Miqueas 7

Lamento ante una sociedad corrupta

1 ¡Pobre de mí!No llegué a tiempo para la cosecha de veranoni para los rebuscos de la vendimia;no tengo un solo racimo que comer,ni un higo tierno, por el que me muero.

2 La gente piadosa ha sido eliminada del país,¡ya no hay gente honrada en este mundo!Todos tratan de matar a alguien,y unos a otros se tienden redes.

3 Nadie les gana en cuanto a hacer lo malo;funcionarios y jueces exigen soborno.Los magnates no hacen más que pedir,y todos complacen su codicia.

4 El mejor de ellos es más enmarañado que una zarza;el más recto, más torcido que un espino.Pero ya viene el día de su confusión;¡ya se acerca el día de tu castigoanunciado por tus centinelas!

5 No creas en tu prójimo,ni confíes en tus amigos;cuídate de lo que hablascon la que duerme en tus brazos.

6 El hijo ultraja al padre,la hija se rebela contra la madre,la nuera contra la suegra,y los enemigos de cada cualestán en su propia casa.

7 Pero yo he puesto mi esperanza en el SEÑOR;yo espero en el Dios de mi salvación.¡Mi Dios me escuchará!

Esperanza de redención

8 Enemiga mía, no te alegres de mi mal.Caí, pero he de levantarme;vivo en tinieblas, pero el SEÑOR es mi luz.

9 He pecado contra el SEÑOR,así que soportaré su furiahasta que él juzgue mi causay me haga justicia.Entonces me sacará a la luzy gozaré de su salvación.

10 Cuando lo vea mi enemiga,la que me decía: «¿Dónde está tu Dios?»,se llenará de vergüenza.Mis ojos contemplarán su desgracia,pues será pisoteada como el lodo de las calles.

11 El día que tus muros sean reconstruidosserá el momento de extender tus fronteras.

12 Ese día acudirán a ti los pueblos,desde Asiria hasta las ciudades de Egipto,desde el río Nilo hasta el río Éufrates,de mar a mar y de montaña a montaña.

13 La tierra quedará desoladapor culpa de sus habitantes,como resultado de su maldad.

14 Pastorea con tu cayado a tu pueblo,al rebaño de tu propiedad,que habita solitario en el bosque,en medio de la espesura.Hazlo pastar en Basán y en Galaadcomo en los tiempos pasados.

15 Muéstrale tus prodigios,como cuando lo sacaste de Egipto.^[a]

16 Las naciones verán tus maravillasy se avergonzarán de toda su prepotencia;se llevarán la mano a la bocay sus oídos se ensordecerán.

17 Lamerán el polvo como serpientes,como los reptiles de la tierra.Saldrán temblando de sus escondrijosy, temerosos ante tu presencia,se volverán a ti, SEÑOR y Dios nuestro.

18 ¿Qué Dios hay como tú,que perdone la maldady pase por alto el delitodel remanente de su pueblo?No siempre estarás airado,porque tu mayor placer es amar.

19 Vuelve a compadecerte de nosotros.Pon tu pie sobre nuestras maldadesy arroja al fondo del mar todos nuestros pecados.

20 Muestra tu fidelidad a Jacob,y tu lealtad a Abraham,como desde tiempos antiguosse lo juraste a nuestros antepasados.

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]. "Muéstrale " "… " "Egipto " (lectura probable); "Le mostraré maravillas / como cuando saliste de la tierra de Egipto " (TM).

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.