Bible Commentaries
Micah 7

Verse 1

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

Woe is me — The land is brought in complaining, that whereas it was once well stored, now it hath few good in it.

As the grape-gleanings — In Israel and Judah, which in bringing forth good men, should have been a fruitful vine full of clusters: just, compassionate and humble men, are as grapes after the vintage is gathered.

Desired — But in vain.

Verse 3

That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

Both hands — With all diligence.

The great man — The great man at court, who can do what he will there.

Uttereth — Is bold to speak plainly.

Desire — His unjust, oppressive design.

They — They all jointly promote violence and cruelty.

Verse 4

The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.

As a briar — Mischievous and hurtful.

The day — The day in which they shall sound the alarm.

Cometh — Surely, speedily, and unavoidably.

Now — When that day is come.

Verse 7

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

Therefore — Since all sorts of men are so perfidious.

Look — As one set in a watch-tower looks round about, and diligently observes all that stirs, so will the prophet; so did they who in Israel and Judah feared the Lord.

Verse 8

Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.

Rejoice not — The prophet personates the church. Let it be no matter of glorying to thee, that the day of calamity hath overtaken me.

In darkness — When affliction, war, famine, and captivity cover me.

A light — Shall support, comfort and deliver me.

Verse 9

I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.

Plead — Against mine enemy, now he pleads his own cause against me.

His righteousness — The truth and riches of his promised salvation.

Verse 10

Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.

She — What nation or people soever.

Shall behold — The people of God shall see their enemies laid low.

Verse 11

In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed.

Thy walls — O Jerusalem.

The decree — Of Artaxerxes, which forbad the re-building of the temple.

Removed — Abolished.

Verse 12

In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.

In that day — After the return out of captivity.

He — He who is of Jewish race.

To thee — O Jerusalem.

The fortified cities — In which many Jews were kept for servile works.

To the river — To Euphrates.

To sea — From the Caspian to the Persian and to the Midland sea.

From mountain — That is, from all parts of their captivity, they shall return to their own country.

Verse 13

Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.

Not withstanding — These promises of restitution, which took not place ’till more than two hundred years after.

Verse 14

Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

Feed — So Christ directs his officers.

With thy rod — In allusion to the custom of shepherds who guided their sheep by a pastoral staff.

In the wood — Protect and guide those that in their present captive state are solitary, compassed with dangers.

Carmel — A fruitful place and well inhabited.

In Bashan — A place of note for fruitfulness.

Gilead — Equal with any of the other for plenty and safety.

Verse 16

The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.

Shall be deaf — They shall neither care to hear, nor to speak of it.

Verse 17

They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.

Lick the dust — In the most submissive, servile manner, testify their subjection.

Holes — Their strong holds, and fastnesses.

Because of thee — So that the name of Jews, shall be terrible to their enemies.