Considering Micah

Today we looked at the most famous verse from Micah, a beautiful verse that talks about what God requires of us. But it's not just that verse I love, but rather the story of its author, the Prophet Micah.


Micah is one of the 12 Minor Prophets — you know those little books in the back of the old testament that you have to flip through before you get to Matthew. Micah probably wasn’t a super popular guy in his day, but he pushed for something really important. His ministry is regarded for the fact that he stood up for the little guy. As one site I looked at put it, “Micah reproaches unjust leaders, defends the rights of the poor against the rich and powerful, and preaches social justice; while looking forward to a world at peace centered on Zion under the leadership of a new Davidic monarch.” He spoke to a people that were lost and broken during a time before Jesus came; during a time when they were looking for direction. And the words of comfort and direction he offered the Isrealites during that period of wilderness in their lives are true for us in 2013.

In Micah 6, the people are trying to figure out what they need to do in order to please God. Micah hears and echoes their cries. 6:6-7 read, “With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” You can hear the longing and searching in that passage, and I think it’s something we can all identify with. This is the Old Testament, prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus. The people want to know what they have to bring to sacrifice, what do they have to give to make things right with God; what is needed for their faith to be made whole.

And then Micah gives the response, which is one of the most powerful and beautiful verses in the Bible. Micah 6:8 reads, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” What does God want? Does he want us to give him our money, our best possessions, our first born child? No. Micah tells us what is required — that we act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. It’s so simple, yet so complex and so difficult, especially in a world as chaotic, blessed, and distracted as the one we live in today.

So that's the challenge, to meditate on those words and consider what that means for us this year.