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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>M I C A H.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. II.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have,
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I. The sins with which the people of Israel are charged--covetousness
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and oppression, fraudulent and violent practices
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>),
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dealing barbarously, even with women and children, and other harmless
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people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:8,9">ver. 8, 9</A>.
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Opposition of God's prophets and silencing them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:6,7">ver. 6, 7</A>),
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and delighting in false prophets,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:11">ver. 11</A>.
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II. The judgments with which they are threatened for those sins, that
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they should be humbled, and impoverished
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:3-5">ver. 3-5</A>),
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and banished,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:10">ver. 10</A>.
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III. Gracious promises of comfort, reserved for the good people among
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them, in the Messiah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:12,13">ver. 12, 13</A>.
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And this is the sum and scope of most of the chapters of this and other
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prophecies.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Mic2_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mic2_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mic2_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mic2_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mic2_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Sins of the People.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 740.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their
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beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is
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in the power of their hand.
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2 And they covet fields, and take <I>them</I> by violence; and
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houses, and take <I>them</I> away: so they oppress a man and his
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house, even a man and his heritage.
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3 Therefore thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; Behold, against this family do
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I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks;
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neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time <I>is</I> evil.
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4 In that day shall <I>one</I> take up a parable against you, and
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lament with a doleful lamentation, <I>and</I> say, We be utterly
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spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he
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removed <I>it</I> from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.
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5 Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot
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in the congregation of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. The injustice of man contriving the evil of sin,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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God was coming forth against this people to destroy them, and here he
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shows what was the ground of his controversy with them; it is that
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which is often mentioned as a sin that hastens the ruin of nations and
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families as much as any, the sin of oppression. Let us see the steps of
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it.
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1. They eagerly desire that which is not their own--that is the
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<I>root of bitterness,</I> the root of all evil,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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They <I>covet fields and houses,</I> as Ahab did Naboth's vineyard. "Oh
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that such a one's field and house were mine! It lies convenient for me,
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and I would manage it better than he does; it is fitter for me than for
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him."
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2. They set their wits on work to invent ways of accomplishing their
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desire
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>);
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they devise iniquity with a great deal of cursed art and policy; they
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plot how to do it effectually, and yet so as not to expose themselves,
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or bring themselves into danger, or under reproach, by it. This is
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called <I>working evil!</I> they are working it in their heads, in
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their families, and are as intent upon it, and with as much pleasure,
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as if they were doing it, and are as confident of their success (so
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wisely do they think they have laid the scheme) as if it were assuredly
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done. Note, It is bad to do mischief upon a sudden thought, but much
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worse to devise it, to do it with design and deliberation; when the
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craft and subtlety of the old serpent appear with his poison and venom,
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it is wickedness in perfection. They devised it <I>upon their beds,</I>
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when they should have been asleep; care to compass a mischievous design
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held their eyes waking. <I>Upon their beds,</I> where they should have
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been remembering God, and meditating upon him, where they should have
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been <I>communing with their own hearts</I> and examining them, they
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were <I>devising iniquity.</I> It is of great consequence to improve
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and employ the hours of our retirement and solitude in a proper manner.
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3. They employ their power in executing what they have designed and
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contrived; they practise the iniquity they have devised, <I>because it
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is in the power of their hand;</I> they find that they can compass it
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by the help of their wealth, and the authority and interest they have,
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and that none dare control them, or call them to an account for it; and
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this, they think, will justify them and bear them out in it. Note, It
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is the mistake of many to think that as they can do they may do;
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whereas no power is given for destruction, but all for edification.
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4. They are industrious and very expeditious in accomplishing the
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iniquity they have devised; when they have settled the matter in their
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thoughts, in their beds, they lose no time, but as soon as the
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<I>morning is light</I> they practice it; they are up early in the
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prosecution of their designs, and what ill their hand finds to do they
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do it <I>with all their might,</I> which shames our slothfulness and
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dilatoriness in doing good, and should shame us out of them. In the
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service of God, and our generation, let it never be said that we left
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that to be done to-morrow which we could do to-day.
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5. They stick at nothing to compass their designs; what they
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<I>covet</I> they <I>take away,</I> if they can, and,
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(1.) They care not what wrong they do, though it be ever so gross and
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open; they take away men's fields by violence, not only by fraud, and
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underhand practices and colour of law, but by force and with a high
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hand.
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(2.) They care not to whom they do wrong nor how far the iniquity
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extends which they devise: They <I>oppress a man and his house;</I>
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they rob and ruin those that have numerous families to maintain, and
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are not concerned though they send them and their wives and children a
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begging. They <I>oppress a man and his heritage;</I> they take away
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from men that which they have an unquestionable title to, having
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received it from their ancestors, and which they have but in trust, to
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transmit it to their posterity; but those oppressors care not how many
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they impoverish, so they may but enrich themselves. Note, If
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covetousness reigns in the heart, commonly all compassion is banished
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from it; and if any man <I>love this world,</I> as the <I>love of the
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Father,</I> so the love of his neighbour <I>is not in him.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. The justice of God contriving the evil of punishment for this sin
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>Therefore thus saith the Lord,</I> the righteous God, that judges
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between man and man, and is an avenger on those that do wrong,
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<I>Behold, against this family do I devise an evil,</I> that is,
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against the whole kingdom, the <I>house of Israel,</I> and particularly
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those families in it that were cruel and oppressive. They unjustly
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devise evil against their brethren, and God will justly devise evil
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against them. Infinite Wisdom will so contrive the punishment of their
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sin that it shall be very sure, and such as cannot be avoided, very
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severe, and such as they cannot bear, very signal and remarkable, and
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such as shall be universally observed to answer to the sin. The more
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there appears of a wicked wit in the sin the more there shall appear of
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a holy wisdom and fitness in the punishment; for the Lord will be
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<I>known by the judgments he executes;</I> he will be owned by them.
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1. He finds them very secure, and confident that they shall in some
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way or other escape the judgment, or, though they fall under it, shall
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soon throw it off and get clear of it, and therefore he tells them, It
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is <I>an evil from which they shall not remove their neck.</I> They
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were children of <I>Belial,</I> that would not endure the easy yoke of
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God's righteous commands, but <I>broke those bonds</I> asunder, and
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<I>cast away those cords from them;</I> and therefore God will lay upon
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them the heavy yoke of his righteous judgments, and they shall not be
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able to withdraw their necks from that; those that will not be
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overruled shall be overcome.
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2. He finds them very proud and stately, and therefore he tells them
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that they shall not go haughtily, with <I>stretched-forth necks and
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wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+3:16">Isa. iii. 16</A>);
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for <I>this time is evil,</I> and the events of it are very humbling
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and mortifying, and such as will bring down the stoutest spirit.
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3. He finds them very merry and jovial, and therefore tells them their
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note shall be changed, their laughter shall be turned into mourning and
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their joy into heaviness
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>In that day,</I> when God comes to punish you for your oppression,
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<I>shall one take up a parable against you,</I> and <I>lament with a
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doleful lamentation,</I> with <I>a lamentation of lamentations</I> (so
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the word is), a most lamentable lamentation, as a song of songs is a
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most pleasing song. Their enemies shall insult over them, and make a
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jest of their griefs, for they shall <I>take up a parable against
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them.</I> Their friends shall mourn over them, and lay to heart their
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calamities, and this shall be the general cry, "<I>We are utterly
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spoiled;</I> we are all undone." Note, Those that were most haughty and
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secure in their prosperity are commonly most dejected and most ready to
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despair in their adversity.
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4. He finds them very rich in houses and lands, which they have gained
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by oppression, and therefore tells them that they shall be stripped of
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all.
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(1.) They shall, in their despair, give it all up; they shall say,
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<I>We are utterly spoiled; he has changed the portion of my people,</I>
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so that it is now no longer theirs, but it is in the possession and
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occupation of their enemies: <I>How has he removed it from me!</I> How
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suddenly, how powerfully! What is unjustly got by us will not long
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continue with us; the righteous God will remove it. <I>Turning away</I>
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from us in wrath, he <I>has divided our fields,</I> and given them into
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the hands of strangers. Woe to those from whom God turns away. The
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margin reads it, "<I>Instead of restoring, he has divided our
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fields;</I> instead of putting us again in the possession of our
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estates, he has confirmed those in the possession of them that have
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taken them from us." Note, It is just with God that those who have
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dealt fraudulently and violently with others should themselves be dealt
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fraudulently and violently with.
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(2.) God shall ratify what they say in their despair
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>);
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so it shall be: <I>Thou shalt have none to cast a cord by lot in the
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congregation of the Lord,</I> none to divide inheritances, because
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there shall be no inheritances to divide, no courts to try titles to
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lands, or determine controversies about them, or cast lots upon them,
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as in Joshua's time, for all shall be in the enemies' hand. This land,
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which should be taken from them, they had not only an unquestionable
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title to, but a very comfortable enjoyment of, for it was <I>in the
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congregation of the Lord,</I> or rather the congregation of the Lord
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was in it; it was God's land; it was a holy land, and therefore it was
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the more grievous to them to be turned out of it. Note, Those are to be
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considered the sorest calamities which cut us off from the congregation
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of the Lord, or cut us short in the enjoyment of the privileges of
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it.</P>
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<A NAME="Mic2_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mic2_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mic2_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mic2_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mic2_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mic2_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Expostulation with the House of Jacob; The Sin and Punishment of Oppression.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD VALIGN=BOTTOM ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 740.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 Prophesy ye not, <I>say they to them that</I> prophesy: they shall
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not prophesy to them, <I>that</I> they shall not take shame.
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7 O <I>thou that art</I> named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> straitened? <I>are</I> these his doings? do not my words do
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good to him that walketh uprightly?
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8 Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off
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the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men
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averse from war.
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9 The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant
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houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.
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10 Arise ye, and depart; for this <I>is</I> not <I>your</I> rest: because
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it is polluted, it shall destroy <I>you,</I> even with a sore
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destruction.
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11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie,
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<I>saying,</I> I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink;
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he shall even be the prophet of this people.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here are two sins charged upon the people of Israel, and judgments
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denounced against them for each, such judgments as exactly answer the
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sin--persecuting God's prophets and oppressing God's poor.</P>
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<P>
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I. Persecuting God's prophets, suppressing and silencing them, is a sin
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that provokes God as much as anything, for it not only spits in the
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face of his authority over us, but spurns at the bowels of his mercy to
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us; for his sending prophets to us is a sure and valuable token of his
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goodwill. Now observe here,</P>
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<P>
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1. What the obstruction and opposition were which this people gave to
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God's prophets: They <I>said to those that prophesy, Prophesy ye
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not,</I> as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+30:10">Isa. xxx. 10</A>.
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They <I>said to the seers, "See not;</I> do not trouble us with
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accounts of what you have seen, nor bring us any such frightful
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messages." They must either not prophesy at all or prophesy only what
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is pleasing. The word for <I>prophesying</I> here signifies
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<I>dropping,</I> for the words of the prophets dropped from heaven as
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the dew. Note, Those that hate to be reformed hate to be reproved, and
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do all they can to silence faithful ministers. Amos was forbidden to
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prophesy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Am+7:10">Amos vii. 10</A>,
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&c. <I>Therefore</I> persecutors stop their breath, because they have
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no other way to stop their mouths; for, if they live, they will preach
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and torment those that dwell on the earth, as the <I>two witnesses</I>
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did,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+11:10">Rev. xi. 10</A>.
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Some read it, <I>Prophesy not; let these prophesy.</I> Let not those
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prophesy that tell us of our faults, and threaten us, but <I>let those
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prophesy</I> that will flatter us in our sins, and cry peace to us.
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They will not say that they will have no ministers at all, but they
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will have such as will say just what they would have them and go their
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way. This they are charged with
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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that when they silenced and frowned upon the true prophets they
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countenanced and encouraged pretenders, and set them up, and made an
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interest for them, to confront God's faithful prophets: <I>If a man
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walk in the spirit of falsehood,</I> pretend to have the Spirit of God,
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while really it is a spirit of error, a spirit of delusion, and he
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himself knows that he has no commission, no instruction, from God, yet,
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if he says, <I>I will prophesy unto thee of wine and strong drink,</I>
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if he will but assure them that they shall have wine and strong drink
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enough, that they need not fear the judgments of war and famine which
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the other prophets threatened them with, that they shall always have
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plenty of the delights of sense and never know the want of them, and if
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he will but tell them that it is lawful for them to drink as much as
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they please of their wine and strong drink, and they need not scruple
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being drunk, that they <I>shall have peace though they go on and add
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drunkenness to thirst,</I> such a prophet as this is a man after their
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own heart, who will tell them that there is neither sin nor danger in
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the wicked course of life they lead: <I>He shall even be the prophet of
|
|
this people;</I> such a man they would have to be their prophet, that
|
|
will not only associate with them in their rioting and revellings, but
|
|
will pretend to consecrate their sensualities by his prophecies and so
|
|
harden them in their security and sensuality. Note, It is not strange
|
|
if people that are vicious and debauched covet to have ministers that
|
|
are altogether such as themselves, for they are willing to believe God
|
|
is so too,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:21">Ps. l. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
But how are sacred things profaned when they are prostituted to such
|
|
base purposes, when prophecy itself shall be pressed into the services
|
|
of a lewd and profane crew! But thus that servant who said, <I>My Lord
|
|
delays his coming,</I> by the spirit of falsehood, <I>smote his fellow
|
|
servants</I> and <I>ate and drank with the drunken.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. How they are here expostulated with upon this matter
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>O thou that art named the house of Jacob,</I> does it become thee
|
|
to say and do thus? Wilt thou silence those that prophesy, and forbid
|
|
them to speak in God's name?" Note, It is an honour and privilege to be
|
|
<I>named of the house of Jacob.</I> Thou art <I>called a Jew,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+2:17">Rom. ii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
But, when those who are called by that worthy name degenerate, they
|
|
commonly prove the worst of men themselves and the worst enemies to
|
|
God's prophets. The Jews who were <I>named of the house of Jacob</I>
|
|
were the most violent persecutors of the first preachers of the gospel.
|
|
Upon this the prophet here argues with these oppressors of the word of
|
|
God, and shows them,
|
|
|
|
(1.) What an affront they hereby put upon God, the God of the holy
|
|
prophets: "<I>Is the Lord's Spirit straitened?</I> In silencing the
|
|
Lord's prophets you do what you can to silence his Spirit too; but do
|
|
you think you can do it? Can you make the Spirit of God your prisoner
|
|
and your servant? Will you prescribe to him what he shall say, and
|
|
forbid him to say what is displeasing to you? If you silence the
|
|
prophets, yet cannot the Spirit of the Lord find out other ways to
|
|
reach your consciences? Can your unbelief frustrate the divine
|
|
counsels?"
|
|
|
|
(2.) What a scandal it was to their profession as Jews: "You are
|
|
<I>named the house of Jacob,</I> and this is your honour; but <I>are
|
|
these his doings?</I> Are these the doings of your father Jacob? Do
|
|
you herein tread in his steps? No; if you were indeed his children you
|
|
would do his works; but now you seek to kill and silence <I>a man that
|
|
tells you the truth,</I> in God's name; <I>this did not Abraham</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+8:39,40">John viii. 39, 40</A>);
|
|
|
|
this did not Jacob." Or, "<I>Are these God's doings?</I> Are these the
|
|
doings that will please him? Are these the doings of his people? No,
|
|
you know they are not, however some may be so strangely blinded and
|
|
bigoted as to kill God's ministers and think that therein they <I>do
|
|
him service,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+16:2">John xvi. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Let them consider how unreasonable and absurd the thing was in
|
|
itself: <I>Do not my words do good to those that walk uprightly?</I>
|
|
Yes; certainly they do; it is an appeal to the experiences of the
|
|
<I>generation of the upright: "Call now if there be any of them that
|
|
will answer you, and to which of the saints will you turn?</I> Turn to
|
|
which you will, and you will find they all agree in this, that the word
|
|
of God <I>does good to those that walk uprightly;</I> and will you then
|
|
oppose that which does good, so much good as good preaching does?
|
|
Herein you wrong God, who owns the words of the prophets to be his
|
|
words (they are <I>my words</I>) and who by them aims and designs to do
|
|
good to mankind
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:68">Ps. cxix. 68</A>);
|
|
|
|
and will you hinder the great benefactor from doing good? Will you put
|
|
the light of the world under a bushel: You might as well say to the
|
|
sun, Shine not, as <I>say to the seers, See not.</I> Herein you wrong
|
|
the souls of men, and deprive them of the benefit designed them by the
|
|
word of God." Note, Those are enemies not only to God, but to the
|
|
world, they are enemies to their country, that silence good ministers,
|
|
and obstruct the means of knowledge and grace; for it is certainly for
|
|
the public common good of states and kingdoms that religion should be
|
|
encouraged. God's words do good to those <I>that walk uprightly.</I> It
|
|
is the character of good people that they <I>walk uprightly</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+15:2">Ps. xv. 2</A>);
|
|
|
|
and it is their comfort that the words of God are good and do good to
|
|
them; they find comfort in them. God's words are good words to good
|
|
people, and speak comfortably to them. But those that opposed the words
|
|
of God, and silenced the prophets, pleaded, in justification of
|
|
themselves, that God's words were unprofitable and unpleasant to them,
|
|
and did them no good, nor prophesied any good concerning them, but
|
|
evil, as Ahab complained of Micaiah, in answer to which the prophet
|
|
here tells them that it was their own fault; they might thank
|
|
themselves. They might find it of good use to them if they were but
|
|
disposed to make a good use of it; if they would but walk uprightly, as
|
|
they should, and so qualify themselves for comfort, the word of God
|
|
would speak comfortably to them. <I>Do that which is good, and thou
|
|
shalt have praise for the same.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. What they are threatened with for this sin; God also will choose
|
|
their delusions, and,
|
|
|
|
(1.) They shall be deprived of the benefit of a
|
|
faithful ministry. Since they say, <I>Prophesy not,</I> God will take
|
|
them at their word, and <I>they shall not prophesy to them;</I> their
|
|
sin shall be their punishment. If men will silence God's ministers, it
|
|
is just with God to silence them, as he did Ezekiel, and to say, They
|
|
shall <I>no more be reprovers</I> and monitors to them. Let the
|
|
physician no longer attend the patient that will not be healed, for he
|
|
will not be ruled. They <I>shall not prophesy to them,</I> and then
|
|
they will not take shame. As it is the work of magistrates, so it is
|
|
also of ministers, to put men to shame when they do amiss
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+18:7">Judg. xviii. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
that, being made ashamed of their folly, they may not return again to
|
|
it; but, when God gives men up to be impudent and shameless in sin, he
|
|
says to his prophets, <I>They are joined to idols; let them alone.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) They shall be given up to the blind guidance of an unfaithful
|
|
ministry. We may understand
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>
|
|
|
|
as a threatening: <I>If a man be found walking in the spirit of
|
|
falsehood,</I> having such a lying spirit as was in the mouth of Ahab's
|
|
prophets, that will strengthen their hands in their wicked ways, he
|
|
<I>shall be the prophet of this people,</I> that is, God will leave
|
|
them to themselves to hearken to such; since they will be deceived, let
|
|
them be deceived; since they will not admit the <I>truth in the love of
|
|
it,</I> God will send them <I>strong delusions to believe a lie,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+2:10,11">2 Thess. ii. 10, 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
They shall have prophets that will prophesy to them for <I>wine and
|
|
strong drink</I> (so some read it), that will give you a cast of their
|
|
office to your mind for a bottle of wine of a flagon of ale, will
|
|
soothe sinners in their sins if they will but feed them with the
|
|
gratifications of their lusts; to have such prophets, and to be ridden
|
|
by them, is as sad a judgment as any people can be under and as bad a
|
|
preface of ruin approaching as it is to a particular person to be under
|
|
the influence of a debauched conscience.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Oppressing God's poor is another sin they are charged with, as
|
|
before
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
for it is a sin doubly hateful and provoking to God. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. How the sin is described,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
When they contemned God's prophets and opposed them they broke out into
|
|
all other wickedness; what bonds will hold those that have no reverence
|
|
for God's word? Those who formerly rose up against the enemies of the
|
|
nation, in defence of their country and therein behaved themselves
|
|
bravely, now of late <I>rose up as enemies of the nation,</I> and,
|
|
instead of defending it, destroyed it, and did it more mischief (as
|
|
usually such vipers in the bowels of a state do) than a foreign enemy
|
|
could do. They made a prey of men, women, and children,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Of men, that were travelling on the way, that <I>pass by securely
|
|
as men averse from war,</I> that were far from any bad designs, but
|
|
went peaceably about their lawful occasions; those they set upon, as if
|
|
they had been dangerous obnoxious people, and <I>pulled off the robe
|
|
with the garment from them,</I> that is, they stripped them both of the
|
|
upper and the inner garment, took away <I>their cloak,</I> and would
|
|
have <I>their coat also;</I> thus barbarously did they use those that
|
|
were quiet in the land, who, being harmless, were fearless, and so the
|
|
more easily make a prey of.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Of women, whose sex should have been their protection
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The women of my people have you cast out from their pleasant houses.
|
|
They devoured widows' houses</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+23:14">Matt. xxiii. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
and so turned them out of the possession of them, because they were
|
|
pleasant houses, and such as they had a mind for. It was inhuman to
|
|
deal thus barbarously with women; but that which especially aggravated
|
|
it was that they were the women of <I>God's people,</I> whom they knew
|
|
to be under his protection.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Of children, whose age entitles them to a tender usage: <I>From
|
|
their children have you taken away my glory for ever.</I> It was the
|
|
glory of the Israelites' children that they were free, but they
|
|
enslaved them--that they were born in God's house, and had a right to
|
|
the privileges of it, but they sold them to strangers, sent them into
|
|
idolatrous countries, where they were deprived for ever of that glory;
|
|
at least the oppressors designed their captivity should be perpetual.
|
|
Note, The righteous God will certainly reckon for injuries done to the
|
|
widows and fatherless, who, being helpless and friendless, cannot
|
|
otherwise expect to be righted.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. What the sentence is that is passed upon them for it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Arise ye, and depart;</I> prepare to quit this land, for you shall
|
|
be forced out of it, as you have forced the women and children of my
|
|
people out of their possessions; it is not, it shall not, be your rest,
|
|
as it was intended that Canaan should be,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+95:11">Ps. xcv. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
You shall have neither contentment nor continuance in it, <I>because it
|
|
is polluted</I> by your wickedness." Sin is defiling to a land, and
|
|
sinners cannot expect to rest in a land which they have polluted, but
|
|
is will spew them out, as this land spewed out the Canaanites of old
|
|
when they had polluted it with their abominations,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+18:27,28">Lev. xviii. 27, 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Nay, you shall not only be obliged to depart out of this land, but
|
|
<I>it shall destroy you even with a sore destruction;</I> you shall
|
|
either be turned out of it or (which is all one) you shall be ruined in
|
|
it." We may apply this to our state in this present world; it is
|
|
polluted; there is a great deal of <I>corruption in the world, through
|
|
lust,</I> and therefore we should <I>arise, and depart out of it,</I>
|
|
keep at a distance from the corruption that is in it, and <I>keep
|
|
ourselves unspotted</I> from it. It <I>is not our rest;</I> it was
|
|
never intended to be so; it was designed for our passage, but not for
|
|
our portion--our inn, but not our home. Here <I>we have no continuing
|
|
city;</I> let us therefore <I>arise and depart;</I> let us sit loose to
|
|
it and live above it, and think of leaving it and seek a continuing
|
|
city above.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mic2_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mic2_13"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Promises of Mercy.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 740.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely
|
|
gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the
|
|
sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they
|
|
shall make great noise by reason of <I>the multitude of</I> men.
|
|
13 The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and
|
|
have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their
|
|
king shall pass before them, and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> on the head of them.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
After threatenings of wrath, the chapter here concludes, as is usual in
|
|
the prophets, with promises of mercy, which were in part fulfilled when
|
|
the Jews returned out of Babylon, and had their full accomplishment in
|
|
the kingdom of the Messiah. Their grievances shall be all redressed.
|
|
|
|
1. Whereas they were dispersed, they shall be brought together again,
|
|
and shall jointly receive the tokens of God's favour to them, and shall
|
|
have communion with each other and comfort in each other
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>I will surely assemble, O Jacob! all of thee,</I> all that belong
|
|
to thee, all that are <I>named of the house of Jacob</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>)
|
|
|
|
that are now expelled your country,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
I will bring you together again, and not one of you shall be lost, not
|
|
one of you shall be missing. <I>I will surely gather the remnant of
|
|
Israel,</I> that remnant that is designed and reserved for salvation;
|
|
they shall be brought to incorporate in one body. <I>I will put them
|
|
together as the sheep of Bozrah.</I>" Sheep are inoffensive and
|
|
sociable creatures; they shall be <I>as the flock in the midst of their
|
|
fold,</I> where they are safe under the shepherd's eye and care; and
|
|
<I>they shall make great noise</I> (as numerous flocks and herds do,
|
|
with their bleating and lowing) <I>by reason of the multitude of
|
|
men</I> (for the sheep are <I>men,</I> as the prophet explains this
|
|
comparison,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+34:31">Ezek. xxxiv. 31</A>),
|
|
|
|
not by reason of their strifes and contentions, but by reason of their
|
|
great numbers. This was accomplished when Christ by his gospel gathered
|
|
together in one <I>all the children of God that were scattered
|
|
abroad,</I> and united both Jews and Gentiles in one fold, and under
|
|
one Shepherd, when all the complaint was that the <I>place was too
|
|
strait</I> for them--that was <I>the noise, by reason of their
|
|
multitude</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+49:19,20">Isa. xlix. 19, 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
when there were some added to the church from all parts of the world,
|
|
and all men were drawn to Christ by the attractive power of his cross,
|
|
which shall be done yet more and more, and perfectly done, when he
|
|
shall send forth his angels to <I>gather in his elect from the four
|
|
winds.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. Whereas God had seemed to desert them, and cast them off, now he
|
|
will own them, and head them, and help them through all the
|
|
difficulties that are in the way of their return and deliverance
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>the breaker has come up before them,</I> to break down all
|
|
opposition, and clear the road for them; and under his guidance <I>they
|
|
have broken up, and have passed through the gate,</I> the door of
|
|
escape out of their captivity, and have <I>gone out by it</I> with
|
|
courage and resolution, having Omnipotence for their van-guard.
|
|
<I>Their King shall pass before them,</I> to head them in the way, even
|
|
Jehovah (he was their king) <I>on the head of them,</I> as he was on
|
|
the head of the armies of Israel when they followed the pillar of cloud
|
|
and fire through the wilderness and when he appeared to Joshua as
|
|
<I>captain of the Lord's host.</I> Christ is the church's King; he is
|
|
Jehovah; he heads them, passes before them, brings them out of the land
|
|
of their captivity, brings them into the land of their rest. He is the
|
|
<I>breaker,</I> that broke through them, that rent the veil, and opened
|
|
the kingdom of heaven to all believers. The learned bishop Pearson
|
|
applies it to the resurrection of Christ, by which he obtained the
|
|
power and became the pattern of our resurrection. <I>The breaker has
|
|
gone up before us</I> out of the grave, and has carried away its gates,
|
|
as Samson did Gaza's, bar and all, and by that breach we go out. The
|
|
learned Dr. Pocock mentions, as the sense which some of the ancient
|
|
Jews give of it, that the breaker is Elias, and their <I>King</I> the
|
|
<I>Messiah,</I> the Son of David; and he thinks we may apply it to
|
|
Christ and his forerunner <I>John the Baptist.</I> John was the
|
|
breaker; he broke the ice, prepared the way of the Lord by the baptism
|
|
of repentance; in him the gospel began; from his time <I>the kingdom of
|
|
heaven suffered violence;</I> and so the Christian church is
|
|
introduced, with <I>Messiah the Prince</I> before it, on the head of
|
|
it, going forth <I>conquering and to conquer.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC33001.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC33003.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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</TABLE>
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