AN
EXPOSITION,
W I T H P R A C T I C A L O B S E R V A T I O N
S,
OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
M
I C A H
WE
shall have some account of this prophet in the first verse of the book of his
prophecy; and therefore shall here only observe that, being contemporary with
the prophet Isaiah (only that he began to prophesy a little after him), there
is a near resemblance between that prophet's prophecy and this; and there is a
prediction of the advancement and establishment of the gospel-church, which
both of them have, almost in the same words, that out of the mouth of two such
witnesses so great a word might be established. Compare Isa. ii. 2, 3, with
Mic. iv. 1, 2. Isaiah's prophecy is said to be concerning Judah and
Jerusalem, but Micah's concerning Samaria and Jerusalem; for,
though this prophecy be dated only by the reigns of the kings of Judah, yet it
refers to the kingdom of Israel, the approaching ruin of which, in the
captivity of the ten tribes, he plainly foretels and sadly laments. What we
find here in writing was but an abstract of the sermons he preached during the
reigns of three kings. The scope of the whole is, I. To convince sinners of
their sins, by setting them in order before them, charging both Israel and
Judah with idolatry, covetousness, oppression, contempt of the word of God,
and their rulers especially, both in church and state, with the abuse of their
power; and also by showing them the judgments of God ready to break in upon
them for their sins. II. To comfort God's people with promises of mercy and
deliverance, especially with an assurance of the coming of the Messiah and of
the grace of the gospel through him. It is remarkable concerning this
prophecy, and confirms its authority, that we find two quotations out of it
made publicly upon very solemn occasions, and both referring to very great
events. 1. One is a prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem (ch.
iii. 12), which we find quoted in the Old Testament, by the elders of the
land (Jer. xxvi. 17, 18), in justification of Jeremiah, when he foretold
the judgments of God coming upon Jerusalem, and to stay the proceedings of the
court against him. "Micah (say they) foretold that Zion should be
ploughed as a field, and Hezekiah did not put him to death; why then
should we punish Jeremiah for saying the same?" 2. Another is a
prediction of the birth of Christ (ch. v. 2) which we find quoted in
the New Testament, by the chief priests and scribes of the people, in
answer to Herod's enquiry, where Christ should be born (Matt. ii. 5,
6); for still we find that to him bear all the prophets witness.
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