The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 15

Ver. 5.-Sins in the metropolia. God's interposition by judgment is threatened on account of the nation's sins. The greatness of their privileges involved special respon- sibilities and chastisements (Amoe iii 2). These sins are traced to their sources in the capitals of the two kingdoms. A metropolis is a centre of influence for good or for evil. This may be illustrated by the histories of both the Hebrew kingdoms. The northern kingdom had in succession three capitals: (1) Shechem, where the apostasy of Israel began (1 Kings xii. 25-33). (2) Tirzah, the home of Jeroboam (1 Kings xiv. 17), the scene of civil strife (1 Kings xvi. 9, 17, 18), and of. the court of Omri of sinister memory (eh. vi. 16), for half his reign. (3) Samaria, the seat of monarchy for two hundred years. Among the sins specially charged by the prophets against Samaria we find pride (Isa. ix. 9), luxury and licentiousnell.9 (Isa. xxviii. 1-4; Amos vi. 1-6), incorrigible treachery (Hos. vii 1), contemptuous disregard of God and his worship (Hos. viii. 5; Amos viii. 14), oppression of the poor (eh. iii.; Amos. iv. 1). In Judah the high places were an offence to God, which even good kings did not entirely suppress, so that Jerusalem may be i;aid to have been responsible for them, and did not escape the infection (2 Chron. xxviii. 1-4, 23-25) nor the denunciations of the prophets (Isa. i., v.; :xxvili. 14-19). We are thus reminded of- L THE RESPONSIBILITIES ATTACHING TO A :METROPOLIS. It is: 1. The seat of government, where kings and rulers live and exert great personal influence, and where laws are passed which, if bad, may corrupt the national conscience and deprave social life. 2. One chief centre of public opinion, where the most educated and cultivated congregate. 3. The fountain of fashion. 4. The gathering-place of the rural popula- tion, where the opinions and practices of the citizens may be speedily imbibed. TI!ustrate from the influence of Paris during the second empire, culminating in the craze for war, which brought ruin on the country in 1870; or from the influence of Constantinople and its pachas on the present condition of the Turkish empire. Such capitals are centres of corruption, like diseased lungs where the blood is deteriorated rather than purified. II. LEBBONB ARE SUGGESTED FOB ALL 0LABBEB OF RF.SIDENTB IN A :METROPOLIS, 1. For the court, lest they be like Jeroboam, "who made Israel to sin." 2. ~'or legis- lators. Illustrate from the demoralizing effects of many of our past licensing acts. OH, I, 1-16,] THE BOOK OF MICAH. 13