What the Lord Requires
There is a theme that runs through the minor prophets. The prophets warn the northern kingdom, the southern kingdom, and their adversaries that a day of reckoning is coming for all who worship false gods and who act unjustly. But in these same books of the Old Testament, we also find hope of a remnant and news of a better day when everything is restored.
The prophet Micah gives vivid descriptions of both the judgment of God and of the future state when evil is no more and the goodness and mercy of God is seen and known. In chapter four, we read that weapons will be changed into farming tools and everyone will sit under their own vine and fig tree and not have to fear the enemy or scarcity. In Micah 4 we read:
“He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.”
Micah poses the question to those in his day and even to us now. He pleads that we consider all the things that God has done for us. And the implied question is: with all I have done that is good and right, how can you be so forgetful and rebellious to the simple things I have asked of you?
God’s questions are worth considering:
O my people, what have I done to you?
How have I wearied you?
Micah reminds us of his previous rescues and times of provision, dating back to the rescue of God’s beloved from the bondage of Egypt, his provision through the wilderness, as well as other historical rescues. While we weren’t around in biblical times, it would be worth our while to think back of the many times God has rescued us from our messes and provided for our needs.
Micah then asks questions that we might also have for God. With all that you have done, Lord, what do you want from us? Should I bow down in worship? Should I bring an offering? How big is the offering that will satisfy you or be equivalent for what you have done for me? How can I pay for my sin?
Sadly, we try to figure that out how we get or stay on God’s good side as if God is measuring our service and has a checklist for our behaviors. Yes, God is of course worthy of our worship. And yes, we bring offerings of gratitude to him. We give of our time, our talents, our attention, and our finances to God. After all, everything we have is his and simply on loan to us while we are here on earth. We know that we can make no adequate payment for our sin. Out of the goodness and mercy of God, he offered his only Son to die for our sins. Christ paid the debt for our sin in full on the cross.
So, what does God require of us? That was the question Micah posed, and the Lord answered:
“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?”
What is essential is that we apply this response to every area of our lives. Whether at home, at work, in our local community, or throughout the world, we are called to act with justice in every situation and with every person. We are to act with loving kindness toward those we like, those we don’t, and even to our enemies. And we are to always walk in humility, not thinking ourselves better than anyone else.
Father, we sometimes struggle to find meaning in old familiar passages. Today we see that you hold everything in your hands and that one day Jesus will return to end evil and to renew and restore the brokenness in our world that is the result of man’s sin. Forgive us when we have not walked in humility and failed to act with love toward others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Micah 4:3-7, 6:1-8 ESV
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