Micah 6:6-8
The text for our study is Mic 6:6-8 ‘"With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
A passage considered by many to be one of the most comprehensive and all-embracing statements in the Old Testament in which Micah raises the question: “What does the Lord require of you?” Micah answers his own question, and makes some important points.... Not only for the sake of Israel of his day; but for the benefit of the Lord's church today. -- For as with all of the Old Testament, it was written for our learning - Ro 15:4 “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
As we seek to learn from this passage, let's first consider the question, what did the Lord require of Israel? Let’s start with considering what Israel may have thought. Some possibilities, even some absurdities: year-old calves as burnt offerings; thousands of rams; ten thousands rivers of oil; offering of the firstborn child? Some observations are: God did indeed speak of some of these things. Like the offering of calves and rams -see Lev 1:1-13. But the absurd amount of oil and offering of the firstborn are examples of hyperbole for the sake of emphasis. From the context, it appears ritualistic sacrifices alone did not please God. One could not please God by simply offering innumerable sacrifices, even things precious to the worshiper. For religious rituals properly ordained of God to be accepted, they must be accompanied by other things just as essential (more detail on this point will be cover later in this lesson).
What did God really require of Israel? To do justly. This means “to act toward God and man according to the divine standard of righteousness revealed in His law.” (Hailey). This did involve the offering of sacrifices commanded by God, but it also involved treating their fellow man in a way that was right and fair. -- Failure to do "justly" was one of the main reasons Israel went into captivity – see for example Zec 7:8-14; 8:16-17.
To love mercy. This means “to show a compassionate warm-heartedness toward man.” (Hailey). Not only treat others fairly, but to show mercy when mistreated themselves.
-- One reason they were to love mercy was because God Himself delighted in showing mercy - Mic 7:18-19 “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
To walk humbly with your God. This means living “in humble and submissive obedience to His desire and will.” (Hailey). It can only happen when we “recognize the absolute holiness and righteousness of God.” (Hailey). -- It is the humble of heart and spirit that greatly pleases God - Isa 57:15 “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”; 66:1-2 “Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”
These three things God required of those who would come before Him. Not instead of the ritual observances, but in conjunction with them (Mt 23:23 ‘"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”). Now for an application of our text to those who are Christians today. What does the Lord require of us? Let’s consider what some might think. Some might think all the Lord requires is the observance of certain rituals. Like attending church on Sunday and partaking in the Lord’s Supper, as though if one does this, they have done all that is required. I sometimes wonder if people really believe this. That’s the impression one receives by their example. That’s the answer often received from some. Certainly attending the services of the church is important. It is essential to obeying God - He 10:25 “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” It is required if we expect to grow spiritually - He 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” In fact, I am persuaded that failure to attend every service can be displeasing to God - Ep 5:15-17 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” When absent, are we making the most of our time? Do we really believe our absence is the Lord’s will for us? This attitude can explain the lack of several things, such as the lack of spiritual growth, the lack of commitment in the work of the church, and the lack of close fellowship with God and other Christians. -- Yes, I am convinced that it is essential that we observe what “rituals” God has ordained for us; but the Lord requires more than just “attending church”. But what does the Lord require of us today? We will look into this in our next part of this lesson.
