The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 78

Vers. 7-9.-The gentleness and t6rribleness ef the pe,ople ef (Joel,. "The remnant of Jacob" is the faithful few who remain loyal to God's truth and the duty of the day, whether in the times of Elijah (1 Kings xix. 18), Uzziah (Isa. i. 9), or Christ (Rom, xi. 5). The people of God, the Church of Christ dispersed among the "peoples" of the earth, have a twofold e.spect-gentlern,ss and terribleness. This twofold aspect is seen in God (Exod. x.x.xi.v. 6, 7 ; Ps. xviii. 25, 26 ; Isa. viii. 13, 14), in Christ (Isa. xxviii. 16 ; Matt. xxi. 42-44; Luke ii 34), who is both a "Lamb" and a "Lion;" and therefore in his people who are called into fellowship with himself. They are- L GENTLE To BLESS. Notice the figures. 1. " ..d dew from the Lord." Th.e dew is of heavenly origin, and comes fresh from the hand of God (Job xxxviii. 28; cf. John i. 13; iii. 3, "from above"), reflecting God's light, transparent and glistering (cf. Matt. v. 16; 2 Cor. i 12; Phil. ii 15, 16), evanescent and apparently one of the frailest of nature's forces, yet powerful to quicken and sustain life that would otherwise perish (cf. 1 Cor. i 26-28; iv. 15; 2 Cor. iv. 12; Jae. v. 19, 20). Such spiritual qualifica- tions in individuals made the Church of Christ a life-giving power. Issuing from Judrea., Christ's disciples were as dew to the parched and perishing Roman world, both by their teaching (Deut. xxxii. 2) and still more by the testimony of the wondrous beauty of their lives (Ps. cxxxiii 3). Therefore they were scattered abroad-John to ABia, Thomas to India, Paul to Rome, etc.-that the life-giving dew might be con- veyed to the distant "peoples " of the earth. 2. " The shawers upon the grass." Christ "shall come down like rain," etc. (Ps. lxxii 6), not only by his individual blessings, but through his people. Like the rain, they "tarried not for man." Once the vision was seen and the appeal heard before the mission was commenced (Acts xvi. 9); yet even then, as el.Bewhere, the prophecy was fulfilled in the disciples as well as the Master, "I am found of them that sought me not" (Isa. lxv. 1). Nor did they depend upon or "wait for the sons of men" (1 Cor. iii. 6-7). By both proclaiming and living God's Word they became identified with the promise, and sharers in the blessing of tbe old Messianic predictions (Gen. xxii. 18 ; Isa. Iv. 10, 11). II. TERRmLE TO VANQUISH OR DESTROY. Courage and fearlessness are implied, such as were promised (Luke xxL 15) and enjoyed (Acts iv. 13-21; v. 29-42, etc.). But the lion is not always on the defensive. The Church of Christ, with its new doctrines, !llaxims, morals, and threats of a wrath to come, was terrible to the pagan world of the first century, with its foul gods, its godless creeds, its nameless immoralities, its revolting cruelties and crimes. The contrast of the" dew" and the "lion" may be marked even in the apostles' teaching both to heathen nnd to professing Christians (Acts xvii. 24---31 ; xxiv. 24, 25; 2 Cor. v. 11, 20; xiii. 1-11; 2 Thess. i. 6-10). Its one object was to vanquish souls by destroying sin and bringing them into captivity to Christ. It trod down its foes and "went forth conquering and to conquer" (cf. Acts ui. 20; Rom. xv. 19; 2 Cor. ii. 14), till, less than two hundred years later, Tertullian could speak of the Christians thus: "We are but of yesterday, and we have filled every place among you---cities, islands, fortresses, towns, market- (l][, v. 1-16.] THE BOOK OF MICAH. 79