Response To The King

INTRODUCTION

Summary

ch. 1-3

Micah paints a desperate picture of Judah and Israel in the first three chapters. the people loved to boast in their Judaism and how they were descendants of Abraham, God’s chosen people. In many ways they may have thought that they got a free pass from God on their continual disobedience and chasing after other god’s.

I’m sure that many of them went through the religious rituals while still worshiping pagan idols in pagan temples and at the same time ignoring God’s truth in their daily lives. Consequently they were living more like the pagans around them than God.

Because of this fact, they were facing God’s discipline, a discipline more severe than anything that they could have possibly imagined.

Ch. 4-5

Now Micah changed both his message and tone. Now Micah extends the people a message of hope instead of condemnation. God wasn’t going to abandon them, in fact one day he was going to send them a Messiah, a deliverer, who would be God’s fulfillment of the promise He made with Abraham and David.

ch. 6

As Micah wrote chapter 6 he now changes his message again. He changes back to the message of judgment reminiscent of the first three chapters. Micah now gives God’s rational for the discipline of God’s people. This chapter is the pinnacle of Micah’s book and begins with a court room scene where God is issuing an indictment against His people.

I envision in this scene God the Father sitting behind the bench as the judge. And God the Son the preexistent Messiah standing in front of the bench acting as the prosecuting attorney. The nation of Judah and Israel are seated at the defendants table.

The trial is set to begin and God is ready to bring His case against Israel and Judah. God will make His claims agains His people and then allow them to give a defense.

Micah 6:1–5 ESV

Hear what the Lord says: Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the Lord has an indictment against his people, and he will contend with Israel. “O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

Note: consider if you were on the witness stand how would you have responded to the accusations made against you? What would your defense look like? (We will all one day stand at the judgment seat of God. The difference on that day is that there will be no defense given only judgment.)

What Do We Learn About the Character of God?

1. God Calls People Out for Their Ingratitude

Researchers have proven what most parents probably knew instinctively: gratitude doesn't come naturally. In her book entitled The Gift of Thanks, Margaret Visser cites a study which observed how parents teach their children to say "hi," "thanks," and good-bye." The children in the study spontaneously said "hi" 27 percent of the time, "good-bye" 25 percent of the time, and "thanks" 7 percent of the time. Parents had to prompt their children to say "hi" 28 percent of the time, "good-bye" 33 percent of the time, and "thanks" 51 percent of the time.

In conclusion, children had a much more difficult time learning to say "thanks." Most children have to learn to say "thank you" even before they know what it means. Visser states, "Eventually, when [children] have matured and been further educated, they will come to be able to feel the emotion that the words express. The words come first, the feelings later." Perhaps this applies to adults too!

Description of the Judgment Scene

The command to stand up is addressed to Micah. The word Plead means to reclaim one’s rights. Instead of your case we should read this as my case because Micah is commissioned to issue the Lord’s grievances not his own.

As a literary device the mountains are called upon to act as witnesses since Israel had been barred from the Holy Temple. Also the mountains were present when God made his covenant with the people of Israel.

The charge brought against the people opened with 2 questions.

What have I done to You?

How have I wearied (burdened) You?

How do these Two questions ring True for Us Today

How has God time and time again shown His faithfulness to us as His children. How do we repay such grace and mercy, we go chasing after other lesser god’s, other less worthy means of satisfying our lives.

We much like Israel have taken the Grace and Mercy of God for granted in our lives time and time again. You take the grace of God for granted when you go ahead and sin, and sin some more, thinking that it is ok because you can be forgiven the moment you ask for forgiveness.

Look how Paul addresses the Christians at Rome regarding taking too lightly the riches of God.

Romans 2:4 ESV

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Notice that God takes the initiative away from Israel and puts them on the defense.

How would you like to be the one who tries this case against God. What a weighty and intimidating challenge. Remember Isaiah’s first response in Isaiah 6 at being in the very presence of God. He was left totally broken before a Holy God.

Note: Notice that twice with all (Pathos) tenderness and affection aimed straight at the peoples heart God calls them “My People.”

God knows how we are made, and how He has designed us to thrive when we are humble, moral, and thankful. When we are arrogant, immoral, and ungrateful, we cannot have fellowship with him, or fully experience all that He has planned for us.

God included repeated commands in scripture about thankfulness.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Colossians 3:15 ESV

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Psalm 105:1 ESV

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

* Ingratitude is a Sin with severe consequences

I think few people would list ingratitude as a sin, however, we are commanded in scripture to be thankful toward God. Romans 1:18-22 gives a more detailed description of what happens to a person and society when gratitude towards God is missing.

Listed alongside, idolatry, homosexuality, and every other kind of rebellion is un-thankfulness. Verse 21 say’s this Romans 1:21

Romans 1:21 ESV

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

This tells us that God takes gratefulness and ungratefulness very seriously. As long as a culture remains thankful before a Holy God they are sensitive to His presence in their lives.

Someone who does not know God cannot be grateful to God, so, for the true believer there must be a measure of gratitude towards Him.

Ingratitude towards God is not so much the cause of evil but the result of evil in the world.

Consequences of an Ungratefulness Child

What are the results of continued ungratefulness. The child becomes dissatisfied not only with material things but in future relationships, it can create a cycle focused more on what’s missing rather than what is present.

I believe the enemy can also use this as a weapon to keep people from coming to faith in Christ. If you are more concerned with what you may be missing in this world you will not have time to focus on the God of the universe that is staring you in the face.

Note: Ingratitude is the mark of an unbeliever not a believer.

* Ingratitude is Natural, Gratitude Must be Intentionally Cultivated

Ingratitude was the Nature of the Fall

Look at the first sin in the garden of Eden. God had provided all that mankind needed to be happy and satisfied, however, it was not enough. Instead of being satisfied with what they had been given they questioned the goodness of God and His good gifts.

* Ingratitude Means that We Do Not Believe God is good, or good to Us.

So, next God in essence is saying, let me remind you how faithful and how good God has been to you through His Covenant Relationship.

Ingratitude happens when we believe that God is in some way withholding something good from you. Satan wants us to believe that God isn’t good and He is not good to us. Ungrateful Christians are one small step away from out and out rebellion against God.

He mentioned one of the most significant events in history, the Exodus of Israel out of Egypt.

He worked wonders in Egypt to make His name great, he parted the Red Sea and swallowed up one of the most formidable armies of the day in the Sea.

He had provided Leaders for Israel

Moses to lead them through the desert and bring them to Mt. Sinai where the people received the law of their covenant with God. Aaron the priest and director of divine worship; Miriam the songstress who wrote songs for Israel’s worship.

He used Balaam a messenger sent by God to show His Sovereign Control

Balaam was hired by Balak, king of Moab, and tasked with cursing the nation of Israel. But God intercepted him on his journey and demanded that he bless Israel instead. Despite the people’s rebellion at Kadesh-barnea, God provided for all of their needs during the desert years.

He provided them with food and water, and He never let their clothes or sandals wear out. Next, He raised up Joshua to lead them on the conquest of the promised land. Why did God do all of these things? So the people would “acknowledge the Lord’s righteous acts” (v. 5), and in doing so, embrace covenant loyalty and obedience.

* Ingratitude Means that We Are Outside of God’s Will.

How often do we make God’s will out to be some kind of big puzzle that we must solve instead of simply being obedient to Him.

Remember what that Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that we are to be thankful in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Remember that Paul who penned this definitely knew what it looked like to be thankful in all circumstances. Paul wrote this in Ephesians from a Roman prison Ephesians 5:19-20

Ephesians 5:19–20 ESV

addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 5:19–20 ESV

addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

And even further in Philippians 4:6

Philippians 4:6 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

ISRAEL AND JUDAH MAKE THEIR DEFENSE BEFORE GOD

Micah 6:6–7 ESV

“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?”

Note: Notice that the defense first comes with a sign of honor and lowly state using the word “bow.”

Bowing before the alter of God was a common practice in the worship of the OT, however, most commentators write that the word used in this context is most uncommon. Is this bowing a false sense of humility and gratitude?

The correct answer to God’s question is, “God,” we know that you have done nothing but bless us. If they answered this question honestly however, it would be admitting their guilt.

So, instead of answering the question they respond with a rebuttal question, ok, Lord, what is it going to take to make your happy. We are prepared to do whatever, it takes to make you happy.

2. God is Most Glorified in Us When We are Most Satisfied in Him

The rebuttal question, “what is going to make you happy Lord,” has already been answered by God, time, and time again.

We bring glory to God not simply by bringing a greater or more sacrifice to the alter of God.

Listen to the response of the people. In My head it went something like this:

“So God would you be happy if we brought you more sacrifices to the daily sacrifices in the temple? What about a year old calf, would that be good enough for you? Better yet, what if we brought 1,000 rams would that please you? Would that get you off of our backs. Hey wait a minute, I know, what if we sacrificed our first born sons to you? Would that be enough to buy our forgiveness? Would that get you off of our backs?

This display of false contrition just drips with arrogance and pride. God is not as concerned about our sacrifice as He is our obedience.

Oprah Winfrey - turned away from the faith when she was 27 because of the Biblical teaching that God is a jealous God and demands that He gets the highest allegiance and place in our lives.

Brad Pitt - turned away from his childhood faith because in his words, “God say’s that you have to say that He is the best … it seemed to have to be about ego.”

C.S. Lewis - says that before he became a Christian, he complained that God’s demand to be praised sounded like, “a vain woman who wants compliments.”

Erik Reece, the writer of An American Gospel, rejected the Jesus of the Gospels because only an egomaniac would demand that we love him more than we love our parents and children.

Here is the key problem: Instead of responding to a gracious benevolent Lord with loving, obedient and thankful hearts. The people of Micah’s day transformed the covenant into a legal contract.

Living in the Culture of Expediency

Each of these questions has the motivation to try to find God’s price for our obedience to Him.

We live in a culture that looks for the most expedient way to enter into God’s favor.

The problem with such a mindset is the fact that it is impossible to ever do enough things to put yourself in a better light with God. Jesus did not come to save people who had done enough things to appease the wrath of God against sin. Jesus came to die to buy back our freedom from the pit of death.

Obedience is not the most expedient route for us to take. It takes time, discipline, re-training our old habits and ways of doing things with new habits and ways of doing things.

Finally let’s read what I believe is one of the most important and profound text in the Bible

Micah 6:8 ESV

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?

We read two Questions that are at the Heart of Micah’s Message to the People.

1). What is Good? (Right)

2). What does the Lord Require? (Expect)

Up to this point Micah has been accusing the nation of Israel. Now he turns His accusation to all of Humanity. “He has told you Oh man.”

3. God’s Answer is a Faith that Works

The problem for many of us today is that we are counting on some acts of contrition or achievement that leads to our Salvation.

The word “requires” in this context implies an ongoing expectation on God’s part. Micah may have had in mind Deuteronomy 10:12-13

Deuteronomy 10:12–13 ESV

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?

So, God is requiring believers to fear, love, obey, and worship him with our whole heart. When the Bible speaks of our heart it is speaking in terms of what makes you, you. In essence it makes up our entire being. The problem many of us have is that our answer to Faith does not work.

Faith does not work when it is not acted upon. True Faith requires action on our part. Look at how James frames it in his book: James 2:14-18

James 2:14–18 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

James asks the rhetorical question to force a response out of people. What good is it if someone claims to have faith but does not have any outward show of that faith. The first show of our faith comes when we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ for our Salvation. Then he asks the question can that faith save him?

James never suggests that we are saved by our works. This verse does not question the saving value of faith. Rather, it questions the saving value of "so-called-faith," or a mere belief which doesn't produce good works. James's criticism is specifically aimed at a belief in God which does not cause a changed life.

We do not have any examples in scripture where someone was saved and it did not move them to action. The acts that follow Salvation are always present in a true believer.

James goes even further to challenge the person who say’s they have belief in God, “you believe that God is one, you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder.”

James concludes the context of his statement about Faith in James 2:26

James 2:26 ESV

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

MICAH GIVES 3 WAYS THAT FAITH WORKS itself OUT IN A BELIEVERS LIFE

*Do Justice

The world views justice as what is best for me and my interests. The justice that is framed here is what is best for other people and their interests.

The Justice of God: It is the perfection of his nature whereby he is infinitely righteous in himself and in all he does, the righteousness of the divine nature exercised in his moral government. At first God imposes righteous laws on his creatures and executes them righteously.

JUSTICE

It is a virtue characterized by the rendering of what is due or merited, the idea of fairness and impartiality. According to Plato, justice is the cardinal virtue. We know that God treats all persons fairly and impartially. Divine justice means that God cares for all persons, including the unrighteous (Mt.5:45) “He makes the sun to rise on the just and the unjust alike.”

Divine Justice also entails compassion, especially for those who are less fortunate that us. In the Christian ethic justice came to be viewed as something that flows and is tempered by our faith, hope, and love.

It gets to the heart of of one’s ethics. As Micah 2 clearly demonstrates, the majority of the people in Israel and Judah had rejected God’s command to act justly in their dealings with other people. We all want to live in a just world and be the recipients of justice. Apart from God however, there is no true justice in this world.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ you have already been the recipient of God’s justice, which was satisfied by the substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross. You have now been declared not guilty for your sin, and you have received the imputed righteousness of Christ. In an unjust world, God now commands us to be dispensers of justice to those around us.

3 Things that Justice Requires in the World Today.

1). Integrity: integrity at it’s core is how we apply our moral code. For believers this moral code is found in the truth of God found in His word.

2). Honesty: honesty is the commitment to truth. People of integrity and honesty embrace truth especially God’s truth regularly.

3). Concern for the Weak: when people embrace the truth they find in God’s word they are compelled to show justice to the weak, the disenfranchised, and people who cannot pursue justice on their own.

(the unborn children, the abused spouse or child, Sex trafficing)

*Love Kindness

In the CSB the word for kindness is “Faithfulness” in other text it is referred to as “Mercy.”

This command made since since many people had abandoned a willingness to show mercy ith their personal lives and in their nation. The Hebrew word for this is CHESED meaning faithfulness, goodness, graciousness, obligation for Godly Action.

We know that we begin to love kindness when we begin to view the world the way God does. It allows us to see the people around us who need Jesus, and we have a unique privilege and opportunity to minister and live out the gospel before them in such a way that they will come to know Jesus as Savior.

This can only happen when we start to show authentic love, practice grace, and extend forgiveness when we are wronged - all of the things that God did for us when He save us and that He continues to do for us daily.

Often people in our culture are so involved in self-preservation and self-service that they never even notice the needs of the people around them. When we embrace the command to love faithfulness, suddenly the people around us matter, and we will look for opportunities to invest in their lives.

The Courtroom Scene Continues

God continues to chastise Israel and Judah for their failure to act justly and love Kindness. Our cultures may be different today but the condition of our hearts is exactly the same . What God was telling His people was this: “I don’t want My kids to look like this - I want them to look like Me! I want them to act justly and love kindness by loving others.

NOTE: Notice that the first two are directed at man, now the last one is directed towards God.

*Walk Humbly With God

The word translated “humbly” in this text is an interesting word, and it is used only here in the entire Old Testament. It’s the Hebrew word tsana, like chesed, it is challenging to translate into English. The best definition of this word is “lowly.” We hear the word lowly, and we immediately have a negative response. We think of someone who is weak, unsuccessful, or insignificant. In reality, it’s a word that describes authentic humanity.

Humility is the opposite of what is at the heart of our sinful nature which is “pride.” Humility is the very character trait that motivates people to obey God and be loyal to Him. When we consider walking humbly with God two words immediately come to mind,

FAITH and OBEDIENCE.

Humility says: “I believe God therefore, I Obey God.” That is what it means to walk humbly with God. You cannot come to faith in Christ without Humility. Jesus who is God in human form modeled humility for us when He came to earth. He humbled Himself to the will of the Father by becoming obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:5-11). He brought Himself under the authority of God the Father in order to provide a substitute sacrifice that produced the perfect atonement for our sins.

James 4:6 ESV

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

CONCLUSION

“Walk humbly” is a description of the heart’s attitude toward God. God’s people depend on Him rather than their own abilities (Micah 2:3).

Instead of taking pride in what we bring to God, we humbly recognize that no amount of personal sacrifice can replace a heart committed to justice and love.

Israel’s rhetorical questions had a three-part progression, and verse 8 contains a similar progression.

The response of a:

Godly heart is outward (do justice)

Inward (love mercy)

Upward (walk humbly).

The Strength of Humility

A pastor in India was confronted angrily by a man in his office one day. This man made many unfair and untrue accusations against the pastor. After finishing his angry outburst, the man asked the pastor what he had to say.

In response, the pastor got up from his chair, walked to the washroom next door, filled an empty basin with water and came back to the room.

The angry man was surprised when he saw the basin of water and asked what it was for. The pastor replied that even though the accusations were not true, that since the person was nevertheless upset with him, he felt the right thing to do, was for him to ask forgiveness.

He then offered to wash the man’s feet. What happened then was that the man broke down in tears at this act of humility and opened his heart to the Lord. The pastor's humility was shown to be a strength and not a weakness!

One of the most important character traits a Christian needs to cultivate is humility.

True humility always stands out as a powerful strength instead of a weakness, and always pleases God. The Scripture says, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another” (1 Peter 5:5-6).

The message of Micah is still pertinent and much needed in our Christian Culture today.

Religious rites, no matter how extravagant, can never compensate for a lack of love (1 Corinthians 13:3).

External compliance to rules is not as valuable in God’s eyes as a humble heart that simply does what is right even when no one is looking.

God’s people today should continue to desire justice, mercy, and humility before the Lord.