What the LORD requires of us
To do justice, love kindness & be humble
The Background
The Israelites did not obey the LORD’s commands frequently. Justice, the poor, the orphans and the widows were ignored and there was rampant corruption and treachery in all their dealings. The LORD sent His prophets to His people to bring them back. But their words often fell to deaf ears. Consequently, their kingdom declined rapidly.
The time of Micah was a particularly difficult time for both Israel and Judah. In the north, the Assyrians were building up and flexing their muscles. Tiglath-Pileser III was moving towards Israel. His successor, Shalmaneser besieged Samaria in 722 BC. But he died and was succeeded by Sargon II. It was Sargon II who took Samaria (2 Ki. 17:6).
As the northern kingdom of Israel had fallen, many people fled to the south, to the kingdom of Judah. This led to a severe economic crisis in the south. Some Bible scholars state that some of the refugees from the north used their wealth to bribe the officials in the south so they could own lands and properties, seizing them from the poor people and widows. The society became so corrupt that the rich covet fields and seize them. Micah 2:2 says, “They covet fields, and seize them, houses, and take them away; they oppress householder and house, people and their inheritance.”
Meanwhile, the Assyrians, amped by their victory over Israel, began their march towards Judah in 701 BC. King Hezekiah, afraid of the Assyrians, gave all the riches of the kingdom to the Assyrians (2 Ki. 18:13-16).
Micah was the prophet of the LORD during these turbulent times. We do not know much about his personal life. 1:1 tells us that he was from Moreseth and that he was a prophet of the LORD just before both Samaria and Jerusalem were destroyed. During his time, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah ruled in Judah. This means that he was a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah.
We have talked about the situation during this time. Samaria had fallen. Judah, though it has not fallen, was also indirectly under the Assyrian rule as it had to pay an annual tribute to the Assyrians. Because of this, the people suffered greatly. But the rich continued to enjoy their life as the poor had to bear the brunt.
Micah explains it this way: “Their hands are skilled to do evil; the official and the judge ask for a bribe, and the powerful dictate what they desire; thus they pervert justice. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright of them a thorn hedge” (Mic. 7:3-4)
The result is the seizing of lands from the poor (2:1-2), driving out others from their houses (2:9), bribery (3:11), use of wrong measures (6:10), wealth from violence (6:12) among many others. Even the prophets and priests were no exception. Micah 3:11 says, “Its rulers give judgment for a bribe, its priests teach for a price, its prophets give oracles for money; yet they lean upon the LORD and say, ‘Surely the LORD is with us! No harm shall come upon us.’”
Not only this, 7:3 says, “Their hands are skilled to do evil; the official and the judge ask for a bribe, and the powerful dictate what they desire; thus they pervert justice.”
What about us today?
As in the times of the prophet Micah, aren’t we seeing the same things everywhere today? We do not see another country invading us, but we have an invading viral pandemic. We hear of conflicts and wars, the death of innocent people and many other disasters. We do not flee, but we do not feel secure.
As we look at our land, we see covetousness, corruption, the desire for bribes, use of wrong measures, perversion of justice, oppression of the poor, the landless, the orphans and the helpless. Could this be the reason why we could not be satisfied though we eat, why we could not have though we toiled (cf. Mic. 6:14-15)?
Let us therefore think again and look into ourselves. Though we may have the physical things required to sacrifice to the LORD, we must know that the LORD is not pleased with the outward things alone.
Micah also asked (6:6-7), “With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
Samuel had also asked of Saul, “Has the LORD, as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obedience to the voice of the LORD?” (1 Sam. 15:22).
We thought that the LORD would delight in precious gifts. But the LORD says, “The LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).
Hosea 6:6 also says, “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
As the LORD is God, He does not need the wealth of the world. It belongs to Him anyway. He rather wants our steadfast love, our dedication and our hearts.
We should, therefore, see what the LORD requires of us, taking Micah 6:8 as our text.
1. To do justice
To do justice means to do rightly to others, no matter who or what they are. We must respect their integrity and life.
We may not be rulers, but we sure can take care of others respecting them always. It also means we ought to take care of the needy, the oppressed and orphaned.
The prophet Isaiah had also warned about not looking after the poor (Is. 10:1-3; 58:6-11). Likewise Zechariah had also elaborated on how the orphans, widows and aliens were to be looked after (Zech. 7:8-10).
“The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” says Psalm 9:9. Similarly, we see various passages that talk of the LORD being the protector of the weak (Ps. 9:17-18; 12:5; 35:10; 72:3-4; 72:12-14; 109:30-31; 113:5-8; 140:12; 146:5-9; Is. 25:4; Lk. 6:20-21). Proverbs 14:31 says, “Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker.”
Indeed, the degeneration of the Israelite society with all its wrongful attitudes towards the poor people and the widows and orphans had often called down the rage of the LORD upon them. Let us remember this.
2. To love kindness
If we do not have kindness, it is impossible to do justice. Therefore, we can see that the two requirements go hand in hand. This second requirement, if we look into it carefully, also involves love; that is, to <i>love</i> kindness, not just to display it, but to love it. This is like what Romans 12:8 tells us, “the compassionate, in cheerfulness.”
Let us be compassionate to those who need our compassion; merciful to those suffering and show them with love. Remember, God had also shown his mercy and compassion on us when we were in sin.
3. To walk humbly with your God
The Israelites had more pride than humility. They thought they were enjoying the fruits of their own labours, never knowing that it was the LORD who blessed them. They said, “The LORD will not do good, nor will he do harm” (Zeph. 1:12). They had become complacent and insolent.
But the LORD requires us to be humble before Him, knowing that we are nothing before Him. But then, this requires peace and understanding between us and God. Amos said, “Do two walk together unless they have made an appointment?” (Am. 3:3).
The LORD brings peace between us and Him through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and our faith in Him. Jesus has become our peace, and his story has become the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:15).
Note the words of the angels when they came to announce his birth, “peace among those whom he favors!” (Lk. 2:14).
But, it is not just walking with God, is it? It says, <i>walk humbly</i> with your God.
Among many others, pride has been something the LORD really abhors. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before a fall.” The proud can never walk with the LORD.
Therefore, is we are to walk with the LORD, we need to humble ourselves. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the LORD, and he will exalt you.” This is how we become exalted, first, we humble ourselves.
Conclusion
The book of Micah seems to reflect the state of our society today perfectly. As the society degenerated, the LORD brought punishment upon them. As our society is degenerating into sexual immorality, crime, oppression of the poor and the helpless, insolence and pride, we must also understand what the LORD requires of His people always.
