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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Micah 7:14 - 7:20
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The Prophet's Last Supplication
v. 14. Feed Thy people with Thy rod, with a true shepherd's care, the staff being the mark of the shepherd, Zec_11:4 ff. ; Psalms 23, the flock of Thine heritage, the possession of Jehovah, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel, rather, "in the forest in the midst of Carmel let them feed," surrounded by the richest blessings; let them teed in Bashan and Gilead, whose rich meadows were proverbial in Israel, as in the days of old, when, under David, the kingdom enjoyed the fullness of material and spiritual prosperity. The Lord answers this plea with an assurance of His mercy, to be given in a larger measure than His people asked for.
v. 15. According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt when He overthrew the enemies with a mighty hand and revealed His goodness to Israel, will I show unto him marvelous things, His Church being given the wonders of His grace.
v. 16. The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might, because all their vaunted power would be as nothing in the sight of the almighty God; they shall lay their hands upon their mouth, in reverent silence, in extreme astonishment, their ears shall be deaf, before the thunder of Jehovah's mighty deeds.
v. 17. They shall lick the dust like a serpent, in deepest humiliation; they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth, literally, "as those things that creep on the earth"; they shall tremble forth out of their hiding-places; they shall be afraid of the Lord, our God, approaching to Him with terror, and shall fear because of thee. With these words the prophet once more turns directly to Jehovah, addressing Him in words of praise.
v. 18. Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, in the act of justification which is the basis of the work in His Church, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? in granting forgiveness to those who are His people in truth. Cf Exo_34:6-7. He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy, His great acts of mercy being the outstanding feature of His work in His Church.
v. 19. He will turn again, so the prophet assures the believers; He will have compassion upon us, He will subdue our iniquities, treading them down like enemies that rise up against the believers; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea, so that they are covered over and can no more rise to condemn the Lord's people.
v. 20. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob and the mercy to Abraham, as contained in the wonderful Messianic promises, which Thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old. With this exalted hymn of praise Micah closes his book, speaking in a strain similar to that of Paul in Rom_11:33-36. We have here true Gospel-preaching, such as sustained the believers of the Old Testament in their eager watching for the time of the Messiah, to which we also may turn for comfort in the midst of the corruption of these last days of the world, knowing, however, that our salvation is nigh.