The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 80

humanity ba.s been of ad van Iage in making him less a theological abstraction, and more manifestly our Brother; but there is some danger of our forgetting hie royal diguHy. The familiar expressions, "dear Jesus," "my Jesus," etc., are too lightly used of our Lord. Nor are we justified in speaking of him as one superior to other teachers merely in his moral excellence and mental power. Ours should be the reverence of Thomas, who. exclaimed, •• My Lord and my God I " 2. He reigns by the potoer of love. Because he will only rule thus be lost, and is losing, an earthly kingdom. If he appeared in the glory of his power, defiance would break down, hesitation would cease. Yet he is satisfied that instead of this men should be stirred by an exhortation the effect of which may soon pass. Why ? Because he only cares for willing service; he would not weaken moral responsibility, and would only have that sway which is deepest and widest,. because truest. His is not the power of a tyrant who is repressing by force the aspira- tions of his people, but the influence of a father who bids his child do something which he is free to leave undone, though he is confident the child,for love's sake, will do more than he says. 8. He reigns for tM welfare of his people. Note the association of "feed" and" rule" in Scripture. David had training for the exercise of royal power, and at the same time saw a type of it, in bis care for the sheep at Bethlehem. Show bow Christ used the figure of the shepherd to denote his work and sacrifice, Contras~ his reign and its i"5ues with that of many an earthly monarch. IlI. Ws:o ABE THE SUBJECTS OF RIB SWAY? Not always those whom we should expect. Not t:tie scribes, with their knowledge and preparation and responsibility as Peligious leaders. Not the Jewish people, who did not find their expectations fulfilled in the Babe of Bethlehem, the Lad of N arareth, the Prophet of Galilee. " He came- unto his own, and his own received him not." Who are the "Israel" now-heirs of the promises? The men who have come from a far country like the Magians, becaus~ they seek holiness and truth; the women like Mary, whose hearts are big with hope of "sweeter manners, purer laws;" the children who pray with all their hearts~ "'l'hy kingdom come;" the busy men like Joseph, who are struggling with temptationp and wanting help and hope outside themselves; the sinful and outcasts, who :find rest at Jesus' feet, etc. These are the heirs of Jacob, who at Bethel gained his name " Israel; " for they see in Christ the ladder that reaches heaven, though its foot rests on earth; they pledge themselves to serve him, and in agonizing prayer say," I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." CONCLUSION. May we have given to us of God some thought which shall be to us wha.t the star in the East was to the Wise Men, tha.t we may sa.y, "Where is he who is bom to be King? for we have seen his star ••• and have come to worship bim"!-A. R. Ver. 1.-The Church of God. "Now gather thyself in troops, 0 daughter of troops: be hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod .upon the cheek." The prophet, as if fearful that his previous promises would be somewhat too reassuring, so that the people would lose the due impression of the perils to which they would be exposed, here reminds them of the calamities which would befall them before the promised: prosperity would be realized. "0 daughter of troops I " Jerusalem was so called on account of the numerous troops that it poeseBBed. "He bath laid siege against us." That is, the enemy hath-the invading army. "He shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek." Zedekiah, the judge or king of Israel (A.mos ii. 3), was so insulted by the Chaldeans as if he had been smitten on the cheeks. To smite on the cheek was esteemed by the Orientals the greatest affront. Thir insult, we know, was offered by the nation to him who is the " Prince of the kings of the earth." "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheek to them that plucked oui the hair. I hid not my face from shame and spitting " (Isa. L 6). It is perfectly legitimate to take these words as a symbolical portrait of th!l Church of God. Look at it- • I. Al!, MILITANT m ITS OHABACTEB. Jerusalem is addressed as "daughter of troops." A.B Jerusalem was a military city, containing a great body of soldiers within her walls, so is the Church on earth; it is military. The life of all true men here is a battle ; all are soldiers, bound to be valiant for the truth. They are commanded to fight the good fight, to war the good warfare. They are to" wrestle not against lllL V. 1-15.] THE IlOOK OF MICAII. 81