Micah 2:7

Thou that art named. Hebrew ’amur, from the root ’amar, “to speak,” hence “something spoken,” or “someone called.” Since the Hebrew has the interrogative prefix, the clause may be translated, “Should this be said, O house of Jacob?” (RSV). Micah chides the speakers (v. 6) for expressing thoughts foreign to the spirit of God.

Straitened. Literally, “shortened.” Used in connection with “spirit,” the word signifies “to be [or, become] impatient.” Here, the prophet chides those who accuse the Lord of being impatient because He gives way to threatening His people. This is not so, for God has ever been long-suffering in His dealings with Israel. However, when men sin they must expect to reap the results of their evildoing (Exodus 34:6, 7).

His doings. These chastisements and judgments do not come because God would have it so (Psalm 103:8-14; Ezekiel 18:25-32). He is a God of love and delights in mercy. Punishment is to Him a “strange work,” a “strange act,” for it is foreign to His nature (Isaiah 28:21; Jeremiah 31:20; Lamentations 3:32, 33; 1 John 4:7, 8). Micah affirms that our chastisements are our own “doings,” not God’s (Ezekiel 33:11). The sinner is in this sense his own punisher (see Great Controversy 36, 37). As the sun cannot be held responsible for the shadow cast by an opaque object, so God cannot be held responsible for the sinner’s iniquity (see James 1:13-15).

Do good. The Word of God is good, and freighted with blessing for those who obey it (Deuteronomy 7:9-11; Psalm 18:25, 26; 25:10; 103:17, 18; Romans 7:12; 11:22).