DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links and a discussion forum 2013 May 12
Sacrilegious Robbery (1731)
Alessandro Magnasco (1667-1749)
Baroque Style
Quadreria Arcivescovile, Milan, Italy
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: In Micah 7 the book closes with a series of exchanges between Hosea, the people, and the LORD. Blessing is coming, but before that, judgment. The judgment will be horrific, as in the painting above; but, unlike that painting, it will not come from the realm of the fantastic but from the hand of God through nature and man.
The chapter is structured as follows (with Messianic parallels noted): The prophet, as Jesus did in his day in a similar fashion, comes looking for the gleanings of the firstripe fruit, particularly clusters of grapes, but finds none (Matthew 21:19-21; Mark 11:13-20). Then he looks for upright men (Isaiah 40:3-6; Matthew 3:1-3; Matthew 21:32; Mark 4:1, 7, 15; Luke 1:13-17, 76; Luke 3:2-20; John 1:6-36; John 3:27-36; Acts 1:22; Acts 13:24-25; Acts 19:3-4), but he finds that they have perished; and in their place are killers, thieves, and traitors even within ones own household and among his friends (Matthew 10:36). So he turns to the LORD for help (1-7). In response, the personified nation, echoes the prophet's confidence in God, telling its enemies not to rejoice because the LORD will correct their sins and turn in judgment to the wicked (8-10). The prophet responds by warning the people that judgment and desolation is coming from Assyria (11-13). The prophet then pleads with God for mercy and restoration to the days of old (14). The LORD answers and says that he will show them marvelous things, as in the Exodus and the nations will be confounded (15-16). The prophet then takes up similar words of assurance declaring that the nations will "lick the dust like a serpent" (Genesis 3:14-15; Isaiah 65:25) and "move out of their holes like worms" (Revelation 6:15-17) and "be afraid of the LORD our God" (17). Micah concludes by first giving praise directly to God for his forgiveness and mercy, then assuring the nation of God's compassion and of his cleansing from sin and of his faithfulness to the covenant (18-20).
Micah 7
1 Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.
2 The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.
3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.
5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
6 For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
10 Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.
11 In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed.
12 In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.
13 Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
14 Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
15 According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.
16 The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.
17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.
18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
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