Micah 6 is one of those chapters I find myself challenged by – verse 8 in particular calls me to consider how I walk before the Lord. I think we can easily be blase about seeing God just as Abba Father, he is far more than that, he is a God to be worshipped, a God who is to loved with all we are, that requires all of our lives not just a little bit!
Micah 6 vs. 1-8 -The LORD’s Case Against Israel
Listen to what the LORD says: “Stand up, plead your case before the mountains; let the hills hear
What you have to say. Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
The people of Israel were far from their God, they had fallen away, did not worship with holy fear
Rather they were going their own way, doing what they wanted, they disregarded God, treated him with mirth
They thought they could do what they wanted without consequences, they were without fear
They would not listen to God’s prophets clearly advising them of their sin, they did not give their words worth
Rather they scorned Micah and the other prophets, they their message did not want to hear
Micah had clear instruction and he spoke what the Lord told him from the highest to the lowest parts of earth
For the LORD has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. “My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened you? Answer me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
God is building his case against the Israelites, as in a court of law he begins his questioning “what have I done to you?”
How have I burdened you? Answer me. What’s your defence for your bad behaviour, didn’t I redeem you from slavery
Have you forgotten your history, have you forgotten what I have done over the years to help, save and protect you?
How can you be ignorant of the consequences of not following my laws, only I can stop you from going into slavery?
I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember
What Balak king of Moab counselled and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Micah calls the people to look at their past and faithful leaders remember
Those that were prepared to listen to God and to his call had rightly answered
The people needed to follow their example to do more than remember
But to take action and be faithful, to hear counsel, and in him be bolstered
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
That you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”
Micah says remember the Exodus to Jordan and Gilgal
The provision of manna and quail, acts of the LORD
The safe crossing of the Jordan and entry into Gilgal
Through every step remember your faithful LORD
With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
What makes God happy? Is it giving him lots of things, or does that leave him cold?
Is it about making a show and trying to prove loyalty, or is it to bold?
Can we impress God, the creator of heaven and earth, with silver and rolled gold?
He does not indulge our blatant attempts to buy him with silver or gold
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
God doesn’t need our presents, rather he needs our presence, he needs our all
His command quite clear we are to love him with all our heart, mind, strength and soul
To put him first, to after him hunger and thirst, to not put in from of him our wall
For he sees us for who we are, not just the outward appearance, he sees our inner soul
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God
Our example is Christ, he became on earth a servant, was prepared to die for me and you
Prepared to do the will of his Father, to be subservient to our God
“Nevertheless not my will but yours be done”, he said, he went to the cross for me and you
In light of this great love will you give up your will and follow your God?
Mark Maffey, October 2010 (NIV) http://maffster.blogtown.co.nz/