In times of national crisis the writings of the Canonical Prophets seem to acquire a fresh significance and value. The reason is not far to seek. The Prophets were the messengers of God to the Church of the Old Covenant. But, under the Old Covenant, Church and Nation were identical. Israel was a religious commonwealth, and expressed its national life through the ordinances and institutions of its religion. And consequently the Prophets were ultimately concerned in their ministry, not with individuals, nor with sections of the community, but with the nation. It was of the nation that they thought, to the nation that they spake, for the nation that they worked.

This feature of the ministry of the Prophets could not be reproduced in the work of the Apostles. Israel as a nation had rejected Christ; and the Church of the New Covenant had to be gathered out of every nation, and to consist of all tribes and peoples and tongues. And consequently the majority of the Epistles are addressed either to local companies of believers or to individuals. Even the "Catholic Epistles" had readers in view whose demarcation was determined by their Christian profession. No writing of the New Testament is addressed to a church which was co-extensive and identical with a nation or empire. The Apostolic writings record teaching for Christians as distinguished from unbelievers; the Prophetical writings record teaching for Judah and Israel (either separately or in combination) as distinguished from other nations.

It is, therefore, not to be wondered at that in times such as the present, when under the pressure of circumstances the scope of our thoughts is enlarged, and we are compelled to pay heed to the life and soul of the nation, men discover new value in the words of warning or comfort which were delivered by these guardians of Israel's religion, monitors of Israel's morality, watchmen of Israel's destiny.

If, at the time of the National Mission in England, this little volume is permitted to take any part in stimulating and directing the study of the teaching of one of these messengers to a nation, its publication will have fulfilled its purpose.

There are many sources from which help in the study of the Book of Micah can be obtained by an English reader.

Of these mention may be made here of the following:

Calvin's Commentary (English translation by Owen, 1847). Copies of this can be found in most libraries. It is an illuminating guide to practical application based on careful interpretation.

Pusey's Commentary on the Minor Prophets (1869). A forceful exposition, with the added virtue of providing a wide field of Bible study.

Bishop Christopher Wordsworth's Commentary on the Bible (1871); F. C. Cook, in the "Speaker's Commentary" (1876); The One-Volume Commentary (J. R. Dummelow, 1909).

The brief exposition by Dr. Cheyne in The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (1893) offers valuable help in the study of the original meaning of the text.

The Doctrine of the Prophets, by Dr. Kirkpatrick (1892), is of great assistance to a knowledge of the circumstances and message of the Prophet. It does not contain an exposition of the text.

Dr. G. A. Smith, in The Book of the Twelve Prophets ("The Expositor's Bible," 1896), exhibits his characteristic power of making the message of the Prophets a' living one for our own day.

For advanced critical study, Dr. J. M. P. Smith in the "International Critical Commentary" (1912) should be consulted.