Micah 3

Micah 3:1

I Said,] This is the beginning of a new discourse of the Prophet.

judgement] That thing which is just and lawfull, both to govern my people aright, and also to discharge your own conscience? See Jeremiah 5:4-5.

Micah 3:3

Who shall eat the flesh of my people] Psalms 14:4. The Prophet condemneth the wicked governours, not only of covetousnesse, theft, and murther, but compareth them to wolves, lions, and most cruell beasts.

and as flesh within the caldron] Ezekiel 11:6-7.

Micah 3:4

Then shall they cry unto the LORD] Psalms 18:42. Proverbs 1:28. Jeremiah 11:11. & Jeremiah 14:12. That is, when I shall visit their wickednesse by judgements set down in the former Chapters: for though I heare the godly before they cry, Isaiah 65:24. yet I will not hare these though they cry, Isaiah 1:15. Ezekiel 8:18. James 2:13. 1 Pet. 3. 11, 12.

Micah 3:5

concerning the prophets] Isa. 56. 10, 11. Ezekiel 22:25.

bite with their teeth] Chap. 2. 11.

crie, Peace] They devoure all their substance, and then flatter them, promising that all shall go well: but if one restrain from their bellies, then they invent all wayes to mischiefe. Others, who under a false shew of goodnesse and mildnesse, are ravening wolves, both to soul and body, and welfare, Matthew 7:15.

and he that putteth not] Ezekiel 13:18-19.

Micah 3:6

Therefore] Ezekiel 13:23. Zac 13:4.

night shall be unto you] As you have loved to walk in darknesse, and to prophecie lyes, so God shall reward you with grosse blindnesse and ignorance, so that when all others shall see the bright beames of Gods graces, ye shall as blind men grope as in the night. See Isaiah 8:20. 22.

that ye shall not have a vision] Heb. from a vision.

that ye shall not divine] Heb. from divining.

Micah 3:7

seers shall be ashamed] Namely, the Prophets, though they be false ones. 1 Samuel 9:9.

shall all cover their lips] Heb. upper lip. In token of mourning and confusion, Leviticus 13:45. Ezekiel 24:17. 22. when God shall discover them to the world, they shall be afraid to speak: for all shall know that they were but false prophets, and did belye the word of God.

Micah 3:8

truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD] The Prophet being assured of his vocation by the spirit of God, setteth himself alone against all the wicked, shewing how God both gave him gifts, abilitie and knowledge, to discern between good and evil, and also constancy to reprove the sinnes of the people, and not to flatter them.

to declare unto Jacob] Isaiah 58:1.

Micah 3:10

build up Zion with bloud] Ezekiel 22:27. Zeph. 3. 3. Heb. blouds. They do fill Jerusalem with stately palaces, built by murder, rapine, and extortion. See Jeremiah 22:13.

Micah 3:11

The heads thereof judge for reward] Isaiah 1:23. Hosea 4:18. Mic. 7. 3.

lean upon the LORD] Though they commit such cruell sinnes, yet they presume that God is for them, and that he will defend them from all evil, as if he were tyed to them, and could not go away from them. See Isaiah 48:2. Jeremiah 7:4. Romans 2:17.

and say] Heb. saying.

Micah 3:12

ploughed as a field] Jeremiah 26:18. Mic. 1. 6.