Homilist Micah 2:1-4 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil on their beds! when the morning is light, they practice it… Greed is the spring and spirit of all oppression. Here rapacious avarice is presented in three aspects. I. SCHEMING IN THE NIGHT. When avarice takes possession of a man, it works the brain by night as well as by day. What schemes to swindle, defraud, and plunder men are fabricated every night upon the pillow! II. WORKING IN THE DAY. The idea esteemed most is the worldly gain of avaricious labour. So it ever is; gain is the God of the greedy man. He sacrifices all his time and labour on its altar. Shakespeare compares such a man to a whale which plays and tumbles, driving the poor fry before him, and at last devours them all at a mouthful. III. SUFFERING IN THE JUDGMENT. For judgment comes at last, and in the judgment these words give us to understand the punishment will correspond with the sin. "Because they reflect upon evil," says Delitzsch, "to deprive their fellow men of their possessions, Jehovah will bring evil upon this generation, lay a heavy yoke upon their necks, under which they will not be able to walk loftily or with extended neck." Ay, the time will come when the avaricious millionaire will exclaim, "We be utterly spoiled." "Go to, now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you," etc. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. |
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