parsed="|Gen|35|21|0|0" passage="Ge 35:21">Gen. xxxv. 21</scripRef>) near Bethlehem; and some
conjecture it is the same place where the shepherds were keeping
their flocks when the angels brought them tidings of the birth of
Christ, and some think Bethlehem itself is here spoken of, as
<scripRef id="Mic.v-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Mic.5.2" parsed="|Mic|5|2|0|0" passage="Mic 5:2"><i>ch.</i> v. 2</scripRef>. Some think
it is a tower at that gate of Jerusalem which is called the
<i>sheep-gate</i> (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.32" parsed="|Neh|3|32|0|0" passage="Ne 3:32">Neh. iii.
32</scripRef>), and conjecture that through that gate Christ rode
in triumph into Jerusalem. However, it seems to be put for
Jerusalem itself, or for Zion the <i>tower of David.</i> All the
sheep of Israel flocked thither three times a year; it was the
<i>stronghold</i> (<i>Ophel,</i> which is also a name of a place in
Jerusalem, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.27" parsed="|Neh|3|27|0|0" passage="Ne 3:27">Neh. iii. 27</scripRef>), or
castle, of the <i>daughter of Zion.</i> Now here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p16" shownumber="no">I. We have a promise of the glories of the
spiritual Jerusalem, the gospel-church, which is; the tower of the
flock, that one fold in which all the sheep of Christ are protected
under one Shepherd: "<i>Unto thee shall it come;</i> that which
thou hast long wanted and wished for, <i>even the first
dominion,</i> a dignity and power equal to that of David and
Solomon, by whom Jerusalem was first raised, that <i>kingdom</i>
shall again <i>come to the daughter of Jerusalem,</i> which it was
deprived of at the captivity. It shall make as great a figure and
shine with as much lustre among the nations, and have as much
influence upon them, as ever it had; this is the <i>first</i> or
<i>chief</i> dominion." Now this had by no means its accomplishment
in Zerubbabel; his was nothing like the first dominion either in
respect of splendour and sovereignty at home or the extent of power
abroad; and therefore it must refer to the kingdom of the
<i>Messiah</i> (and to that the Chaldee-paraphrase refers it) and
had its accomplishment when God gave to our Lord Jesus <i>the
throne of his father David</i> (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.1.32" parsed="|Luke|1|32|0|0" passage="Lu 1:32">Luke i.
32</scripRef>), set him king <i>upon the holy hill of Zion</i> and
<i>gave him the heathen for his inheritance</i> (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.6" parsed="|Ps|2|6|0|0" passage="Ps 2:6">Ps. ii. 6</scripRef>), <i>made him, his first-born, higher
than the kings of the earth,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.89.27 Bible:Dan.7.14" parsed="|Ps|89|27|0|0;|Dan|7|14|0|0" passage="Ps 89:27,Da 7:14">Ps. lxxxix. 27; Dan. vii. 14</scripRef>.
<i>David, in spirit, called him Lord,</i> and (as Dr. Pocock
observes) he witnessed of himself, and his witness was true, that
he was greater than Solomon, none of their dominions being like his
for extent and duration. The common people welcomed Christ into
Jerusalem with <i>hosannas to the son of David,</i> to show that it
was the <i>first dominion</i> that came <i>to the daughter of
Zion;</i> and the evangelist applies it to the promise of Zion's
king coming to her, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.21.5 Bible:Zech.9.9" parsed="|Matt|21|5|0|0;|Zech|9|9|0|0" passage="Mt 21:5,Zec 9:9">Matt. xxi.
5; Zech. ix. 9</scripRef>. Some give this sense of the words: To
Zion, and Jerusalem that tower of the flock, to the nation of the
Jews, <i>came the first dominion;</i> that is, there the kingdom of
Christ was first set up, the <i>gospel of the kingdom</i> was first
<i>preached</i> (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Luke.24.47" parsed="|Luke|24|47|0|0" passage="Lu 24:47">Luke xxiv.
47</scripRef>), there Christ was first called <i>king of the
Jews.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p17" shownumber="no">II. This is illustrated by a prediction of
the calamities of the literal Jerusalem, to which some favour and
relief should be granted, as a type and figure of what God would do
for the gospel-Jerusalem in the last days, notwithstanding its
distresses. We have here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p18" shownumber="no">1. Jerusalem put in pain by the providences
of God. "She <i>cries out aloud,</i> that all her neighbours may
take notice of her griefs, because there is <i>no king in her,</i>
none of that honour and power she used to have. Instead of ruling
the nations, as she did when she <i>sat a queen,</i> she is ruled
by them, and has become a captive. Her <i>counsellors</i> have
<i>perished;</i> she is no longer at her own disposal, but is given
up to the will of her enemies, and is governed by their
counsellors. <i>Pangs have taken her.</i>" (1.) She is carried
captive to Babylon, and there is in pangs of grief. "She <i>goes
forth out of the city,</i> and is constrained to <i>dwell in the
field,</i> exposed to all manner of inconveniences; she <i>goes
even to Babylon,</i> and there wears out <i>seventy tedious</i>
years in a miserable captivity, all that while <i>in pain, as a
woman in travail,</i> waiting to be delivered, and thinking the
time very long." (2.) When she is delivered out of Babylon, and
redeemed from the hand of her enemies there, yet still she is in
pangs of fear; the end of one trouble is but the beginning of
another; for <i>now also,</i> when Jerusalem is in the rebuilding,
<i>many nations are gathered against her,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.11" parsed="|Mic|4|11|0|0" passage="Mic 4:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. They were so in Ezra's and
Nehemiah's time, and did all they could to obstruct the building of
the temple and the wall. They were so in the time of the Maccabees;
they said, <i>Let her be defiled;</i> let her be looked upon as a
place polluted with sin, and be forsaken and abandoned both of God
and man; let her holy places be profaned and all her honours laid
in the dust; <i>let our eye look upon Zion,</i> and please itself
with the sight of its ruins, as it is said of Edom (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Obad.1.12" parsed="|Obad|1|12|0|0" passage="Ob 1:12">Obad. 12</scripRef>, <i>Thou shouldst not have
looked upon the day of thy brother</i>); let our eyes see our
desire upon Zion, the day we have long wished for. When they hear
the enemies thus combine against them, and insult over them, no
wonder that they are in pain, and cry aloud. <i>Without are
fightings, within are fears.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Mic.v-p19" shownumber="no">2. Jerusalem made easy by the promises of
God: "<i>Why dost thou cry out aloud?</i> Let thy griefs and fears
be silenced; indulge not thyself in them, for, though things are
bad with thee, they shall end well; thy pangs are great, but they
are like those of a <i>woman in travail</i> (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.9" parsed="|Mic|4|9|0|0" passage="Mic 4:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>), that <i>labours to bring
forth</i> (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.10" parsed="|Mic|4|10|0|0" passage="Mic 4:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>),
the issue of which will be good at last." Jerusalem's pangs are not
as dying agonies, but as travailing throes, which after a while
will be forgotten, for joy that a child is born into the world. Let
the literal Jerusalem comfort herself with this, that, whatever
straits she may be reduced to, she shall continue until the coming
of the Messiah, for there his kingdom must be first set up, and she
shall not be destroyed while that blessing is in her; and when at
length she is ploughed as a field, and become heaps (as is
threatened, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Mic.3.12" parsed="|Mic|3|12|0|0" passage="Mic 3:12"><i>ch.</i> iii.
12</scripRef>), yet her privileges shall be resigned to the
spiritual Jerusalem, and in that the promises made to her shall be
fulfilled. Let Jerusalem be easy then, for, (1.) Her captivity in
Babylon shall have an end, a happy end (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.10" parsed="|Mic|4|10|0|0" passage="Mic 4:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): <i>There shalt thou be
delivered, and the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thy
enemies there.</i> This was done by Cyrus, who acted therein as
God's servant; and that deliverance was typical of our redemption
by Jesus Christ, and the release from our spiritual bondage which
is proclaimed in the everlasting gospel, that <i>acceptable year of
the Lord,</i> in which Christ himself preached <i>liberty to the
captives, and the opening of the prison to those that were
bound,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:Luke.4.18-Luke.4.19" parsed="|Luke|4|18|4|19" passage="Lu 4:18,19">Luke iv. 18,
19</scripRef>. (2.) The designs of her enemies against her
afterwards shall be baffled, nay, they shall turn upon themselves,
<scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.6" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.12-Mic.4.13" parsed="|Mic|4|12|4|13" passage="Mic 4:12,13"><i>v.</i> 12, 13</scripRef>. They
promise themselves a day of it, but it shall prove <i>God's
day.</i> They are <i>gathered against Zion,</i> to destroy it, but
it shall prove to their own destruction, which Israel and Israel's
God shall have the glory of. [1.] Their coming together against
Zion shall be the occasion of their ruin. They <i>associate
themselves, and gird themselves,</i> that they may break Jerusalem
in pieces, but it will prove that they shall be broken in pieces,
<scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.8.9" parsed="|Isa|8|9|0|0" passage="Isa 8:9">Isa. viii. 9</scripRef>. <i>They know
not the thoughts of the Lord.</i> When they are gathering together,
and Providence favours them in it, they little think what God is
designing by it, nor do they understand his counsel; they know what
they aim at in coming together, but they know not what God aims at
in bringing them together; they aim at Zion's ruin, but God aims at
theirs. Note, When men are made use of as instruments of Providence
in accomplishing its purposes it is very common for them to intend
one thing and for God to intend quite the contrary. The king of
Assyria is to be a rod in God's hand for the correction of his
people, in order to their reformation; <i>howbeit he means not so,
nor does his heart think so,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.8" osisRef="Bible:Isa.10.7" parsed="|Isa|10|7|0|0" passage="Isa 10:7">Isa.
x. 7</scripRef>. And thus it is here; the nations are gathered
against Zion, as soldiers into the field, but God gathers them
<i>as sheaves into the floor,</i> to be beaten to pieces; and they
could not have been so easily, so effectually, destroyed, if they
had not <i>gathered together against Zion.</i> Note, The designs of
enemies for the ruin of the church often prove ruining to
themselves; and thereby they prepare themselves for destruction and
put themselves in the way of it; they are <i>snared in the work of
their own hands.</i> [2.] Zion shall have the honour of being
victorious over them, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.9" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.13" parsed="|Mic|4|13|0|0" passage="Mic 4:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>. When they are <i>gathered as sheaves into the
floor,</i> to be trodden down, as the corn then was by the oxen,
then, "<i>Arise, and thresh, O daughter of Zion!</i> instead of
fearing them, and fleeing from them, boldly set upon them, and take
the opportunity Providence favours thee with of trampling upon
them. Plead not thy own weakness, and that thou art not a match for
so many confederated enemies; God will make <i>thy horn iron,</i>
to push them down, and <i>thy hoofs brass,</i> to tread upon them
when they are down; and thus thou shalt <i>beat in pieces many
people,</i> that have long been beating thee in pieces." Thus, when
God pleases, <i>the daughter of Babylon is made a threshing floor
(it is time to thresh her,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.10" osisRef="Bible:Jer.51.33" parsed="|Jer|51|33|0|0" passage="Jer 51:33">Jer.
li. 33</scripRef>), and the <i>worm Jacob</i> is made <i>a
threshing instrument,</i> with which God will <i>thresh the
mountains, and make them as chaff,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.11" osisRef="Bible:Isa.41.14-Isa.41.15" parsed="|Isa|41|14|41|15" passage="Isa 41:14,15">Isa. xli. 14, 15</scripRef>. How strangely, how
happily, are the tables turned, since Jacob was the threshing-floor
and Babylon the threshing instrument! <scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.12" osisRef="Bible:Isa.21.10" parsed="|Isa|21|10|0|0" passage="Isa 21:10">Isa. xxi. 10</scripRef>. Note, When God has conquering
work for his people to do he will furnish them with strength and
ability for it, will make the horn iron and the hoofs brass; and,
when he does so, they must exert the power he gives them, and
execute the commission; even the daughter of Zion must arise, and
thresh. [3.] The glory of the victory shall redound to God. Zion
shall thresh these sheaves in the floor, but the corn threshed out
shall be a meat-offering at God's altar: <i>I will consecrate their
gain unto the Lord</i> (that is, I will have it consecrated) and
<i>their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.</i> The spoils
gained by Zion's victory shall be brought into the sanctuary, and
devoted to God, either in part, as those of Midian (<scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.13" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.28" parsed="|Num|31|28|0|0" passage="Nu 31:28">Num. xxxi. 28</scripRef>), or in whole, as those
of Jericho, <scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.14" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.17" parsed="|Josh|6|17|0|0" passage="Jos 6:17">Josh. vi. 17</scripRef>.
God is Jehovah, the fountain of being; he is the <i>Lord of the
whole earth,</i> the fountain of power; and therefore he needs not
any of our gain or substance, but may challenge and demand it all
if he please; and with ourselves we must devote all we have to his
honour, to be employed as he directs. Thus far all we have must
have <i>holiness to the Lord</i> written upon it, all our gain and
substance must be <i>consecrated to the Lord of the whole
earth,</i> <scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.15" osisRef="Bible:Isa.23.18" parsed="|Isa|23|18|0|0" passage="Isa 23:18">Isa. xxiii. 18</scripRef>.
And extraordinary successes call for extraordinary acknowledgments,
whether they be of spoils in war or gains in trade. It is God that
<i>gives us power to get wealth,</i> which way soever it is
honestly got, and therefore he must be honoured with what we get.
Some make all this to point at the defeat of Sennacherib when he
besieged Jerusalem, others to the destruction of Babylon, others to
the successes of the Maccabees; but the learned Dr. Pocock and
others think it had its full accomplishment in the spiritual
victories obtained by the gospel of Christ over the powers of
darkness that fought against it. The nations thought to ruin
Christianity in its infancy, but it was victorious over them; those
that persisted in their enmity were <i>broken to pieces</i>
(<scripRef id="Mic.v-p19.16" osisRef="Bible:Matt.21.44" parsed="|Matt|21|44|0|0" passage="Mt 21:44">Matt. xxi. 44</scripRef>),
particularly the Jewish nation; but multitudes by divine grace were
gained to the church, and they and their substance were consecrated
to the Lord Jesus, <i>the Lord of the whole earth.</i></p>
</div></div2>