Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Micah+006
Micah 6 (ESV)
6 “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?
7 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?”
8 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?
REFLECTION:
- The prophet Micah appeared to represent the Israelites in verses 6-7, and answered according to their faith and life at the time, in order to mock their worship. Although they still offered sacrifices to God, the Israelites, who were full of knowledge of the Law, lost their sincerity in their hearts, making their faith a mere formality, not to mention about bearing witness in their life, this is exactly what God rejects. At that time, King Ahaz of Judah followed the pagan worship rituals and sacrificed young children, which made his worship not only unacceptable, but also cursed by God (cf. 2 Kings 16:3-4; Lev. 18:21-29).
- People try to please God in many ways, but God has made His hope very clear: What God wants is for the people to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with Him (8). Check how we are doing in these aspects in our efforts to please God. Do we treat people fairly? To those who have wronged us, have we shown mercy to them? Are we learning to be humble?
PRAYER:
Dear God, how can I repay your kindness to me? Please help me to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with You.
HYMN:
Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly – youtu.be/wb77GaGNNzw
