The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 93

'1'1111: DIVINE nEQUIREMENTB BEING FOUND WANTING. Notice in this case: 1. Dishones(y -i,n trade as opposed to" doing justly." Rectitudo in all the transactions of life wa,; repeatedly insisted upon in the Law of God as given by Mo~es (Lev. xix. 35, 36; Deut. xxv. 14, 16). Disregard of this requirement was an indictment constantly brought against the Jewish people by their faithful seers (Amos viii. 4-6; Ezek. xiv. 9, 10; Hos. xii, 7, 8). To be engaged in trade bas been regarded by some as a badge of social inferiority. No right-minded man could speak or even think thus. All honest trades .are honourable. None need be ashamed of their callings beca.use these belong to the shop and the mart, The dishonour lies in fraud, trickery, deceit, and sharp practice; but let all these be eschewed, and the principles of uprightness and honour prevail, and the humblest trade, conducted on these lines, is thereby ennobled. "Royalty in her robes of state is not so majestic as Commerce clothed in spotless integrity and commanding unlimited confidence. Victory, raising her trophies from the spoils of a conquered army, is not so glorious as Commerce, patiently and perseveringly, slowly but surely, gaining its end by scorning and disdaining the arts which promise a speedy but treacherous elevation" (Dr. Robert Halley). 2. Oppression and violence as opposed to ~, loving mercy" (ver. 12). Men, making haste to be rich, fall into many hurtful snares (1 Tim. vi. 9), and one of these is that of oppressing those less favoure<l than them- selves. They become hard, and are led to take undue advantage of those who are needy and who can in any wa.y be made tributary to their interests. Provision against this was made in the Law of Moses (Deut. xxiv.10-22). This provision of that Divine law; which so marvellously met every circumstance a.nd condition of life, the prophet -charged bis people with disregarding. " The rich men thereof are full of violence" (ver. 12; Isa. i. 23; v. 7; .Amos v. 11; Mal. iii. 5). The love of mercy was sacrificed to the love of gain. Man, consumed by lust of wealth, used his fellow-men as mere stepping-stones, trampling them beneath his feet. 3. Degeneration in speech as altogether incompatible with "walking humbly with God." (Ver. 12.) Very glorious is the power of utterance, the ability to give audible expression, with clearness a.nd perspicuity, to the thoughts which may be filling our minds and stirring our very souls. "And when she spake Sweet words, like dropping honey, she did shed: And 'twixt the pearls and rubies softly brake A silver sound that heavenly music seemed to make." (Spenser's• Faery Queene.') Speech Is a very ~ure index to character. "Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee" (Luke xix. 22). ".A bell may have a crack, and you may not see it, but take the clapper and strike it, and you'll soon perceive that it is flawed." Degradation is stamped, not only upon the physical form of savage tribes, but also upon the very language they employ. When, as the result of a long course of transgression or of prolonged banishment from civilization, noble thoughts and high spiritual conceptions have dropped away from them, there has attended this the loss even of the very words by which these thoughts and conceptions are expressed, so that the language of such people has become woefully impoverished. Clearly, then, would we have our speech right, we must get our hearts right. "The weights and wheels are in the heart, and the clock strikes according to their motion. Truth in the inward parts is the certain cure for all evil in the tongae." The prevailing degeneracy over which this seer so deeply mourned is indicated in his words," The inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth" (ver. 12). And, this being the case, they were utterly unfitted for complying with the requirement that they should walk humbly "with their God;" for only "the pure in heart" CI\Il have fellowship with him. ••Weighed" thus" in the balances" of the requirements of God's pure Law, they were "'found wanting.'' II. A.I.THOUGH DIFFERING IN DEGREE, YET IT IS TRUE UNIVERSALLY TllAT HUMAN CONDUCT, PROVED THUS, WILL NOT STAND THE TEST. God's Law is "holy, just, and true," and man is by nature and practice so sinful that, judged by that high standard, "'every mouth must be stopped, and the whole world appear guilty before God (Rom. iii. 19). III. Tar. 00NBOIOUSNEBS OF THIS SHOULD LEAD UB TO WELCOME THE CHRIST OF Goo,  96 THE DOOK OF MICAH. [on. vr. 1-10,,