Matthew Henry Commentary Micah 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Micah 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Micah 1
"The word of Jehovah that came to Micah the Morashtite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. Hear, ye peoples, all of you: hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord Jehovah be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. For, behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. And the mountains shall be melted under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, as waters that are poured down a steep place. For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem? Therefore I will make Samaria as a heap of the field, [and] as places for planting vineyards; and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will uncover the foundations thereof. And all her graven images shall be beaten to pieces, and all her hires shall be burned with fire, and all her idols will I lay desolate; for of the hire of a harlot hath she gathered them, and unto the hire of a harlot shall they return." — Micah 1:1-7 (ASV)
The earth is called upon, with all that are within it, to hear the prophet. God's holy temple will not protect false professors. Neither men of high status, like the mountains, nor men of low status, like the valleys, can secure themselves or the land from the judgments of God.
If sin is found in God's people, He will not spare them. Their sins are especially provoking to Him, for they bring the most reproach. When we feel the sting of sin, it is fitting for us to identify the sin for which we are suffering.
Persons and places most exalted are most exposed to spiritual diseases. The vices of leaders and rulers will be certainly and severely punished. The punishment corresponds to the sin.
What they gave to idols will never prosper, nor do them any good. What is gained by one lust is wasted on another.
"For this will I lament and wail; I will go stripped and naked; I will make a wailing like the jackals, and a lamentation like the ostriches. For her wounds are incurable; for it is come even unto Judah; it reacheth unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem. Tell it not in Gath, weep not at all: at Beth-le-aphrah have I rolled myself in the dust. Pass away, O inhabitant of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame: the inhabitant of Zaanan is not come forth; the wailing of Beth-ezel shall take from you the stay thereof. For the inhabitant of Maroth waiteth anxiously for good, because evil is come down from Jehovah unto the gate of Jerusalem. Bind the chariot to the swift steed, O inhabitant of Lachish: she was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee. Therefore shalt thou give a parting gift to Moresheth-gath: the houses of Achzib shall be a deceitful thing unto the kings of Israel. I will yet bring unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah, him that shall possess thee: the glory of Israel shall come even unto Adullam. Make thee bald, and cut off thy hair for the children of thy delight: enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee." — Micah 1:8-16 (ASV)
The prophet laments that Israel's case is desperate; but declare it not in Gath. Do not gratify those who make merry with the sins or with the sorrows of God's Israel.
Roll thyself in the dust, as mourners used to do. Let every house in Jerusalem become a house of Aphrah, “a house of dust.” When God makes the house dust, it is fitting for us to humble ourselves to the dust under his mighty hand.
Many places should share this mourning. The names have meanings which pointed out the miseries coming upon them, thereby awakening the people to a holy fear of Divine wrath.
All refuges but Christ must be refuges of lies to those who trust in them. Other heirs will succeed to every inheritance but that of heaven. And all glory will be turned into shame, except for that honor which comes from God only. Sinners may now disregard their neighbours' sufferings, yet their turn to be punished will also come.
Jump to: