Micah 6:1-8

Micah 6:1

Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

 

Then the LORD tells Micah to arise.  The Hebrew word for “arise” is “qûm” and it is in the Qal stem means to “rise, stand, or attack.” So the LORD is telling Micah to stand upon his feet and as if he was going to attack he is to deliver the message to Israel.  He tells them to contend which in the Hebrew means “like a lawsuit or challenge.”  Israel was to bring their complaints in a legal manner before the mountains as if the mountains and hills of Israel were the moderators or the Judge.  They were to bring their case so the hills and mountains would hear their complaint like a jury.

 

Micah 6:2

Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

 

The LORD would be the defendant because Israel was the plaintiff but now it will be the Lord’s turn to present his case.  It is like the LORD is speaking to the mountains and to the foundations of those mountains which are strong enough to support high mountains.  The word controversy means “lawsuit, contention, or case.”  The LORD himself is going to plead the case as if he is pleading in a court of law.  The same scenario is described in Hosea who also prophesied to the northern kingdom.  Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.  (Hosea 4:1) 

 

Micah 6:3

O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.

 

The LORD here still calls them my people showing that he still has a love and concern for them.  He asks the question “what have I done unto thee?”  That question will require an answer from Israel because the only things they can find what the Lord did for them was to bring them out of bondage and guide them the last 700 years so their enemies would not conquer them and bring them to a complete end.  Then he asks the question “wherein have I wearied thee?”  Basically, God was asking them about what great burden did he cause them to bear to the point they were exhausted.  God only required them to obey his law and not follow after false gods.  He did not place upon them anything further than obedience.  One of the great burdens of false religions is sacrificing people of their family including children which would be a great heartbreak to any family.  God never required them to do things which would debase them like making their daughters temple prostitutes or anything of debauchery associated with false religions.  Israel had done these things because they chose to live in a false religion and to follow their laws and regulations.  God then tells them to produce evidence against me if I have ever done anything to hurt, humiliate, or placed great burdens upon you that you could not bear up under.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  (Matthew 11:30)  Jesus was confirming that same principle that following him was not a heavy burden or a hard yoke.  In this world it seems like it but not in the next world!

 

Micah 6:4

For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

 

God is now bringing to the forefront his delivery of Israel out of the land of Egypt.  They were in bondage as slaves.  And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:  (Exodus 1:13)  The word “rigour” means “severity or cruelty” so Israel was in total slavery in Egypt when the LORD sent Moses along with his brother Aaron and his sister Miriam to be the spokesmen for God as he was about to have the children of Israel released from bondage by his mighty hand.  And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?  (Exodus 32:11)  They were no longer to be servants in the house of slavery but would come out and have favored nation status in the land of Israel.

 

Micah 6:5

O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

 

Then God brings to their minds that when they were finally released from Egypt that they ran into the king of Moab who wanted to see Israel destroyed so he consulted with Balaam who was a self-made prophet.  The full story is in Numbers 23-25.  Balaam first told Balak to get the women in there so they would be able to divert Israel from its journey.  It was in Shittim where Balak employed the women of Midian to try and divert Israel. Then Gilgal was where they held the first Passover when they crossed over the Jordan and saw the faithfulness of God.  Here they obeyed God and obeyed the law of Moses and began to see the righteousness of the LORD.  These acts of God’s kindness were intended to show Israel how much God cared for them and would again if they returned unto him in truthful submission.

 

Micah 6:6

Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

 

Now they question Micah as to how should they approach the LORD if they were to submit to him and return unto him.  Should they bow in submission when they enter the temple or should they bring a burnt offering to cover their sins.  The calf would be taken from among the flock.  They wanted to know if these things would suffice to approach God. In the law when they appeared before the LORD they were not to come empty handed.  Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)  (Exodus 23:15)

 

Micah 6:7

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or 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?

 

When a single person came to the temple they would bring one ram with them.  Thou shalt also take one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram.  (Exodus 29:15)  So that is why they asked about the thousands of rams which would be sacrifices for the thousands of people in Israel.  Then they asked about the oil which was also used in sacrifices, what would be enough a quart, gallons, liters, or would a river of oil in the sacrifices be enough to cover our sins?  Then they asked if they gave their firstborn as Abraham attempted to sacrifice Isaac or else since they were steeped in false religions should they sacrifice their firstborn on an altar to please the Lord?  Would the sacrifice of their children be the remedy for the sins of their soul?

 

Micah 6:8

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

 

Then Micah comes back and tells them the three things which are necessary to walk before the LORD.  They do not need all those sacrifices and even the pagan rituals of sacrificing their children.  First, they are do justly, that is, not only are the leaders of Israel to do justice but also in dealing with each other as common citizens would treat each other properly.  This would entail treating each other with the proper respect and there would be no oppression by the wealthy of the poor people.  Each person will be equal in the sight of the law of the land regardless of wealth or status.  Secondly, they were to have mercy on each other.  If a person owed money to someone, they should be given time to pay it back and not have their family sold into slavery for repayment.  There should be kindness and compassion toward each other.  Then thirdly, they were to walk before the LORD in a humble manner and not try to be arrogant because of religious position.  There are many preachers in Christianity today who believe because they have a big congregation or a radio ministry that they are above the people and the people are their servants.  Many of them have buffers so you cannot even speak personally with them.  The Lord Jesus Christ walked among the people and did not have buffers but spoke to those who wanted to speak with him.

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