a Chap. ix. 13, 14.
Micah ii. 7. Do not my words do good to him that walketh
uprightly ?
GREAT and bitter prejudices are often entertained against the word of God ; as though its only tendency was to pervert the judgments of men, and to disturb their repose. Hence, when the word is faithfully ad- ministered, many are offended at it ; and say, as it were, to the messengers of heaven, " Prophesy not unto us right things ; prophesy unto us smooth things ; prophesy deceits." But the real reason of their disgust is, that they will not part with those sins which the word condemns, or practise those du- ties which the word enjoins : " they love darkness rather than light : they hate the light, and will not come to it, lest their deeds should be reproved*." If they were willing to renounce their sins, they would find the word precious and delightful to them ; for it is as full of consolation to the upright, as it is of terror to the hypocritical. To this effect God speaks in the passage before us. He represents the people as saying to the prophets, " Prophesy not." Then addressing himself to them, he asks, Whether the messages which he sent them proceeded from any want of love and mercy in himself; or whether they did not arise solely from their obstinacy in sin ? " O thou that art named the House of Jacob, is the Spirit of the Lord straitened ? are these his doings ?" Then
a Johniii. 19, 20.