Albert Barnes Commentary Micah 2:7

"Shall it be said, O house of Jacob, Is the Spirit of Jehovah straitened? are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?" — Micah 2:7 (ASV)

O you who are named the house of Jacob — As Isaiah says, Hear you this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel — who make mention of the God of Israel, not in truth, nor in righteousness. For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel (Isaiah 48:1). They boasted of what convicted them of faithlessness. They relied on being what in spirit they had ceased to be, what in deeds they denied: children of a believing forefather. It is the same temper which we see more at large in their descendants: We are Abraham’s seed and were never in bondage to any man; how do You say, you shall be made free? (John 8:33). Abraham is our Father (John 8:39). It is the same which John the Immerser and our Lord and Paul reproved: Think not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham as our father (Matthew 3:9). If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham (John 8:39–40). Now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth — this Abraham did not do (Romans 2:17–28).

He is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh. — Behold you are called a Jew, and rest in the law and make your boast of God, and know His Will and approve the things that are more excellent — etc. The prophet answers the unexpressed objections of those who forbade him to prophesy evil. “Such could not be of God,” these said, “for God was pledged by His promises to the house of Jacob. It would imply change in God, if He were to cast off those whom He had chosen.” Micah answers, “Not God is changed, but you.” God’s promise was to Jacob, not to those who were but named Jacob, who called themselves after the name of their father, but did not do his deeds. Is the Spirit of the Lord straitened? So that He was less longsuffering than until now.

These things, which He threatened and of which they complained, were not His doings, not what He of His own Nature did, not what He loved to do, not His, as the Author or Cause of them, but theirs.

God is Good, but to those who can receive good, the upright in heart (Psalms 73:1). God is only Loving to Israel. He is all Love, nothing but Love; all His ways are Love. But it follows, to what Israel? The true Israel, the pure of heart (Psalms 25:10). All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth; but to whom? To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies (Psalms 103:17; Luke 1:50). The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting; but hate them that fear Him. They becoming evil, His good became evil to them.

Light, wholesome and gladdening to the healthy, hurts weak eyes. That which is straight cannot suit or fit with the crooked. Amend your crookedness, and God’s ways will be straight to you. Do not My words do good?

He speaks good words and comfortable words (Zechariah 1:13). They are not only good, but do good (Luke 4:32). His Word is with power. Still it is with those who walk uprightly; whether those who do not forsake, or those who return to the way of righteousness. God does not flatter, does not deceive, does not promise what He will not do. He cannot speak peace where there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14). As He says, Behold the and severity of God; on them who but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness (Romans 11:22). God Himself could not make a heaven for the proud or envious. Heaven would be to them a hell.