Miqueas 7

1 ¡Ay de mí! Que he venido a ser como cuando han cogido los frutos del verano, como cuando han rebuscado después de la vendimia, que no queda racimo para comer; mi alma deseó los primeros frutos.

2 Faltó el misericordioso de la tierra, y ninguno hay recto entre los hombres; todos acechan a la sangre; cada cual arma red a su hermano.

3 Para completar la maldad con sus manos, el príncipe demanda, y el juez juzga por recompensa; y el grande habla el antojo de su alma, y lo confirman.

4 El mejor de ellos es como el espino; el más recto, como zarzal; el día de tus atalayas, tu visitación, viene; ahora será su confusión.

5 No creáis en amigo, ni confiéis en príncipe; de la que duerme a tu lado, guarda, no abras tu boca.

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

7 Yo empero al SEÑOR esperaré, esperaré al Dios de mi salud; el Dios mío me oirá.

8 Tú, enemiga mía, no te alegres de mí, porque si caí, he de levantarme; si morare en tinieblas, el SEÑOR es mi luz.

9 La ira del SEÑOR soportaré, porque pequé contra él, hasta que juzgue mi causa y haga mi juicio; él me sacará a luz; veré su justicia.

10 Y mi enemiga lo verá, y la cubrirá vergüenza; la que me decía: ¿Dónde está el SEÑOR tu Dios? Mis ojos la verán; ahora será hollada como lodo de las calles.

11 El día en que se edificarán tus muros, aquel día será alejado el mandamiento (del duro imperio de su servidumbre ).

12 En ese día vendrá hasta ti desde Asiria y las ciudades fuertes, y desde las ciudades fuertes hasta el Río, y de mar a mar, y de monte a monte.

13 Y la tierra con sus moradores será asolada por el fruto de sus obras.

14 Apacienta tu pueblo con tu cayado, el rebaño de tu heredad, que mora solo en la montaña, en medio del Carmelo; pazcan en Basán y Galaad, como en el tiempo pasado.

15 Yo les mostraré maravillas como el día que saliste de Egipto.

16 Los gentiles verán, y se avergonzarán de todas sus valentías; pondrán la mano sobre su boca, ensordecerán sus oídos.

17 Lamerán el polvo como la culebra; como las serpientes de la tierra, temblarán en sus encierros; se despavorirán del SEÑOR nuestro Dios, y temerán de ti.

18 ¿Qué Dios como tú, que perdonas la maldad, y que pasas por la rebelión con el remanente de su heredad? No retuvo para siempre su enojo, porque es amador de misericordia.

19 El tornará, él tendrá misericordia de nosotros; él sujetará nuestras iniquidades, y echará en lo profundo del mar todos nuestros pecados.

20 Cumplirás la verdad a Jacob, y a Abraham la misericordia, que tú juraste a nuestros padres desde tiempos antiguos.

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.

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.