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 ]