“Wherewith shall I come before Jehovah, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old? will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:56-8).

Israel has recognized their guilt before the Almighty. Micah then personifies the nation as an individual addressing Jehovah in search for a solution to their sinful conduct. Israel showed their ignorance of what the God of heaven desired of them. Their question was: “How must they come before Him? Must it be with their best burnt offerings? Should they come with a great quantity of offerings? Or, should they come with their most prized possession – their first-born?” With all these questions it seemed that they were willing to do anything for the Lord – except what Jehovah really required.

Sacrifices like these were not what Jehovah desired from Israel. Ponder this very pertinent passage: “And Samuel said, Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22). What the Lord really wanted was a penitent heart.

Today, the Almighty requires much more than mere sacrifice – more than simply coming to worship and offering up the incense of praise to Him. Many like the Israelites of old are willing to do anything for the Lord EXCEPT what He demands. Jehovah showed Israel what He wanted and it was up to them to obey these commands. He showed Israel and He has shown us “what is good” and what He “requires” of us.

God requires us to “do justly.” By this statement we see that man is required, he must, it is an imperative that he live according to the divine standard of righteousness set forth in His holy scriptures. John said, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 Jn. 5:3). John further states, “Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son” (2 Jn. 9). “Do justly!”

Jehovah also requires that we “love kindness” (love mercy – KJV). We must be compassionate and warmhearted toward our fellowman. Jesus said, “…everyone who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire” (Mt. 5:22). Friends, the Royal Law requires that we “love our neighbor as our self” (Jam. 2:8). “Love kindness!”

Furthermore, the Almighty demands that we “walk humbly with thy God.” Remember, how “shall two walk together, except they have agreed” (Amos 6:6)? To walk humbly with God we must first recognize His holiness and His righteousness – and then develop a lifestyle of a humble and submissive attitude. We are not to walk ahead of God or behind God – but “with” God. This is why Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit [that’s humility]: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt, 5:3). “Walk humbly with thy God!”
Question, are we like the Israel of old who was willing to anything – except what the Lord requires? Or, do we “do justly,” “love kindness,” and “walk humbly” with our God?

Think About It!

Have A Great Day!

Tom Moore
Park Heights church of Christ
P. O. Box 107
Hamilton, Texas 76531
http://www.harrisandmoore.org
http://www.fromthepreacherspc.org
http://www.parkheightscoc.com