Bible Commentaries

From this scene of a corrupt people governed by corrupt rulers, the prophet lifts his eyes, and looking into the future sees the day when under true government deliverance will be wrought and the divine order be established. In this look ahead he saw the mountain of Jehovah's house established and the peoples flowing into it. Out of Zion the Lord would come forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. The result of this establishment of divine authority would be cessation of war, and peaceful possession of the land, with all its benefits.

In the light of this future deliverance the prophet addresses himself to the present. In the midst of diction there was assurance. Even while the cry of pain and travail was heard, there was hope. He declares that there was to be yet further pain and suffering, but that the day of deliverance is certain.

Having thus described the coming deliverance, Micah utters the wonderful prophecy concerning the Deliverer and the deliverance under His administration.

The Person of the Deliverer is first described. He is One whose goings forth are from of old, and when He comes it will be to Bethlehem-Ephrathah.

Next, His program is described. Its first movement will be abandoning the people, and the second gathering and feeding them.

The central declaration of the whole prophecy is found in this connection, "This Man shall be peace."

The local application of the foretelling is seen in the fact that Micah described the victory as one over Assyria. Its far-reaching value has become perfectly evident by the literal and local fulfillment. Concerning this coming deliverance the prophet then utters the word of Jehovah which declares that in that day all the false confidence which had ruined the people through the period of their sin and unbelief will be destroyed.