Attributed commentary excerpt
Barnes' Notes on Micah 4:5
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Notes on the Whole Bible
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · 19th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
For all people well walk, every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God - Hitherto unsteadfastness had been the very characteristic sin of Israel. It was , “constant only in its inconstancy,” ever “falling away like their forefathers, starting aside like a broken bow” Psalms 78:57. The pagan persevered in their worship, because it was evil or had evil in it, not checking but feeding their passions. Israel did not persevere in his, because it required him to deny himself things unlawful. “Hath a nation changed their gods which are yet no gods? But My people have changed their glow for that which doth not profit” Jeremiah 2:11. Henceforth, the prophet professeth for his people, the true Israel, that he will be as steadfast in good, as the pagan in evil; so our Lord sets forth “the children of this world in their generation” Luke 16:8, as an example of wisdom to the children of light. Cyril: “They who are eager to go up into the mountain of the Lord, and wish to learn thoroughly His ways, promise a ready obedience, and receive in themselves the glories of the life in Christ, and undertake with their whole strength to be earnest in all holiness. ‘For let every one,’ he saith, ‘in every country and city go the way himself chooseth, and pass his life, as to him seemeth good; but our care is Christ, and His laws we will make our straight path; we will walk along with Him; and that not for this life only, present or past, but yet more for what is beyond’ 2 Timothy 2:11-12; Romans 8:17; Revelation 3:4. It is a faithful saying. For they who now suffer with Him, shall walk with Him forever, and with Him be glorified, and with Him reign. But they make Christ their care, who prefer nothing to His love, who cease from the vain distractions of the world, and seek rather righteousness and what is pleasing unto Him, and to excell in virtue. Such an one was the divine Paul; for he writeth, “I am crucified with Christ; and now no longer I live, but Christ liveth in me” Galatians 2:20; and again, “I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” 1 Corinthians 2:2. To “walk” is so uniformly in Holy Scripture used of a person’s moral or religious “ways” . p. 378, and above on Micah 2:11, p. 35. So again to walk with God, Genesis 5:22 or before God, Genesis 17:1 or contrary to God, Leviticus 26:21.) (as we say), that the prophet here too is doubtless speaking of the opposite religious ways of the pagan and of the future people of God. The “name” was often, in Hebrew, expressive of the character; and, in regard to God Himself, that Name which He vouchsafed to give to Himself , expressed His Self-existence, and, as a result, His Unchangeableness and His Faithfulness. The names, by which it was foretold that Christ should be called, express both His Deity and attributes ; the human Name, which He bare and vouchsafes to bear yet, was significant of His office for us, Saviour Matthew 1:21. To praise “the Name of the Lord” then, is to praise Him in that character or relation which He has revealed to us. : “He ‘walketh in the Name of the Lord,’ who ordereth every act and motion worthily of the vocation wherewith he is called, and, “whether he eateth or drinketh, doth all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31” this promise hath its own reward; for it is “forever and ever.” They who “walk in the Name of the Lord,” shall “walk before Him in, the land of the living, forever and ever” Psalms 116…
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