Micah 6

— and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do &c.] The whole of man’s duty is here summed up in three parts. 1st, To “do justly,” is to give to every one, whether superiors, equals, or inferiors, their due; to do in all things what is equal and right, not oppressing any, nor defrauding them in any kind of dealing, not to hurt them by word or deed, nor injure them in their persons, estates, or good name, or any thing belonging to them. 2ndly, To “love mercy,” is not only to give to every one what he might in justice require, but to be kind, merciful, compassionate, exercising all acts of charity and beneficence willingly, cheerfully, and without expecting recompense. 3rdly, To “walk humbly with thy God,” is to frame the life and conversation with a view to God’s commandments, in a dutiful performance of his will, in a patient resignation to his dispensations, and in a ready assent to his revealed truths. The two first parts comprise the duties of the second table; the third, those of the first: together they are a summary of all the Ten Commandments; and the performance of them is “more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices,” Mark xii. 33. Dr. Pocock.

Chap. VII. ver. 1. 2. — I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, &c. ] As the early fig of excellent flavour cannot be found in the advanced season of summer, or the choice cluster of grapes after vintage; so neither can the good and upright man be discovered by diligent searching in Israel. This comparison is beautifully implied. Abp. Newcome.

Micah 6:3

3. — so they wrap it up. ] They make the matter intricate, so that men may not easily discern between the right and the wrong, nor distinguish one from the other. Dr. Pocock.

Micah 6:4

4. — sharper than a thorn hedge. ] Some of the fences in the Holy Land perfectly answer those passages of the Jewish Prophets, that speak of hedges made of thorny plants, and the sharpness of the thorns on those then in use. See Hos. ii. 6; Prov. xv. 19. Harmer.

— the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh. ] The time of vengeance, foretold by thy Prophets: or the time of vengeance denounced upon thy princes and magistrates. Dr. Pocock, W. Lowth.

Micah 6:6

6. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, &c.] This abrupt passionate form of speech seems to require something to be understood, for the purpose of connecting it with the preceding words. It is spoken by the Prophet, as in the person of the people, replying to the appeal of God; and it is either an acknowledgment of their guilt, and an expression of their desire to repent, if they knew what would be accepted by God; or it is a justification of themselves, intimating that if they had been defective in their duty, and thereby displeasing to God, it was done, not willingly, but through ignorance. Dr. Pocock.

Or, the words are part of a private conference between Balaam and Balak, which Moses has omitted, as foreign to the subject of his history; but which the Israelites ought to have hidden in remembrance, and in which the idolatrous king enquires of God’s Prophet, in what way he, the king, might make expiation for his offences. Bp. Horsley.

— shall I come before him with burnt offerings, &c.] The constant sacrifice that was offered to God by way of acknowledgment of his dominion over his creatures: “with calves of a year old,” which was the sin offering, that the high priest offered for himself. Or will He rather accept of those great and costly sacrifices, which were offered upon publick and solemn occasions, such as that which Solomon offered at the dedication of the temple? “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil?” Or if none of these will do, shall I try to atone Him after the manner of the heathen, by the dearest thing in the world, the firstborn of my children? “shall I give my firstborn,” &c.? If God was to be appeased at all, surely they thought it must be by some of these ways; for beyond these they could imagine nothing of greater value and efficacy. Abp. Tillotson.

Micah 6:7

7. — shall I give my firstborn] The strength and stay of the family. W. Lowth.

Micah 6:8

8. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; &c.] Both the dictates of reason, and the laws of God, sufficiently inform men what are the substantial parts of their duty; namely, the practice of justice and mercy,

fruit of my † body for the sin of my soul?

Micah 6:9

9. The Lord’s voice crieth unto the city, &c.] The voice of the Lord calleth by me his prophet to the city of Jerusalem; and those that are wise-hearted, will have a due and awful respect to thy name, O Lord: hear, O Jerusalem, hear thou the sad news of that sharp rod of affliction, which is prepared for thee; and consider who it is that hath appointed it for thy correction. Bp. Hall.

Micah 6:10

10. Are there yet the treasures of wickedness &c.] From God’s controversy for idolatry. The church’s confidence in God. Before CHRIST 710. measure of learners. be pure with, &c.

of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the † scant measure that is abominable?

Micah 6:14

14. — and thy casting down &c. ] Thy casting down shall be in the midst of thine own streets: thou shalt fall, even within thine own walls; and thou shalt take hold of thy children to deliver them from the enemy, but thou shalt not rescue them; and those, whom thou hast obtained to deliver from the present slaughter, will I soon after give up to the sword. Bp. Hull.

Micah 6:16

16. — Omri, — Ahab. ] It is said of Omri, that he “did worse than all that were before him,” 1 Kings xvi. 25: and his son Ahab added the worship of Baal to the idolatry of the golden calves, ver. 31; which is spoken of there as the worst degree of idolatry, because it was the introducing of an heathen idol, whereas the golden calves were only an idolatrous representation of the true God. Manasseh followed Ahab in his wickedness: see 2 Kings xvi. 3. W. Lowth.

— therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people. ] The Prophet still directs his discourse to the great and

teth her confidence not in man, but in God. 8 She triumpheth over her enemies. 14 God comforteth her by promises, 16 by confusion of the enemies, 18 and by his mercies.

Before CHRIST 710.

WOE is me! for I am as † when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegeleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.