Miqueas 2

El castigo a los ricos opresores

1 ¡Ay de los que solo piensan en el mal,y aun acostados hacen planes malvados!En cuanto amanece, los llevan a caboporque tienen el poder en sus manos.

2 Codician campos, y se apropian de ellos;casas, y de ellas se adueñan.Oprimen al varón y a su familia,al hombre y a su propiedad.

3 Por tanto, así dice el SEÑOR:«Ahora soy yo el que piensatraer sobre ellos una desgracia,de la que no podrán escapar.Ya no andarán erguidos,porque ha llegado la hora de su desgracia.

4 En aquel día se les hará burla,y se les cantará este lamento:“¡Estamos perdidos!Se están repartiendo los campos de mi pueblo.¡Cómo me los arrebatan!Nuestra tierra se la reparten los traidores”».

5 Por eso no tendrán en la asamblea del SEÑORa nadie que reparta la tierra.

Falsos profetas

6 Estos profetas me dicen:«¡Deja ya de profetizarnos!¡No nos vengas con que el oprobio nos alcanzará!»

7 Los descendientes de Jacob declaran:«¿Acaso ha perdido el SEÑOR la paciencia?¿Es esta su manera de actuar?¿Acaso no hacen bien sus palabras?¿Acaso no caminamos con el Justo?»

8 Ayer ustedes eran mi pueblo,pero hoy se han vuelto mis enemigos.A los que pasan confiados,a los que vuelven de la guerra,los despojan de su manto.

9 A las mujeres de mi pueblolas echan de sus preciadas casas,y a sus niños los despojan para siempredel honor que les di.

10 ¡Levántense! ¡Pónganse en marcha,que este no es un lugar de reposo!¡Está contaminado,destruido sin remedio!

11 Si con la intención de mentirles,llega algún embustero y les dice:«Yo les anuncio vino y cerveza»,este pueblo lo verá como un profeta.

Promesa de liberación

12 Te aseguro, Jacob,que yo reuniré a todo tu pueblo.Te aseguro, Israel,que yo juntaré a tu remanente.Los congregaré como a rebaño en el aprisco,como a ovejas que, en medio del pastizal,balan huyendo de la gente.

13 El que abre brecha marchará al frente,y también ellos se abrirán camino;atravesarán la puerta y se irán,mientras su rey avanza al frente,mientras el SEÑOR va a la cabeza.

Miqueas 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

The sins and desolations of Israel. (1-5) Their evil practices. (6-11) A promise of restoration. (12,13)

Verses 1-5 Woe to the people that devise evil during the night, and rise early to carry it into execution! It is bad to do mischief on a sudden thought, much worse to do it with design and forethought. It is of great moment to improve and employ hours of retirement and solitude in a proper manner. If covetousness reigns in the heart, compassion is banished; and when the heart is thus engaged, violence and fraud commonly occupy the hands. The most haughty and secure in prosperity, are commonly most ready to despair in adversity. Woe to those from whom God turns away! Those are the sorest calamities which cut us off from the congregation of the Lord, or cut us short in the enjoyment of its privileges.

Verses 6-11 Since they say, "Prophesy not," God will take them at their word, and their sin shall be their punishment. Let the physician no longer attend the patient that will not be healed. Those are enemies, not only to God, but to their country, who silence good ministers, and stop the means of grace. What bonds will hold those who have no reverence for God's word? Sinners cannot expect to rest in a land they have polluted. You shall not only be obliged to depart out of this land, but it shall destroy you. Apply this to our state in this present world. There is corruption in the world through lust, and we should keep at a distance from it. It is not our rest: it was designed for our passage, but not for our portion; our inn, but not our home; here we have no continuing city; let us therefore arise and depart, let us seek a continuing city above. Since they will be deceived, let them be deceived. Teachers who recommend self-indulgence by their doctrine and example, best suit such sinners.

Verses 12-13 These verses may refer to the captivity of Israel and Judah. But the passage is also a prophecy of the conversion of the Jews to Christ. The Lord would not only bring them from captivity, and multiply them, but the Lord Jesus would open their way to God, by taking upon him the nature of man, and by the work of his Spirit in their hearts, breaking the fetters of Satan. Thus he has gone before, and the people follow, breaking, in his strength, through the enemies that would stop their way to heaven.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO MICAH 2

In this chapter complaint is made of the sins of the people of Israel, and they are threatened with punishment for them. The sins they are charged with are covetousness, oppression, and injustice, which were premeditated, and done deliberately, Mic 2:1,2; therefore the Lord devised evil against them, they should not escape; and which would bring down their pride, and cause them to take up a lamentation, because they should not enjoy the portion of land that belonged to them, Mic 2:3-5; they are further charged with opposing the prophets of the Lord, the folly and wickedness of which is exposed, Mic 2:6,7; and with great inhumanity and barbarity, even to women and children, Mic 2:8,9; and therefore are ordered to expect and prepare for a removal out of their land, Mic 2:10; and the rather, since they gave encouragement and heed to false prophets, and delighted in them, Mic 2:11; and the chapter is concluded with words of comfort to the remnant among them, and with precious promises of the Messiah, and the blessings of grace by him, Mic 2:12,13.