Micah 1

Micah 1:1

Samaria and Jerusalem, the chief cities, denote the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah

Micah 1:2-4

Hear, ye Israelites and Jews, nay, the nations around, and even the senseless earth, and let God manifest his indignation against you from heaven, if ye despise this warning. Behold Jehovah cometh to execute his just vengeance upon you, and to destroy your proud rulers and strong cities, and irresistibly to spread destruction and misery among all ranks in every place

Micah 1:5-7

Your idolatry and other wickedness, which prevail in the two capitals, and thence spread through the whole kingdoms, are the cause: and therefore shall the Assyrians render Samaria a ruinous heap, and shall seize upon the idols thereof and their furniture, as a booty bestowed by their gods to reward the toils of the siege

Micah 1:12-15

The inhabitants of the distressed cities earnestly longed for some news of deliverance; but the Assyrians marched up to Jerusalem itself.—Lachish, which first admitted the idolatries of the ten tribes, shall be peculiarly miserable.—The hired troops of the Philistines shall betray their trust.—The Assyrians shall plunder Mareshab, and pass on to Adullam, or even to Jerusalem. 8, 9, 16. Make therefore every possible demonstration of grief for the murder and captivity of thy people and the desolation of thy cities

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. I.—It is very hard to awaken obstinate sinners. But, if they will not hear God’s voice, they must feel his hand; and nothing can protect them from his Almighty wrath. No judgments are inflicted but what our sins have deserved. And the more wicked persons or places be, the larger share in them must they expect. If great cities will be ringleaders in impietics, they must be made distinguished monuments of wrath. Nor need they expect that ever that which hires or tempts men to sin will long prosper. But even the messengers of God ought never to desire the evil day, but to bewail the punishment of sinners as well as the sufferings of saints. Nor should we ever gratify with tidings such as make merry with the sins or the sorrows of God’s people. Alas! what shame, what contempt, what perplexity, what confusion, what anguish and misery, the most delicate sinners are exposed to at last! And, by the very sins which themselves introduced, men are effectually driven out of their countries, cities, houses, and property