The Lord’s Challenge to His People
June 14, 2022
Commentary
In this chapter Micah pictures a courtroom. God has a controversy against His people, and He calls the mountains and the hills together to form a jury as He sets forth His case. The people have replaced heartfelt worship with empty ritual, thinking that this is all that God demands. They have removed God’s standards of justice from their daily dealings in order to cover their unscrupulous practices. God, the judge tells His people what He requires of them and teaches all the ways they have wronged both Him and others.
God called on the mountains to confirm the peoples guilt (vv. 1-2). The mountains would serve as an excellent witness for it was in the high places that the people had built heathen altars and had sacrificed to false gods (Ez 20:28). When God asked the question, “O my people, what have I done to you?” (v. 3) the people could not answer because He had done no wrong. In fact God had been exceedingly patient with them and had given them every opportunity to return to Him. God continued to be kind to His forgetful people but their short memory and lack of thankfulness condemned them (v. 5). When people refuse to see how fortunate they are and begin to take God’s gifts for grated they become self-centered. We need to remember God’s goodness and thank Him. Remembering God’s past protection will help us see his present provision.
Israel responded to God’s request by trying to appease him with sacrifice hoping He would leave them alone (vv. 6-8). But sacrifice and other religious rituals are not enough; God wants changed lives. He wants us to become living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1-2), not just doing religious deeds. It is impossible for us to follow God consistently without his transforming love in our hearts. People have tried all kinds of ways to please God (6:6-7), but God has made His wishes clear; He wants His people to be just, merciful and to walk humbly with Him (v. 8).
Application
In my efforts to please God I must be sure that I am fair in my dealings with people. Do I show mercy to those who have wronged me?
Micah 6:1– 8 (NET)
1 Listen to what the Lord says: “Get up! Defend yourself before the mountains. Present your case before the hills.”
2 Hear the Lord’s accusation, you mountains, you enduring foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people; he has a dispute with Israel!
3 “My people, how have I wronged you? How have I wearied you? Answer me!
4 In fact, I brought you up from the land of Egypt; I delivered you from that place of slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.
5 My people, recall how King Balak of Moab planned to harm you, how Balaam son of Beor responded to him. Recall how you journeyed from Shittim to Gilgal, so you might acknowledge that the Lord has treated you fairly.”
6 With what should I enter the Lord’s presence? With what should I bow before the sovereign God? Should I enter his presence with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
7 Will the Lord accept a thousand rams or ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should I give him my firstborn child as payment for my rebellion, my offspring—my own flesh and blood—for my sin?
8 He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you: He wants you to carry out justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before your God.