John Trapp on Micah 7:14

Verſe 14. Feed thy people with thy rod] Rule them with thy Seepter, or feed them with thy pedum paſtorale, thy ſhepherds-rod, or ſtaffe, Pſal. 23.4. This, ſay ſome, is the ſpeech of God the Father, to God the Son. Or, (as others) of God to the Miniſters and Paſtours, charging them to take heed to his flock, and to feed his Church. But it ſeemeth rather to be a prayer of the Chriſtian Church (ſeeing the ruine of the Jewiſh Synagogue) that Chriſt (the chief Shepherd) would do all good officer for his poor people, feeding them with his rod, that is, with his word and Spirit, guiding them with his eye, Pſal. 32.8. leading them in the way everlaſting, Pſal. 139.24. leſt, ſeduced by their own luſts, or other mens evil lives, they ſhould any way miſcarry.

the flock of thine heritage] Thoſe poor of the flock, Zach. 11.7. that hear his voice and follow him, John 10.3, 4.5, 27. being holy, harmleſſe, tractable, ſociable, patient, profitable as ſheep; which have wooll for raiment, skin for parchment, fleſh for meat, guts for muſick, &c. Such ſhall go in and out, and find paſture, Joh. 10.9. paſture that will breed life, and life in more abundance, verſe 10. See Pſal. 23.1, 2, 3, &c. Davids Paſtorall: where he aſſureth himſelf, as a ſheep of Chriſts heritage, that hee ſhall have all things needfull for life and godlineſſe: And ſo may every poor Chriſtian, grounding his faith upon the Covenant, Ezekiel 34.25, 28.

which dwelleth ſolitarily in the wood] Sleepeth in the woods, Ezek. 34.25. where they meet with many a bruſh, yea many a bruiſe, verſe 28. where they walk in dark and dangerous paths, even in the valley of the ſhadow of death, Pſal. 23.4. of the darkeſt ſide of death, of death in its moſt horrid and hideous repreſentations. Feed them therefore; fence them with thine omnipotent arm, bear them in thy boſom, ſee to their ſafety.

Let them feed in Baſhan and Gilead] Not bite upon the bare ground, but feed pleaſantly, plentifully: feed among the lillies, frequent alſo the foddering places, turn to the under-ſhepherds, the Miniſters, and ſo return to the Arch-ſhepherd and Biſhop of their ſouls, following the Lamb whereſoever he goeth; who will teach them many things, and that out of deepeſt compaſſion, Mar. 6.34. who will alſo ſhew them great and mighty things, that they knew not, Jer. 33.3.

as in the dayes of old] As thou waſt with the Church of the Old Teſtament, ſo be not wanting to that of the New: but feed them according to the inegrity of thine heart, and guide them by the skilfulneſſe of thine hands, Pſal. 78.72. Pull them out of the Lions mouth, ſeek them up when loſt, tend them, handle them, heal them, waſh them, drive them as they can go, bearing the lambs in thy boſome, Eſay 40. Do for them, as thou haſt ever done for thy people in former ages. So we thy people, and ſheep of thy paſture will give thee thanks for ever: we will ſhew forth thy praiſe to all generations Pſa. 79.13.