Micah 6

Micah 6 is a chapter where God presents a case against Israel for their disobedience and unfaithfulness. In this chapter, God reminds Israel of His past mercies and blessings, yet the people have strayed. God questions them about their requirements in following Him, emphasizing justice, mercy, and humility over ritualistic offerings. Micah 6 highlights God's righteousness, Israel’s injustice, and the consequences of their actions.

Micah 6:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Hear now what the Lord says:
“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
And let the hills hear your voice.
2 Hear, O you mountains, the Lord’s complaint,
And you strong foundations of the earth;
For the Lord has a complaint against His people,
And He will contend with Israel.”

God summons creation itself to witness His case against Israel. The mountains and hills, as silent observers of history, represent witnesses to Israel’s covenant and God’s faithfulness. This imagery conveys the seriousness of the situation; God’s dispute is not petty but calls upon all creation as a courtroom to testify against Israel's sins.

Micah 6:3-5 (NKJV)
3 “O My people, what have I done to you?
And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.
4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
I redeemed you from the house of bondage;
And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5 O My people, remember now
What Balak king of Moab counseled,
And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
From Acacia Grove to Gilgal,
That you may know the righteousness of the Lord.”

God appeals to Israel to remember His acts of salvation and kindness, from delivering them from Egypt to protecting them from Balak and Balaam’s schemes. By recalling these events, God reminds Israel of His consistent love and faithfulness, questioning why they would turn from Him despite such a legacy of care. This underscores the irrationality of Israel's disobedience in light of God’s righteousness.

Micah 6:6-7 (NKJV)
6 With what shall I come before the Lord,
And bow myself before the High God?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
With calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
Ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

The people question what offerings they should bring to please God, listing extravagant sacrifices, even their firstborn. This reflects a misunderstanding of God’s desires; they focus on external rituals rather than true repentance. These verses reveal a fundamental spiritual error: assuming that God’s favor can be bought through lavish sacrifices, rather than through sincere, humble obedience.

Micah 6:8 (NKJV)
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

In response, God clarifies that His desire is for Israel to act with justice, kindness, and humility. This verse serves as a timeless summary of God’s expectations. Rather than ritualistic offerings, God values a life marked by integrity, compassion, and a heart attuned to Him. This statement calls for a personal, ethical response from Israel, challenging them to live according to God’s character.

Micah 6:9-12 (NKJV)
9 The Lord’s voice cries to the city—
Wisdom shall see Your name:
“Hear the rod!
Who has appointed it?
10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness
In the house of the wicked,
And the short measure that is an abomination?
11 Shall I count pure those with the wicked scales,
And with the bag of deceitful weights?
12 For her rich men are full of violence,
Her inhabitants have spoken lies,
And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

God addresses the injustices within the city, condemning their corrupt practices in commerce and the violence among the wealthy. The dishonest weights and measures symbolize a society where greed overrides fairness. God warns that these sins will not go unpunished, pointing out that their material wealth is tainted by injustice, reflecting a deep moral decay in the nation.

Micah 6:13-16 (NKJV)
13 “Therefore I will also make you sick by striking you,
By making you desolate because of your sins.
14 You shall eat, but not be satisfied;
Hunger shall be in your midst.
You may carry some away, but shall not save them;
And what you do rescue I will give over to the sword.
15 You shall sow, but not reap;
You shall tread the olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;
And make sweet wine, but not drink wine.
16 For the statutes of Omri are kept;
All the works of Ahab’s house are done;
And you walk in their counsels,
That I may make you a desolation,
And your inhabitants a hissing.
Therefore you shall bear the reproach of My people.”

God announces the consequences of Israel’s actions, describing a future of frustration and loss. Despite their labor, they will not enjoy the fruits of their work. The reference to Omri and Ahab, notorious kings who led Israel into idolatry, emphasizes that Israel has adopted the ways of past wicked rulers. As a result, they will face ruin, becoming an object of scorn among the nations, as their actions have led them away from God’s blessings.