is Micah 6:8.
Yep, I know, big claim! But go with me on this because I think it’s worth pursuing.
A few weeks ago I woke up with this scripture on my mind and have been pondering it ever since.
Micah is a contemporary of Isaiah, living in the 700’s BC. It is a time of evil in the nation. There is a general failure to follow Yahweh’s laws, and many are suffering because of the injustices being meted out to them. Micah says the leaders are guilty of an abuse of power, of acquiring others’ property, ill treatment of the poor, loving evil and hating justice, corruption, bribery, cheating, extortion and lying. A long familiar list that sounds remarkably modern! Like Isaiah he is called by God to warn the people that even a loving God will judge them for this. They will eventually be punished and exiled.
Contained in that idea though is the promise of forgiveness and restoration to those who repent, and there is the hint of the coming Messiah. In the verses leading up to 6:8 God argues his case that he has been very good to Israel but they have not followed him, have been very disobedient and are without excuse. They did know better. The response of the people is to wonder what size of offering is required to get them out of this mess. They would like to buy their way out. The suggestions are so extreme as to be highly unlikely, including the sacrifice of their first-born children which they know God does not approve of. Perhaps it’s a degree of sarcasm on the part of the prophet?
The answer to their dilemma comes in the reminder that they have known all along what to do and what is good:
- To do or act justly (righteously)
- To show love or mercy
- To walk humbly (modestly/simply) with their God.
Sounds straightforward, right? At first glance it doesn’t sound that earth shattering until you think about applying it to your own life, to your community and the earth as a whole. These instructions were given to believers (God’s people). This is basic, practical discipleship. So, how are you and I doing in living justly, showing mercy and walking humbly with our God?
When we start out following Christ the concerns to be addressed in life are often the big lifestyle issues and behavioural traits in our lives. As we go on the focus narrows down to what we might consider smaller or ‘lesser sins’. But they all matter to God. There is always room for growth and its quite easy to get comfortable with our ‘lesser sins’ and no longer notice them. When considering how I was doing myself, God was very quick to highlight some of my failings in these areas. It wasn’t comfortable. Discipleship often isn’t.
What then if we look at the state of our society through the filter of Micah 6:8? What if social media was operated on the basis of justice, mercy and humility? How about our care of the poor, the refugee, the homeless, the unemployed, the marginalized etc etc. How about family relationships, friendships, workplace behaviours? It’s a powerful verse. Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) in the light of this verse and it won’t surprise you to see how they line up, giving us practical examples of what this looks like in action.
Then take it further to our concern for our planet, climate change and our environmental crisis. Does this not also need the application of justice, mercy and humility (simplicity)?. Living simply would solve a lot of problems. Living justly would propel us towards changing our lifestyles for the sake of those most threatened by climate change. Showing kindness to all living creatures, human and otherwise, would require a shift (especially in the West) in how we treat the earth and everything that lives on it. Even the dirt beneath our feet needs kindness, and we are beginning to learn the value of gentler, kinder ways of dealing with our environment .
God’s answer to our perilous state is not for us to pass the buck and blame others, or to take a side and fight each other, and we can’t buy our way out. His answer is to call us to change our hearts; to embrace justice, kindness and humility. Then perhaps we can be the prophetic voice our world needs to hear.