Miqueas 7

1 ¡Ay de mí!, porque soy como los recogedores de frutos de verano, como los rebuscadores en la vendimia. No hay racimo de uvas que comer, ni higo temprano que tanto deseo.

2 Ha desaparecido el bondadoso de la tierra, y no hay ninguno recto entre los hombres. Todos acechan para derramar sangre, unos a otros se echan la red.

3 Para el mal las dos manos son diestras. El príncipe pide, y también el juez, una recompensa, el grande habla de lo que desea su alma, y juntos lo traman.

4 El mejor de ellos es como un zarzal, y el más recto como un seto de espinos. El día que pongas tus centinelas, tu castigo llegará. ¡Entonces será su confusión!

5 No os fiéis del vecino, ni confiéis en el amigo. De la que reposa en tu seno, guarda tus labios.

6 Porque el hijo trata con desdén al padre, la hija se levanta contra la madre, y la nuera contra su suegra; los enemigos del hombre son los de su propia casa.

7 Pero yo pondré mis ojos en el SEÑOR, esperaré en el Dios de mi salvación; mi Dios me oirá.

8 No te alegres de mí, enemiga mía. Aunque caiga, me levantaré, aunque more en tinieblas, el SEÑOR es mi luz.

9 La indignación del SEÑOR soportaré, porque he pecado contra El, hasta que defienda mi causa y establezca mi derecho. El me sacará a la luz, y yo veré su justicia.

10 Entonces mi enemiga lo verá, y se cubrirá de verguenza la que me decía: ¿Dónde está el SEÑOR tu Dios? Mis ojos la contemplarán; entonces será pisoteada como el lodo de las calles.

11 Viene el día para la edificación de tus muros; aquel día se extenderán tus límites.

12 Viene el día cuando ellos vendrán hasta ti desde Asiria y las ciudades de Egipto; desde Egipto hasta el río , de mar a mar y de monte a monte.

13 Y la tierra será desolada a causa de sus habitantes, por el fruto de sus obras.

14 Pastorea a tu pueblo con tu cayado, el rebaño de tu heredad, que mora solo en el bosque, en medio de un campo fértil . Que se apacienten en Basán y Galaad como en los días de antaño.

15 Como en los días de tu salida de la tierra de Egipto, te mostraré milagros.

16 Verán las naciones y se avergonzarán de todo su poderío; se pondrán la mano sobre la boca, sus oídos se ensordecerán.

17 Lamerán el polvo como la serpiente, como los reptiles de la tierra. Saldrán temblando de sus fortalezas, al SEÑOR nuestro Dios vendrán amedrentados, y temerán delante de ti.

18 ¿Qué Dios hay como tú, que perdona la iniquidad y pasa por alto la rebeldía del remanente de su heredad? No persistirá en su ira para siempre, porque se complace en la misericordia.

19 Volverá a compadecerse de nosotros, hollará nuestras iniquidades. Sí, arrojarás a las profundidades del mar todos sus pecados.

20 Otorgarás a Jacob la verdad y a Abraham la misericordia, las cuales juraste a nuestros padres desde los días de antaño.

Miqueas 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

The general prevalence of wickedness. (1-7) Reliance on God, and triumph over enemies. (8-13) Promises and encouragements for Israel. (14-20)

Verses 1-7 The prophet bemoans himself that he lived among a people ripening apace for ruin, in which many good persons would suffer. Men had no comfort, no satisfaction in their own families or in their nearest relations. Contempt and violation of domestic duties are a sad symptom of universal corruption. Those are never likely to come to good who are undutiful to their parents. The prophet saw no safety or comfort but in looking to the Lord, and waiting on God his salvation. When under trials, we should look continually to our Divine Redeemer, that we may have strength and grace to trust in him, and to be examples to those around us.

Verses 8-13 Those truly penitent for sin, will see great reason to be patient under affliction. When we complain to the Lord of the badness of the times, we ought to complain against ourselves for the badness of our hearts. We must depend upon God to work deliverance for us in due time. We must not only look to him, but look for him. In our greatest distresses, we shall see no reason to despair of salvation, if by faith we look to the Lord as the God of our salvation. Though enemies triumph and insult, they shall be silenced and put to shame. Though Zion's walls may long be in ruins, there will come a day when they shall be repaired. Israel shall come from all the remote parts, not turning back for discouragements. Though our enemies may seem to prevail against us, and to rejoice over us, we should not despond. Though cast down, we are not destroyed; we may join hope in God's mercy, with submission to his correction. No hinderances can prevent the favours the Lord intends for his church.

Verses 14-20 When God is about to deliver his people, he stirs up their friends to pray for them. Apply spiritually the prophet's prayer to Christ, to take care of his church, as the great Shepherd of the sheep, and to go before them, while they are here in this world as in a wood, in this world but not of it. God promises in answer to this prayer, he will do that for them which shall be repeating the miracles of former ages. As their sin brought them into bondage, so God's pardoning their sin brought them out. All who find pardoning mercy, cannot but wonder at that mercy; we have reason to stand amazed, if we know what it is. When the Lord takes away the guilt of sin, that it may not condemn us, he will break the power of sin, that it may not have dominion over us. If left to ourselves, our sins will be too hard for us; but God's grace shall be sufficient to subdue them, so that they shall not rule us, and then they shall not ruin us. When God forgives sin, he takes care that it never shall be remembered any more against the sinner. He casts their sins into the sea; not near the shore-side, where they may appear again, but into the depth of the sea, never to rise again. All their sins shall be cast there, for when God forgives sin, he forgives all. He will perfect that which concerns us, and with this good work will do all for us which our case requires, and which he has promised. These engagements relate to Christ, and the success of the gospel to the end of time, the future restoration of Israel, and the final prevailing of true religion in all lands. The Lord will perform his truth and mercy, not one jot or tittle of it shall fall to the ground: faithful is He that has promised, who also will do it. Let us remember that the Lord has given the security of his covenant, for strong consolation to all who flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them in Christ Jesus.

Footnotes

• [a]. I.e., el Eufrates
• [b]. O, del Carmelo

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO MICAH 7

This chapter begins with a lamentation of the prophet, in the name of the church and people of God, concerning the general depravity and corruption of the times in which he lived, Mic 7:1-6; then declares what he was determined to do for his relief in such circumstances, Mic 7:7; comforts himself and the church with a good hope and firm belief of its being otherwise and better with them, to the shame and confusion of their enemies that now rejoiced, though without just reason for it, Mic 7:8-10; with promises of deliverance, after a desolation of the land for some time, Mic 7:11-13; and with the answer returned to the prayers of the prophet, Mic 7:14,15; which would issue in the astonishment of the world, and their subjection to the church of God, Mic 7:16,17; and the chapter is concluded with admiration at the pardoning grace and mercy of God, and his faithfulness to his promises, Mic 7:18-20.