Micah 6:8

God ordered *Israel’s people to agree to his *covenant. So the people must do this. They must practise the deeds that are in the *covenant. They must believe in God. They way that they live should express their belief in him. That is very important. People do not impress God when they obey the rules and traditions of religion. Even our gifts to God should only be in second place (1 Samuel 15:22). *Israel’s people were not behaving in the way that God wanted them to behave. They had no excuse because they had God’s *covenant. That showed people what was good.

Micah continues to speak to the people. In the *Hebrew text, he uses the word ‘man’ to refer to them. But he means all the people. These people have tried to come to God in wicked ways. Previously Micah has accused the leaders. Now he accuses the people. They do not know how God wants people to live. But there is no excuse for that. God rescued *Israel’s people from Egypt. He saved them. He gave his *covenant to them. And he told the *priests to teach the people. Those instructions would pass from one age to the next age. The *prophets also taught God’s instructions. Micah repeats these here. He wants to give hope to *Israel. The people in *Israel need to obey God’s *covenant. Only then will the nation have peace and safety.

The nation’s safety depends on this. Its people must know ‘what goodness is’. The *prophets referred to this many times (Isaiah 1:17; Isaiah 5:20; Amos 5:14-15; Micah 3:2). Here it can mean either ‘what goodness is’ or ‘what is good’.

The *prophets emphasised three examples of ‘what goodness is’ (Isaiah 5:7; Hosea 4:1; Hosea 6:6; Hosea 12:6; Amos 5:24). These three examples are:

• Do to your neighbour (to other people) what is fair and right. (Look at Micah chapter 3.)

• Love kindness.

• Walk humbly with your God.

This is how God’s *covenant requires people to live:

1) You must do to your neighbour (to other people) what is fair and right. *Israel’s leaders had taken things that belonged to the people. They had killed people. Their desire was to get as much as possible for themselves. And the rulers did not punish those that did these crimes (Micah 2:1-2; Micah 3:1-3; Micah 3:5-7; Micah 3:9-11).

2) You must love kindness. Some people are weaker than you are. Some people are poorer than you are. You should be kind to them. You should help them. You should do that because you want to do it. You should be happy to do it.

3) You must walk (live) humbly with your God. The first two things here were what God tells men and women to do to each other. But this one is about our actions towards God. We should agree to what God wants. And we should do what God wants us to do. This does not mean that sincere *religious activity is wrong. But it does mean that moral behaviour is more important than the rules and traditions of religion. Only when we walk humbly with our God can we practise the first two things. Jesus taught us how we should love God. And he taught us that we should do good things for our neighbours (for other people). See Mark 12:28-34.

God wants to be a friend to each person. He wants to contact each person in a personal way. He wants us to live for him. And he wants our love. God has shown to *Israel’s people what is evil. He has done that by means of Micah’s message. Now God shows to the people what is good. Previously the leaders had chosen to ‘hate what is good’ (Micah 3:2). They had been proud. So they were not humble. They were the opposite. The leaders had lived without God. They did not consider him important. God had no part in the way that they lived. A basic part of God’s character is this. He always does what is right and fair. Also, he always loves kindness (Isaiah 30:18). God wants to express those qualities by means of his people. Those are the things that we should do. That is the good way to live.

6:9-16 The *curses in the *covenant will become true for Jerusalem’s people

God has shown to the people what goodness is. He has shown to them how he wants people to behave. But the people have refused to do what God wants. This sad message about judgement consists of these subjects:

• God is severely warning the people in Jerusalem city (verse 9)

• To use false measures is a crime (verses 10-11)

• To lie is a crime (verse 12)

• The people would suffer greatly (verse 13)

• The people would be hungry (verse 14)

• Other people will steal the crops (verse 15)

• God again accuses the people and he speaks about punishment (verse 16).

Micah begins with this sentence. ‘The *LORD shouts aloud to the city.’ God’s words are urgent. God orders the people to listen.

v9 The *LORD shouts aloud to the city. This is a serious affair. To respect your name (God’s name) is wisdom. A wise person gives honour to the *LORD’s name. So give attention to the *rod that punishes. Give attention to the person that holds that *rod.