DiscipleDeck
Get started
Bible Commentary

Micah 2:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary on Micah 2:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Deliberate sins bringing predestined punishments.

We see here—

I. THE GENESIS OF CRIME. Three stages are described.

1. Sinful desires are cherished in the heart. These sinners "devise iniquity," think over it (), imagine it (the same word as in , referring to Saul's thought and plan to secure David's death), dwell on it; for wickedness is "sweet in their mouth" (). Illustrate from the licentious thoughts of David (, ) or Amnon (, ), the covetous thoughts of Ahab (), or the envious and revengeful thoughts of Haman (, ; see , ). Here sin is not traced during its growth. From its birth St. James passes on to its maturity: "The sin, when it is full grown, bringeth forth death." But Micah points out stages in its growth.

2. Plans of wickedness are deliberately contrived. They "work," prepare or fabricate, "evil upon their beds." In their hours of rest they "cannot cease from sin." On their beds, where they might enjoy the sleep of God's beloved, where in wakeful hours they might commune with God and their own hearts (; ; ; ), they plot their crimes (; ). If they want allies they hesitate not to secure the aid of the false witness, the procuress, the dishonest lawyer, the bribed judge. Illust.: Jezebel; the priests (); the assassins ().

3. The plot is executed in a crime. They act promptly, early, showing no signs of repentance or reflection (); in the daylight, without shame (; , )—"swift to shed blood," or defraud, or debauch. Might constitutes their right; "impiously mighty and mighty in impiety," "because it is in the power of their hands." "Dextra mihi Deus" (Virgil). They are reckless of the ruin caused to an innocent man or a whole family robbed of their heritage (), or of their head (), or of the flower of the flock, some beloved child more precious than any heritage ().

II. ITS INEVITABLE CONNECTION WITH RETRIBUTION. While sinners are coveting, plotting, plundering, God is watching, devising, and framing punishment. This is:

1. Predestined; on the ground of deliberate sin. God's "therefores" have all the force of demonstrative reasoning (; , etc.).

2. Hard to be borne. Compared to a yoke. Contrast the yoke of the Father's discipline (), and of the Redeemer's service (, ). If these yokes are contemptuously cast away, the evil yoke of punishment, a "yoke of iron," is prepared (; ).

3. Inevitable. See the striking figures in and (God's manifold instruments of punishment); cf. , .

4. Humiliating. "Neither shall ye go haughtily." How often the retribution on the proud or the extortioner is strikingly appropriate to their sin! Man's skill in successful sinning is outmatched by God's wisdom in punishing (). When God's wisdom and power are both arrayed against us, it is an evil time indeed.

5. Utterly disastrous. A revolution in their entire circumstances (). Thus the consequences of sin may be irreparable in this world; but the gospel of the grace of God tells of a forgiveness whereby sin may be righteously forgiven, and the eternal consequences may be cut off (; ).—E.S.P.

Recommended reading

More for Micah 2:1-3

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

Matthew Henry on Micah 2:1-5Micah 2:1-5 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryWoe to the people that devise evil during the night, and rise early to carry it into execution! It is bad to do mischief on a sudden thought, much worse to do it with design and forethought. It is of great moment to imp…The Sins of the People. (b. c. 740.)Micah 2:1-5 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleTHE SINS OF THE PEOPLE. (B. C. 740.) Here is, I. The injustice of man contriving the evil of sin, Micah 2:1-2. God was coming forth against this people to destroy them, and here he shows what was the ground of his contr…The Pulpit Commentary on Micah 2:1-13Micah 2:1-13 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITIONThe Pulpit Commentary on Micah 2:1-5Micah 2:1-5 · The Pulpit Commentary§ 6. The prophet justifies his threat by recounting the sins of which the grandees and guilty.The Pulpit Commentary on Micah 2:1Micah 2:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe prophet, himself one of the people, first inveighs against the sins of injustice and oppression of the poor. Devise … work … practise. A gradation. They are not led into these sins by others; they themselves conceiv…The Pulpit Commentary on Micah 2:1-11Micah 2:1-11 · The Pulpit CommentaryDelineations of deep transgression, righteous retribution, and Divine equity. We have in these verses three pictures, drawn by a master hand, and very suggestive of practical teaching. I. A PICTURE OF DEEP TRANSGRESSION…
commentaryMatthew Henry on Micah 2:1-5Woe to the people that devise evil during the night, and rise early to carry it into execution! It is bad to do mischief on a sudden thought, much worse to do it with design and forethought. It is of great moment to imp…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Sins of the People. (b. c. 740.)THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE. (B. C. 740.) Here is, I. The injustice of man contriving the evil of sin, Micah 2:1-2. God was coming forth against this people to destroy them, and here he shows what was the ground of his contr…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Micah 2:1-11Delineations of deep transgression, righteous retribution, and Divine equity. We have in these verses three pictures, drawn by a master hand, and very suggestive of practical teaching. I. A PICTURE OF DEEP TRANSGRESSION…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Micah 2:1-4Avarice. "Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand," etc. The prophet, in the preceding chapter, foretold the…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Micah 2:1-13EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Micah 2:1-5§ 6. The prophet justifies his threat by recounting the sins of which the grandees and guilty.Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Micah 2:1The prophet, himself one of the people, first inveighs against the sins of injustice and oppression of the poor. Devise … work … practise. A gradation. They are not led into these sins by others; they themselves conceiv…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Micah 2:2They carry out by open violence the fraud which they have devised and planned (comp. Isaiah 5:8; Amos 4:1). Covet fields. Compare the ease of Ahab and Naboth (1 Kings 21:1-29.). The commandment against coveting (Exodus…Joseph S. Exell and contributors