CRITICAL NOTES.]
Micah 2:11. Spirit] Lit. walk in the wind, sig. what is vain or worthless (Isaiah 26:18; Isaiah 41:29); some, “the man of spirit, i.e. claiming inspiration.” Prophesy] Soothe you in gluttony and drunkenness; he would be listened to because he flattered you.
Micah 2:12.] A sudden transition from judgment to joy. The remnant of Israel after sifting shall be gathered together, multiplied, and governed by Jehovah as their king. Bozrah] Rich in pastures and flocks.
Micah 2:13. Breaker] “A traditional Messianic expression,” will break a way for them in every hindrance and enemy. Cyrus delivering from Babylon is an eminent type of Christ redeeming from sin. Gate] of the city of captivity. Before] them, as in going up out of Egypt (Exodus 13:21; Deuteronomy 1:30; Deuteronomy 1:33), to lead the way. “The fulfilment of this prophecy commenced with the gathering together of Israel to its God and King by the preaching of the Gospel, and will be completed at some future time when the Lord shall redeem Israel, which is now pining in dispersion, out of the fetters of its unbelief and life of sin” [Keil].
HOMILETICS
THE MINISTRY OF FALSE TEACHERS.—Micah 2:11
Predictions of judgment were unwelcome to corrupt men. They opposed the true, but would listen to false prophets who flattered them in sin and declared lies. The ministry of such is here described.
I. It is lying in its nature. Falsehood and lies. It misrepresents God and his Word, the gospel and its claims. It is not purity, light, and power, but false and misleading. It ignores or sacrifices truth, and springs not from the Spirit of God, but the spirit of man. They pretend inspiration, but walk in delusion and believe a lie. “Woe unto the foolish prophets that follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.”
II. It is sensual in its purpose. Its great design is to minister to the sensual enjoyments of the people. “I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink.” The false prophets pleased the rich and emboldened the self-indulgence of all by promising abundant harvests and rich vintage. The promises of God are often emphasized, but the conditions of those promises are forgotten. Congregations are assured that without exception and without penitence they will be free from judgment and sure of salvation. False teachers pander to vitiated tastes, sanction sinful customs, and disturb not the consciences of the people. But true ministers strike the prejudices, condemn the carnal gratifications, and seek to save the souls of men. They handle not the Word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commend themselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
III. It is pleasing to the people in its method. Unwelcome truths would not be heard, but a prophet of lies would be popular. “He shall even be the prophet of this people.” Spiritual appetites crave for food, conscience is dissatisfied, and the heart restless. Men want rest and God. If any come in God’s name to set them at ease in sensual pleasures, him will they receive with joy (Jeremiah 5:31). All they desire is freedom from reproof and licence to sin. “They teach their teachers how they wish to be mistaught,” says a writer, “and receive the echo of their wishes as the voice of God.” “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so; and what will ye do in the end thereof?”
IV. It is disappointing in its results. It is “walking in the spirit,” or “walking with the wind,” as the margin gives.
1. There is no nutriment for the soul. It is a ministry empty and unsubstantial as the wind, mixed with error and falsehood, not “sound speech that cannot be condemned.”
2. There is no efficacy in the word. It is not truth spoken in tenderness, love, and concern for the hearers. None are enlightened in mind, quickened in conscience, and converted from sin. The words are mere echoes of the wind, devoid of results in heart and life, barren to God and man. “Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind; he daily increaseth lies and desolation.”
THE GLORIOUS FUTURE OF ISRAEL.—Micah 2:12-13
There is now a sudden transition from threatening to promise. Mercy is the end of all punishment to the penitent. A remnant shall be delivered and gathered together, increased and governed by Jehovah their Shepherd and King.
I. Israel shall be delivered. The captivity threatened will come; but, as of old, they shall be delivered from it. Babylon, no more than Egypt, can detain them in slavery. Iron gates and massive walls will give way before the Breaker’s power. An entrance will be made into the city. The Conqueror will go in, and the captives go out through it into liberty and joy. The prison shall open and set them free. This deliverance from earthly Babylon is a type and pledge of redemption from spiritual bondage, by Christ Jesus. Men are bound in ignorance, prejudice, and sin. Christ gives light and redemption to the soul, and opens the prison to them that are bound. “He redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.”
II. Israel shall be united again. “I will surely assemble Jacob.” They shall be gathered together in tenderness and care, in families and social privileges. God will bring his people from the greatest distance, and gather them into his fold. Public calamities and vicissitudes of fortunes hide not his face nor obliterate his covenant. Under the law believers could foresee, and under the gospel we may enjoy, this promise.
1. This gathering is certain. I will surely gather.
2. It is constant. The repetition indicates the progressive and persistent nature of the work.
3. It is extensive. Though God’s people are a remnant, yet all shall be gathered, and not one forgotten. “All of thee.”
III. Israel shall be increased. Not a small number, but “the multitude of men.” God can turn remnants into multitudes, and multiply his people as a flock. In the Church it shall be said, “The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell,” &c. (Isaiah 49:20). At last angels will gather the elect from the four winds into that “great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and people, and tongues.”
IV. Israel shall be defended. They will not be united and left to themselves or to others. God will possess them and rule them by his love.
1. They will be secured as a flock. “As the flock in the midst of the fold,” in perfect peace and safety.
2. They will be guided as a people. “Their king shall pass before them.” As in olden time, his presence shall go with them and make an easy passage through death and the grave to eternal life.
3. They will be governed as a nation. “The Lord on (at) the head of them.” As a captain and conqueror to lead and rule them; to overcome all opposition, to “break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron.”
HOMILETIC HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
The Breaker. Notice—
1. The object in view. To set free.
2. The opposition to God’s work.
3. The destruction of this opposition. Complete and utter ruin—Breaker.
The words present Christ as—
1. The Redeemer.
2. The Guide.
3. The Defender of his people. “A magnificent transition from Cyrus to Christ, as in Isaiah 40:1-5. The Prophet sees the conqueror Cyrus breaking into Babylon, smiting asunder the bars which kept Israel captive, as in a prison; and how they went forth, after the issuing of his decree, in joy and triumph to their own land. And from this prophetical view of Cyrus and his victory, and its blessed consequences, he passes on by a rapid prophetic flight to speak of the Divine Cyrus, Jesus Christ, and of his triumph over death and the grave [Wordsworth]. There is no passing on, nor going forth, without Christ our King, who is both King and Lord [Jerome].
Broken up. “The three verbs—they break through, they march through, they go out—describe in a pictorial manner progress which cannot be stopped by any human power [Hengstenberg].
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 2
Micah 2:11. The horrible subtlety of false teaching in each age or country is to meet its own favourite requirements, without calling for self-sacrifice or self-oblation, to give it a god, such as it would have, such as might content it. “The people willeth to be deceived, be it deceived,” is a true proverb [Pusey].
Micah 2:12-13. As the flock. Now the sheep are scattered in all lands; but the shepherd shall search them out and bring them into the fold, where they shall be (a) constantly supplied, and (b) eternally safe from beasts of prey. Breaker. The image is not of conquest, but deliverance. They break through, not to enter in, but to pass through the gate, and go forth. The wall of the city is ordinarily broken through in order to make an entrance, or to secure to a conqueror the power of entering in at any time, or by age and decay. But here the object is expressed to go forth. Plainly they were confined before, as in a prison; and the gate of the prison was burst open to set them free (Cf. Isaiah 43:6; Isaiah 48:20; Isaiah 52:11-12 [Pusey].