Micah 1:5 For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob?… God's interposition by judgment is threatened on account of the nation's sins. The greatness of their privileges involved special responsibilities and chastisements (Amos 3:2). These sins are traced to their sources in the capitals of the two kingdoms. A metropolis is a centre of influence for good or for evil. This may be illustrated by the histories of both the Hebrew kingdoms. The northern kingdom had in succession three capitals: (1) Shechem, where the apostasy of Israel began (1 Kings 12:25-33). (2) Tirzah, the home of Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:17), the scene of civil strife (1 Kings 16:9, 17.18), and of the court of Omri of sinister memory (Micah 6:16), for half his reign. (3) Samaria, the seat of monarchy for two hundred years. Among the sins specially charged by the prophets against Samaria we find pride (Isaiah 9:9), luxury and licentiousness (Isaiah 28:1 4; Amos 6:1-6), incorrigible treachery (Hosea 7:1), contemptuous disregard of God and his worship (Hosea 8:5; Amos 8:14), oppression of the poor (Micah 3.; Amos 4:1). In Judah the high places were an offence to God, which even good kings did not entirely suppress, so that Jerusalem may be said to have been responsible for them, and did not escape the infection (2 Chronicles 28:1-4, 23-25) nor the denunciations of the prophets (Isaiah 1; Isaiah 5; Isaiah 28:14-19). We are thus reminded of - I. THE RESPONSIBILITIES ATTACHING TO A METROPOLIS. It is: 1. The seat of government, where kings and rulers live and exert great personal influence, and where laws are passed which, if bad, may corrupt the national conscience and deprave social life. 2. One chief centre of public opinion, where the most educated, and cultivated congregate. 3. The fountain of fashion. 4. The gathering place of the rural population, where the opinions and practices of the citizens may be speedily imbibed. Illustrate from the influence of Paris during the second empire, culminating in the craze for war, which brought ruin on the country in 1870; or from the influence of Constantinople and its pachas on the present condition of the Turkish empire. Such capitals are centres of corruption, like diseased lungs where the blood is deteriorated rather than purified. II. LESSONS ARE SUGGESTED FOR ALL CLASSES OF RESIDENTS IN A METROPOLIS. 1. For the court, lest they be like Jeroboam, "who made Israel to sin." 2. For legislators. Illustrate from the demoralizing effects of many of our past licensing acts. 3. For editors of newspapers and other leaders of public opinion. It was these who were, to a large extent, responsible for the Crimean War. 4. For the leaders of fashion, who may foster habits of extravagance, of peril to health, or even of cruelty in matters of dress. 5. For men of business; the exchanges of the metropolis giving a tone to the commercial customs of the country. 6. For artisans, whose trades unions may help or injure their fellow workmen scattered in the provinces. 7. For preachers, whom many gather from all parts to hear, and who may give a tone to the preaching of the country. 8. For Church members. Heresy or worldliness in metropolitan Churches may soon spread among rural Churches maintaining a simpler faith and practice (cf. Matthew 5:14, 16; Romans 1:8). - E.S.P. Parallel Verses KJV: For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem? |
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