The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 73

"Ho shall come forth unto me," meaning surely that Christ, in his incarnation, with all that was thus involved of mercy and grace, would, in rescuin~ and restoring man, fulfil the Divine purpose and accomplish the Diviae will. The Divine Father is no wrathful Being, needing to be appeased by the sacrifice of hie Son. The Father "so loved the world, that he gave," etc. (John iii. 16). The eternal Spirit, too, strives and pleads with men. There never has been schism in the eternal counsels. The mercy that s11ves ue bad its origin in the free and unbought love of the Godhead. (2) In the life and work of the incarnate Christ. The life of Jesus is the most wonderful ever lived in the flesh. The lives of patriarcl1s, prophets, and righteous men through all ages pale in the presence of this life. "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." "His goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting; " but none of his manifestations has ever equalled that which took place when he clothed himself in the veil of our mortal flesh, and enabled man, through his perfect character and self-sacrificing work, to behold expressed in their very midst the glory of the Lord. I!, CONNECT THESE "GOINGS FORTH" WITH WHAT WAS PREDICTED HERE RESPECTING THE ADVENT OF CHRIST. As we behold him in his eternal existence and glory, Creator of all things, the Giver of life, the Im parter of light, manifesting himself in all the departments of the Divine operation; and then think of him as condescending to the limitations and conditions of our humanity, bumbling himself to "the poor manger" at Bethlehem, and "the bitter cross" at Calvary, we are filled with wonder; et love also inflames and inspires our souls. With profoundest gratitude and holiest oy we raise our carols. As we think of him as "the Ancient of days" and also the ~ abe of Bethlehem, our hearts are drawn to him, and we are impelled to adopt u our own the strain of Micah's great contemporary Isaiah, and to sing exultantly, "For unto us a Child is born," etc. (Isa. ix. 6). Ver. 3.-Success; but in God's own time. There ill a certain degree of ambiguity about these words, yet amidst this we find certain practical teachings very clearly enunciated. I. WE ARE REMINDED OF DELAYS IN THE DIVINE WOB.XING. Seven hundred years must elapse ere the predictions respecting the advent of the Redeemer should be fulfilled and "the time" come. God's purposes in grace, e.s well as in nature and providence, are developed gradually. He makes demands upon human patience, bidding us wait. He often, by slow processes, brings to pass that which he has planned. "Rest in the Lord," etc. (Ps. xxxvil. 7). II. WE ABE REMINDED OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF PBIVIl.EGE. "Therefore will he give them up until," etc. The favoured people had slighted the privileges which God had so richly bestowed upon them. He had not dealt so graciously ,vith any other nation, but the blessings granted they had failed to improve, and hence these were now to be withdrawn. God bad delivered them from their foes, but now they were to go into the land of captivity. The precious symbols of his near presence with them were no longer to be seen. The voice of prophecy, too, should soon become silent. Through sad and solemn losses they were to be led to look with ardent hope to the coming of "the Consolation of Israel." III. WE ABE REMINDED BEBE OF ULTruATE GLORIOUS INCREASE. "Then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel." Some limit these words to the conversion of the Jews, e.nd understand by "the children of Israel " the true spiritue.1 Israelites like Simeon and Anna, who waited for the advent of a spiritual Redeemer, and regard the words as intimating that to these in Messianic times there should be gathered" the remnant of Christ's brethren," i.e. the more spiritually minded amongst his own nation who should be constrained to welcome him to their hearts, and to consecrate themselves to his service. According to this interpretation the prophecy received its partial fulfilment in the conversion of the Jews in apostolic times, and shall yet be more completely fulfilled when the Jewish nation shall be brought in, and when "all Israel shall be saved." Others, however, give the words a yet wider meaning, and understnnd by "brethren" all who "hear the \Vurd of God and keep it," and who are obedient to the will of Christ's Father and theirs, whether they be Jews or Gentiles; and see in these words a pre-intimation in prophetic times -0f the coming of that happy era when "the Ruler in Israel" shall sway his sceptra 'i4 THE BOOK OF MICAH. [oH. V. 1-15.