View Micah 6 in the note window.
God charges his people with ingratitude, ver. 1 - 5.
The way to please God, ver. 6 - 8.
He sets their sins in order before them, ver. 9 - 15.
1: Arise - This is God's command to Micah. Contend thou - Argue
the case between God and thy people; and speak as if thou wouldst
make the mountains hear thee, to testify for me.
2: Foundations of the earth - The mountains properly so called; the
sin of Israel is so notorious, that the whole creation may be summoned
as a witness against them.
3: What have I done - What injustice or unkindness? What grievous,
burdensome impositions have I laid upon thee. Wearied thee - Speak, what
it is hath caused thee to be weary of me?
4: And Miriam - A prophetess to be assistant to her brothers, and to
be an example and a counsellor to the women.
5: Shittim - This is the place where Balak began by the women
of Midian to debauch Israel as Baalim had counselled, and so
continued to do, even to Gilgal, all along the borders of his dominion.
The righteousness - His mercy, justice and veracity.
6: Wherewith - One whose heart was touched by the preceeding
expostulation, may be supposed to make this enquiry.
7: Thousands - Ever so many. Ten thousands of rivers - Were it
possible to give them.
8: He - God hath already told you in his word, with what you ought
to come before him. To do justly - To render to every one their due,
superiors, equals, inferiors, to be equal to all, and oppress none, in
body, goods or name; in all your dealings with men carry a chancery in
your own beasts, and do according to equity. To love mercy - To be kind,
merciful and compassionate to all, not using severity towards any.
Walk humbly with thy God - Keep up a constant fellowship with God, by
humble, holy faith.
9: Crieth - Either by his judgments, each of which is the Lord's
voice, or by his prophets. The city - To every city in Israel and
Judah, but principally to Jerusalem and Samaria.
The man of wisdom - Every wise man. See thy name - Will perceive God
in that cry. The rod - Hear ye the voice of God in the punishments
God is now sending. Appointed it - Who hath chosen it out, and strikes
with it.
10: Yet - After so many express laws, and so many examples of
punishment. Treasures - Gotten by injurious courses.
11: Count them pure - Approve, or acquit then as if they were
righteous.
12: Thereof - Of Jerusalem and Samaria.
13: Sick - God will e're long so smite, that the strokes shall reach
the heart, and make Israel heartsick of his wounds.
14: In the midst of thee - Thou shalt be cast down at home by thy own
hands. Thou shalt take hold - This may refer either to persons or things,
on which we lay hold in order to save them. Shalt not deliver - Where
thou lodgest thy children, and layest up thy wealth, thither the enemy
shall pursue thee; or if thou fly into other countries, it shall not be
a safe refuge to thee. Which thou deliverest - For a little while.
15: Thou shalt not reap - An enemy shall reap it.
Sweet wine - Thou shalt tread the grapes which afford sweet wine.
16: The statutes - The idolatrous worship was set up by Omri in
the royal city. Ye - O house of Israel.
That I should make thee - This will be the event. Thereof - Of the land.
The reproach - The reproach threatened in the law, if my people forsake me.
