CONTENTS
This is a most blessed Chapter, for the precious contents of which the
Church of Christ hath found occasion in all ages since possessed of
it, and will find occasion to bless God the Holy Ghost for it till
time shall be no more. We have in it the memorable spot predicted
where Christ shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
Every word in this blessed verse is important; and therefore let us
regard every word in it. Bethlehem means the house of bread! how
suited this to him, and his birth, who is the bread of life. Ephratah,
or Ephrath, meaning fruitfulness, was the name also of the city of
Bethlehem, about two leagues... [ Continue Reading ]
The sense of this verse seems to be, that there shall be great trouble
in Israel, until this glorious event of Christ's birth should take
place. And certain it is that Israel was brought very low before
Christ was born. Some however make these words wholly spiritual with
respect to the new birth, in... [ Continue Reading ]
It is very easy to enter into a proper apprehension of what is here
meant concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. His person being before
proved, we may well suppose the Prophet is speaking of his offices.
Feeding, comprehends the whole office of a shepherd; restoring,
healing, leading, protecting, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore the translators of our Bible into English, put in the word
man into the first of these verses, I know not, for certain it is they
had no authority to do so, not being in the original. But we have no
objection to the insertion of it, if by the expression they mean the
God-man, the glory-man... [ Continue Reading ]
This is a very lovely description of the people of God. They art
called a remnant. So they are in the Gospel; and a little flock.
Romans 9:27. Taken from Isaiah 10:21; Luke 12:32. They are promised to
be distinguished from the world around them by divine blessings, as
the fleece of Gideon, from the... [ Continue Reading ]
The same distinguishing blessings on Jacob's remnant, only adopting
another figure, are here promised, to show the freedom of God's grace
and love to his people. In the former Jacob's remnant is made passive
in receiving blessings from the Lord, to denote the Lord's chosen. In
this they are shown to... [ Continue Reading ]
Is not this spoken of Christ himself? I do not presume to answer the
question. But if it be, it is a blessed promise. And if not, it is
still blessed to Christ's people, for it must be to them in him?... [ Continue Reading ]
I include all these verses under one reading. They all, according to
my view, proclaim the same doctrine, namely, the Lord's promise that
the remnant of Jacob shall be defended, blessed, and protected, by
Jacob's Lord. They shall be stripped of all false confidences in
themselves, and secured from a... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS
BLESSED Lord Jesus! I would leave all other subjects, all other
considerations, to follow thee thou Lamb of God, wherever I find thee
in thy scriptures of truth. And as here in this Chapter thou didst
commission thy servant Micah to tell the Church, ages before thine
incarnation, where t... [ Continue Reading ]