Micah 3:8

But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord,.... Or, "full of power, even, the Spirit of the Lord", as Gussetius (f), by way of contrast, and as explaining what is meant by power; for so

But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. But truly I - in contrast to the false prophets (Micah 3:5; Micah 3:7).

But truly, notwithstanding this shame and silence covering these false prophets, yet, saith Micah, I am full of power; courage, vivacity, and ability, becoming a prophet of God. By the Spirit of the Lord; not from himself, but from the Spirit of God given to him, and duly qualifying him to the faithful discharge of the prophetic office; and without fear, flattery, by-respects, or self-seeking, I have already, and still do, and will declare the sins, duties, and dangers of this people, that they may repent and be saved, or my God may be justified when he judgeth, and this people may know the difference between a false and true prophet. And of judgment; a spirit of judgment to discern aright times and seasons, to discern right from wrong, truth from lies, and pure worship of God from idolatry, and what are the consequents of all these to a people who decline from the way of truth and purity, or adhere to it. And of might; resolution, undaunted in speaking God’ s word to the greatest of men; as I have dared, I still do dare to tell the heads of Jacob and princes of Israel what they do against God, and what God will do against them. To declare unto Jacob his transgression; with impartial reproofs, with severe menaces from God, to preach against Jacob’ s transgressions. And to Israel his sin; the same repeated. All the twelve tribes have sinned, and God will visit.

Micah 3:8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.Ver. 8. But truly I am full of power] But doth it become the prophet thus to praise himself? Laus proprio sordescit in ore: and those who vaunt most have often the least courage; as those creatures who have the greatest hearts of flesh are the most timorous; as the stag, panther, hare. For answer, it must be considered that the prophet speaketh not here of his own good parts, out of a vain glorious humour (it was enough for him that he was "all glorious within," Psalms 45:13, virtusque sue contenta theatre est), but to separate himself from those false prophets aforementioned, and to assert his calling by his qualifications, as doth likewise St Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:1-13, to those who sought a proof of Christ speaking in him. The word rendered But, truly signifies, All which notwithstanding: q.d. Albeit there is such a general defection from God, and such unfaithfulness in the prophets of these times, yet I am full of power, lively and lusty, vigorous and vivacious. By the spirit of the Lord] That noble spirit, as David calleth him, Psalms 51:12, that spirit "of power, of love, and of a sound mind" (as Paul, 2 Timothy 1:7), that putteth spiritual mettle into the soul, and steeleth it against all opposition. And truly if the Spirit put not vigour into us how dead and fiat are our duties and all ordinances, like liquor that hath lost its spirits! there is as much difference many times as between cold water and aqua vitae, water of life. And of judgment] To discern things that differ, to time a word, as the prophet Isaiah hath it, Isaiah 50:4, and to teach things profitable and proper to my auditors (not as he in the emblem, that gave straw to the dog and a bone to the ass; or as those false prophets, who spake good of evil and evil of good), and wisely to distinguish between law and gospel in praxi; which whoso can do let him thank God, saith Luther, and let him know that he is a divine indeed; gratias agat Deo, et sciat se esse Theologum (Luth.). And of might] Or, of manhood, virtue, prevalence against an adversary, patience under whatsoever cross occurrences for the truth’ s sake, and for my plain dealing. A minister had need be a man every inch of him; and to play the man ανδριζεσθε, 1 Corinthians 16:13, yea, as the good soldier of Jesus Christ, to suffer hardship; being "strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." He must be like the diamond in the high priest’ s breastplate for hardness and hardiness, as of Athanasius Nazianzen testifieth that he was Magnes et Adamas, both a lodestone, for his loveliness and humility, and an adamant, for his resolute stoutness and magnanimity against those that were evil.

(8) I am full of power.—Micah reverts to his denunciation of sin in high places with the fearlessness of his namesake. He contrasts himself with the prophets of the “lying spirit,” and declares his own commission from the Spirit of the Lord, and the ample equipment with which he was endowed.

Verse 8. But - I am full of power] Here is the character of the true prophet. He is filled, all his soul is occupied with power, כח coach, with heavenly energy; by the Spirit of the Lord, the fountain of all truth and might; and of judgment, which enables him to make a proper discernment between the precious and the vile; and of might, גבורה geburah, prevalent power, against which vice shall not be able to prevail, and before which iniquity shall not be able to stand: but all shall fall together, and be confounded.

8. But truly, &c.] The sign of a fresh paragraph, placed here in most editions, should rather be at the beginning of Mic 3:9.

And truly I - (Literally, contrariwise I,) that is, whereas they shall be void and no word in them, “I am full of (or filled with) power by the Spirit of the Lord and of judgment and might.” The

In Micah 3:8 Micah contrasts himself with the mercenary prophets. Spirit — He is animated by a higher spiritual force than they; he is under the influence of the Divine Spirit (see on Joe 2:28).