The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 65

to all that are "weary" and "heavy laden." The Church of Christ from the begin- ning bae comprised those who were the most afflicted, the most scattered, and the moat distressed of mankind. It bas been and is the grand a.sylum for the tried and the sorrowful and those who are counted " the offscouring of all things" (1 Cor. iv. 13). 1. (Jhrlst's moral monarchy knows nothing of favouritism. It does not treat men according to their physical con<lition, social status, or temporal circumstances. It has respect to souls. It is as much interested in the soul of the pauper as in that of the prince, the soul of the slave as in that of the sovereign. Human monarchies have ever been taken up with man in hie material relations. 'l'hc more wealthy and influential a man is, the more favours will worldly kings bestow; the indigent and the homeless are only regarded as beasts of burden. Not so with Christ as the Monarch. Every soul to him is a matter of profound practical interest. 2. (Jhrisfs moral, monarchy ia remedial in its design. It brings all the miserable together in order to rid them of their sorrows. By working into human eoule right principles of action and expelling wrong ones, it indirectly, though most efficiently, heals all the temporary woes of mankind. " Seek first the things from above, and all others shall be added unto yo1L" "Godliness is profitable unto ail things, having the promise of the life which now is, as well as of that which is to come." II. IT ESTAllLISHEB ITSELF AS THE GUARDIAN OF MEN FOB EVEB. "And thou, 0 tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion," etc. The address to the •• tower of the flock" shows that, as the most wretched and scattered of men will be brought into a great community, so shall the reign of the daughter of Zion be restored, i.e. the Jews be converted and brought in with the Gentiles. The watch-tower spoken ofby Isaiah (xxxii.14) is most likely the tower here referred to by Micah. "Flock-tower" is a good expression, inasmuch as it indicates the watchfulness of Christ as a moral Shepherd, the great Shepherd of souls. It is said here that " the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem." It did so come; it began with the Jews. "He came to his own, and his own received him not." .Although on his last visit to Jerusalem the common people did receive him as their King: "Hosanna to the Son of David!" What a Guardian, what a" Bishop of souls," is Christ I 1. He knows all his sheep. Ea.eh of the millions is known to him-his idiosyncrasies, imperfections, necessities, etc. 2. He has ample provision for all his sheep. Bia provisions are adapted to all, and are inexhaustible. 3. He has power to protect all hi, aheep. CoNCLUSION. Thank God this moral monarchy of Christ is established on our earth I The kingdom of God is come unto us. Thousands of all grades and classes have entered into it, and they have found it to be "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Would that it were universall It will be so one day. It is not so yet, because, being moral, men have the power of resisting it.-D. T. Vers. 9-13.-The moral ,·egeneration of the world. "Now why dost thou cry ont aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail. Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, 0 daughter of Zion," etc. The prophet here, without doubt, refers to the carrying away of the Jews to Babylon. He refers to the consternation in which the Jews would be placed on the approach of the Chaldea.n army, The questions relative to a "king•• and a "counsellor~ (ver. 9) are, it is thought, put forth in bitter irony, in order to provoke an answer. "ls them no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished?" The answer, perhaps, would be, "Yes, we have a king, and we have counsellors, but they are utterly worthless; they have power neither to protect us from the terrible calamities nor to invent means for our escape." The metaphor of the parturient woman seems intended to shadow forth the agony of their:consternation at the idea of going forth from the city of Jerusalem, being located in the open country, and afterwards conveyed to Babylon. After this comes the promise of emancipation. " There the Lord shall redeem thee from the band of thine enemies." Their restoration is metaphorically represented by a travailing woman. Whilst it is unfair to attach to Scripture a wrong interpretation, it is perfectly fair to use its passages as symbols of truths applicable to man in all ages and all lands. These words may serve to illustrate, therefore, some points in relation to the moral regenera- tion of the world. I. THE STATE OF MANKIN]) BEQUillEB IT. "Is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor lU0AH, ~ f,6 THE BOOK OF MICAH. [cB, IV, 1-18.