of God; Ps. xciv. 20.
Ver. 12. "_A day it is when they shall come to thee from Asshur, and
from the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt to the river, and to sea from
sea, and to mountain from mountain._" It is not enough that the people
of God are freed from the servitude of the world. They shall become the
objects of the longing of the nations, even the most powerful and
hostile. They become the magnet which attracts them; compare iv. 1, 2.
From among the heathen nations Asshur and Egypt are first specially
mentioned, as the two principal representatives of hostility against
the kingdom of God in the present and past, and, at the same time, as
the two most powerful empires at the time of the prophet [Pg 523]--the
latter quality being indicated by the circumstance of Egypt's appearing
under the name [Hebrew: mcvr], "fortress." But then, by the expressions
"from sea to sea," "from mountain to mountain," which are equivalent to
"from every sea to every sea," etc., all barriers in general are
completely removed; compare in v. 3 (4) the words: "He shall be great
unto the ends of the earth." (The subject in [Hebrew: ibva] can only be
the inhabitants of these countries themselves, not the Jews living
there. If the latter had been intended, a more distinct indication of
it would have been required. The Masculine Suffix [Hebrew: ediK] "to
thee," _i.e._, not to Zion but to Israel, is opposed to such a
reference. This shows clearly that they who come are different from
Israel. In entire harmony with this prophecy is Is. xix. 18-25.) But,
before such glory can be bestowed upon the people of God, the
irrevocable judgment must first have done its fearful work, ver. 13;
compare the fundamental passage Lev. xxvi. 33, and Is. i. 7. In ver. 14
the announcement of salvation takes a new start. Vers. 18-20 form the
sublime close, not only of the last discourse, but also of the whole
book, as is clearly indicated by the coincidence of the words, "Who is,
O God, like unto Thee?" ver. 18, with the mention of Micah's name in
the inscription. The name of the prophet, by which he is dedicated to
the incomparable God, has been confirmed by the contents of his
prophecy. The New Testament parallel passage is Rom. xi. 33-36:
"_Who is, O God, like unto Thee; pardoning iniquity, and remitting
transgression to the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His
anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy._" "Who is, O God, like
unto Thee?" so the people on