The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 45

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 8.-God's gift of a faitliftd ministry. The expression, "But truly (0~11): implies_ a con_trast to what precedes. The false 'prophets were in nlliance with the tyrannical pnncei-, and were destined to humiliation and to the utter loss of whatever pawer th~y once possessed. But Micah, conscious of a Divine calling and of fidelity to 1t, can point to himself as an illustration of God's precious gift of a faithful ministry. Note- I. ITS QUALil"I0ATIOl>S. The fundamental one is: 1 The indwelling of the Spirit of God. The true prophet or minister magnifies his office, but does not exalt himself. He traces all he ha.s to God, as does St. Paul (1 Oor. xv. 10 ; 1 Tim. i. 12-16). Pretenders to the prophetic or pastoral office were" sensual (l/,11x11cof), not havina the Spirit," inspired only by the spirit of the world, or of self; but true ministers can u;e St. Paul's words (1 Cor. ii. 12), for they are relying on their Divine Master's promise of the Holy Spirit. 2. Hence spiritual power. It may be special and superhuman, such as prophets and apostles enjoyed. But the more valuable power is that which enables us to witness for Christ (Acts i. 8), to exert a holy influence (2 Cor. iii. 2, 3), and to preach "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." Power is a general term; the Di·l'ine Spirit manifests his presence by a diversity of gifts appropriate to special necessities. Two of these are mentioned here as needed by the prophet and, in truth, by every faithful minister. 3. Judgment, including such thoughts as these-a clear sense of God's equity in his dealings (Ezck. xviii.), an impartial utterance of God's sentences (Jer. i. 16-19), and therefore discrimination in all his messages and in his treatment of his hearers, "doing nothing by partiality,n "rightly dividing the Word of trnth," "warning every man and teaching every man." Such a ministry will emit light as well as heat, will show discretion as well as zeal. 4. Moral courage. "Might," such as the apostles sought and received (Acts iv. 29-31; cf. Eph. vi. 19, 20; Col. iv. 4; 2 Tim. i. 7). AU these gifts are needed in a high degree-" full," etc. "However the Lord may bless the meanest gifts of such as be honest, yet neither are ministers to be empty vessels nor swelled with ostentation, but a large measure of real furniture is to be sought after." All these qualifications were more or less fully manifested in the true prophets of God; e.g. Elijah (Ecclus. xlviii. 1), Isaiah (!viii. 1), Jeremiah (vi. 11, 27), Ezekiel (iii S-11), and many others. II. 1TB DIFFIOULTIEB. The main difficulty here suggested arises from its relation to the sins of men. 1. The burden of the Lord laid on ministers requires them to be willing to be used in the disagreeable task of convicting communities and individuals of sin. This may be traced in the long prophetical and apostolical succession of God's true ministers, including such illustrious names a~ Moses, Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, Daniel, John the Baptist, Peter, and Paul. We too must be prepared to show to the Church and to individuals their sine in trade, their transgressions of the royal law in their conduct, whether towards servants or masters. Thus we may seem to many " men of strife," or even enemies (Gal. iv. 16). 2. But we do not euccessfnlly " show" to men their trane'!Tessione unless they are induced to abandon their sin and accept God's method of deli;erance. We seek to take men alive out of the snare of the devil (see 2 Tim. ii. ~26, Revised Version). Itie a terrible thing to convict a man of sin an<l yet fail to eave him, thus increasing his condemnation. III'. 1TB ENCOURAGEMENTS. 1. Frequent successes. We learn from Jer. xxvi. 17-19 that Micah's message on this occasion led to the conversion of Hezekiah, or to the reawakening of hie zeal as a reformer. The Christian minister's song of victory is often beard (2 Cor. ii. 14). 2. Constant Divine approval. Sometimes a sense of failure causes a feeling of isolation and of heart-sickne6s, such as Jeremiah often felt. But even then we can fall back on the sense of the abiding presence of God (John xvi. 32), and of his approving smile (Isa. xlix. 4, 5).-E. S. P. Vers. 9-11.-SpurioUB faith. The prophet at once vindicates the claim he has just made (ver. 8). We have here- I. A1'! UNSPARING EXPOSURE OF SINS IN HIGH QUARTERS. All classes are inv,llved, and to each class the most scandalous characteristic offences are imputed. 1. Oivil OH, III, 1-12,] THE BOOK OF MICAH. 45