2 Give ear, O you mountains, to the Lord's cause, and take note, you bases of the earth: for the Lord has a cause against his people, and he will take it up with Israel.
Give ear to the word of the Lord, O children of Israel; for the Lord has a cause against the people of this land, because there is no good faith in it, and no mercy and no knowledge of God in the land.
Ephraim's food is the wind, and he goes after the east wind: deceit and destruction are increasing day by day; they make an agreement with Assyria, and take oil into Egypt.
Then the deep beds of the sea were seen, and the bases of the world were uncovered, because of the Lord's wrath, because of the breath of his mouth.
He has made the earth strong on its bases, so that it may not be moved for ever and ever;
Then the earth was moved with a violent shock; the bases of heaven were moved and shaking, because he was angry.
When he put a limit to the sea, so that the waters might not go against his word: when he put in position the bases of the earth:
Put me in mind of this; let us take up the cause between us: put forward your cause, so that you may be seen to be in the right.
For this reason, I will again put forward my cause against you, says the Lord, even against you and against your children's children.
Why will you put forward your cause against me? You have all done evil against me, says the Lord. I gave your children blows to no purpose; they got no good from training: your sword has been the destruction of your prophets, like a death-giving lion. O generation, see the word of the Lord. Have I been a waste land to Israel? or a land of dark night? why do my people say, We have got loose, we will not come to you again? Is it possible for a virgin to put out of her memory her ornaments, or a bride her robes? but my people have put me out of their memories for unnumbered days. With what care are your ways ordered when you are looking for love! so ... your ways. And in the skirts of your robe may be seen the life-blood of those who have done no wrong: ... And still you said, I have done no wrong; truly, his wrath is turned away from me. See, I will take up the cause against you, because you say, I have done no wrong.
A noise will come, even to the end of the earth; for the Lord has a cause against the nations, he will give his decision against all flesh; as for the evil-doers, he will give them to the sword, says the Lord.
This is what the Lord has said: If the heavens on high may be measured, and the bases of the earth searched out, then I will give up the seed of Israel, because of all they have done, says the Lord.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Micah 6
Commentary on Micah 6 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 6
After the precious promises in the two foregoing chapters, relating to the Messiah's kingdom, the prophet is here directed to set the sins of Israel in order before them, for their conviction and humiliation, as necessary to make way for the comfort of gospel-grace. Christ's forerunner was a reprover, and preached repentance, and so prepared his way. Here,
Mic 6:1-5
Here,
Mic 6:6-8
Here is the proposal for accommodation between God and Israel, the parties that were at variance in the beginning of the chapter. Upon the trial, judgment is given against Israel; they are convicted of injustice and ingratitude towards God, the crimes with which they stood charged. Their guilt is too plain to be denied, too great to be excused, and therefore,
Mic 6:9-16
God, having shown them how necessary it was that they should do justly, here shows them how plain it was that they had done unjustly; and since they submitted not to his controversy, nor went the right way to have it taken up, here he proceeds in it. Observe,