Micah 6:1-16

Micah speaks a message from God to all the nations

Micah

Les Painter

Chapter 6

Section 3

6:1-7:20 Third series of *prophecies. God will forgive the *remnant of his people

6:1-8 Micah accuses *Israel’s people because they have not obeyed the *covenant

The command ‘Now listen’ begins the third section of this book. God is speaking to *Israel’s people. The words ‘what the *LORD is saying’ emphasise the importance of this message.

This message has the style of a court where people settle matters of law. It is as if God is bringing his people to court. He is accusing them. Micah is God’s *messenger. God asks Micah to speak on his (God’s) behalf. God calls witnesses to the court. The witnesses are not human witnesses. Instead, the mountains and the hills act as witnesses (verse 1). Micah obeys God. He speaks on behalf of God (verse 2). In this speech by means of Micah, God asks many questions in the *Hebrew language. He asks whether he has done any wrong thing to the people (verses 3-5). Then there is a discussion about what gift would satisfy the *LORD (verses 6-7). It is the *LORD who speaks last. He has told the people what he wants (verse 8). The purpose of this legal protest is not punishment. It is to bring God’s people back to himself. He wants them to obey again the *covenant that he made with them. This is a message that contains hope.

v1 Now listen to what the *LORD is saying. Stand up. *Plead about your situation. *Plead in front of the mountains. Let the hills listen to your request. v2 The *LORD is arguing against his people. He is accusing them. Mountains, listen to the *LORD’s protest. Foundations (base) of the earth, hear the *LORD. He will accuse his people. He will prove that the people in *Israel are wrong.