Micah 7:20 - Exposition

Thou wilt perform (literally, give ) the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham. Jacob and Abraham are mentioned as the chiefs and representatives of the chosen family; and "the truth" ( i.e. God's faithfulness to his promises) and "mercy" are equally given to both, separately assigned only for the sake of the parallelism. Knabenbaner compares such passages as Psalms 114:1 , "When Israel went forth out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language" (Psalm or. 6; Isaiah 41:8 ; Isaiah 63:16 , etc.). The general meaning, therefore, is that God will perform the promises made to the forefathers, as Luke 1:72 , etc. Hast sworn, as in Genesis 22:16 . etc.; Genesis 28:13 , etc.; Deuteronomy 7:12 . With the close of the ode Hengstenberg compares Romans 11:33-36 . Thus the checkered prophecy ends with the glow of faith and happy hope.