The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 125

(Henderson). All social faith was gone; a man ha<l lost all confidence in his brother. Social Acepticism and suspicion prevailed in all circles. No faith was to be put in a friend. 'l'he very lips were to be sealed. No confidence in the wife, no longer was she to be treated as an object of trust. No confidence in the eon, the daughter, or the mother. The nearest relations were counted as enemies. "A man's enemies are the men of hie own house." CoNOLUBION. Such were the evils over which this patriotic prophet pours Corth his lamentations. What right-hearted man would not bewail such a moral corruption in his country? Jeremiah said," Oh th&t mine head were watere,'a.nd mine eyes a fountain of tea.re, that I might weep day and night!" etc. Paul llaid, "Would that I were a.ccursed ! " etc. Christ said, "0 Jerusalem, J ernsalem I " etc. It is the charac- teristic of a. true patriot that he feels a deeper concern for the moral state of his country than for its educational or commercial condition.-D. T. Vere. 7-9.-The possi1n1ieies of godly men falling into great trouble. "Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation : my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, 0 mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me," etc. The prophet, having reverted in the preceding verses of this chapter to the wickedness of his people, which he had before depicted in most dark and dreadful colours, here proceeds to represent them in their state of captivity, reduced to repentance, and yearning for that Divine interposi- tion which would involve the complete destruction of their enemiea. I take the words as exhibiting the possibilities of godly men. I. THE POSSIBILITY OF GODLY HEN FALLING INTO GREAT TROUBLE. "Rejoice not against me, 0 mine enemy : when I fall, I shall arise." Who is the enemy here referred to scarcely matters, whether Babylon, Edom, or some other persons or peoples. .All godly men have ever had their enemies. .All who have ever endeavoured to lead a godly life· have suffered persecution in some mode and mea.•ure. Two things are referred to here concerning the trouble. 1. It was a "fall." Godly men are liable to many falls-falls from health to sickness, from wealth to poverty, from sociai'friendship to desolation; but the greatest fall is moral-the fall of character. To this the best of men are liable, e.g. Moses, David, Peter. 2. The ~ooble 'IOCIB a "dark- ness." "When I sit in darkness." Light and darkness are frequently used for pros- perity and adversity. There are many things that darken the eoul. Disappointment is' a cloud, remorse is a cloud, despair is a cloud. Some of these clouds often mantle the mental heaven in sackcloth; Godly men are often permitted to walk in darkness and to have no light. ·II. THE· POSSIBILITY OP GODLY HEN BEING GLORIOUSLY SUSTAINED Il!l' TROUBLE. "·Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation,'' etc. The godly man has a power within him, ·,vith the Divine help, of lifting his soul above the crushing cares, sufferings, and sorrows of life. " Rejoice not over me, 0 mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when f sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me;" How does he do it?· 1. By loiking at God. "Therefore I will look unto the Lord." The man who fastens his eyes on the sun becomes unconscious of the small things' around him. The soul which feels God to be the grand object in its horizon can scarcely fail to be buoyant and courageous. 2. By waiting upon God, "I wmwait for the God of my salvation." He is sure to come to my deliverance; it ie only a question of time, and I will wait. .As the farmer in the snows and storms of winter waits for the vernal season, certain that it will come, so the godly man, in trial, waits for God's approach. 3. By trosting in God. "My God will hear me." He has promised to do so; he has done so before; he is a prayer-hearing God. He ha.s said, "Unto· that man will I look," eto. 4. By sulmiitting to God.· "I will bear the indig- nation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him." I will not repine nor rebel under my eu1fe1ing; I wiU bow to hie will, for I deserve punishment, as I have sinned against him. The sufferings I endure nre insignificant compared to the sins I have committed. 6. ·By hoping for God. "He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness." ",veeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh with the morning." Thus it is possible for 11:odly men to rise in courage and even triumph in the ii;reatest calamities.· Sunk in the deepest affiiction, they may look their enemies iu the faca 128 THE BOOK OF MICAH. [CH, Vil, 1-2~