The Lord’s Challenge to His People

Micah 6:1–8
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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?