Micah

While God is the judge, He is also the prosecuting attorney.  And in the end, He is also their only defense; and for the future He is the only Hope.  God presents His lawsuit against Israel in this picture of a courtroom.  All this is done as a Father correcting His children.  His goal wasn't to destroy them but restore them.  With their punishment and correction they also received the news of a hope, both nationally and individually. 

If Israel could see the picture of her circumstances and her future, she might appear as a woman carried to captivity.  Yet, from within her walls she might stand up tall, look beyond the walls toward her God and see a future hope.  The near hope was of a time of redemption, when the Lord would once again purchase them from their bondage.  What a great time that would be!  Yet, if they stand a little taller and look a little further to the horizon, there is another time coming; a time of salvation.  In this time, God would shepherd them and they would be the sheep of His flock.  He would guard them, guide them, feed and protect them.  Oh what a day that would be!  And finally, if they looked a little further, they might see a day beyond that, when all their enemies would be subdued.  A time when all the nations would bow to Yahweh.  A day when He would rule from His throne as the perfect king, priest, prophet and shepherd for His people.

Now, we join the action of the courtroom of the ages.

Micah 6:1-2

Micah begins this third section as he did the first two; as if to say, "Listen up!"  The language used has a judicial tone to it.  Micah plays the part of the baliff calling Yahweh forward to present his convenantal lawsuit against those who broke covenant with Him.  The mountains and hills wouls serve as a jury to hear the complaint.  The mountains were considered the 'foundations of the earth'.  This jury is strictly symbolic though.  What can the mountains do?  How can the hills try this case?  There is no doubt that a jury is not needed.  For who or what can hear God's charge and respond?  There is no response; no one can defend.  His charges are just and right; His case is truth, His declaration righteous in every way.  Silence before the charges and before the God of the universe is the only response.  Humility, as He contends can be the only answer.  To 'contend' is to render a decision.

Micah 6:3-5

In a sense, God declares His innocence.  Their sin could not be blamed on Him; He rescued them, loved them, and guided them.  God asks them to bring their answer; bring their testimony to Him.  Could there be any answer?  Could any justification stand against God's charges?  Are His charges not righteous, just and holy?  When God brings a word, are we not better to cover our mouth and open our ears?  Give eyes to see Lord, and ears to hear. 

The Jews were led out of bondage, redeemed and given priests to intercede with Him.  Had they forgotten these things?  Had they forgotten that He delivered a blessiong when their enemies sought to bring a curse?  The enemy would have cursed them and kept the afflicted in the wilderness but God protected them and delivered as He held back the waters while they crossed the Jordan to Gilgal.  Why?  That they would know the righteousness of God.

Micah 6:6-7

Then, Israel speaks.  Yet, still confused, blinded and poisoned with idolatry and false religion.  Could they meet these charges with a bow before God?  How about some burnt offerings; a year old calf perhaps?  Surely such a fine offering would do the trick.  No?  Well then, how about a thousand rams or a thousand rivers of oil?  What is it you want God?  How can I buy back your love and mercy?  How can I once again posess your favor? 

You can't!!!  While the nations around them might sacrifice, their firstborn find favor with God.  Not even this will work.  There is in fact nothing you can do.  You are a sinner, a lawbreaker.  Your sacrifices are not enough.  Only a perfect sacrifice could atone for a sin against so High a God!  Our God loves us so much, He send His son as a sacrifice for us. 

Micah 6:8

Verses six and seven pose the question, "God, what is it you want?"  God answers them; He's already shown them.  He's shown them what is good.  He's shown them what God requires of them. 

They are to do justly.  This is vastly different than talking about it.  This is living it out.  This is to do the right thing, no matter what, no matter when, no matter who.  To love mercy is exercise a faithful covenantal love.  It's loving the Lord's ways because of His perfect love for you.  Then to walk humbly is a careful walk; being careful to live the way God wants you to. 

Moses said the same thing this way in Deuteronomy 10:12-13:

And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.

The NirV translates it this way:

⁸              The Lord has shown you what is good.

He has told you what he requires of you.

                  You must treat people fairly.

You must love others faithfully.

                  And you must be very careful to live

the way your God wants you to. ^[1]

 So, God had revealed across the ages in countless ways that he wants a loving relationship with His people.  A loyalty and relationship born of love.  The life lived in a loyal, loving relationship will be one of obedience and reverence. 

Sinful man holds fast to the things his flesh loves, living unjust lives and following other gods.  Then turned to the Lord and offered a sacrifice in some attempt to buy back the favor of God.  He's not interested.  His love isn't for sale.  Your sacrifices and good service won't put God in debt to man.   

One commentary offers these applications:

1.    Faithful participation in worship is not enough. It must be accompanied by faithful, proper living.
2.    A good look at the past reminds us of God's loyalty, and of our responsibility to be loyal to him in return.^[2]

Micah 6:9-12

The people were not heeding verse eight.  They were unjust, disloyal and walking in their ways.  God's lawsuit against the people continues in these verses.  The first part of verse nine is very similar in thought to, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."  A reverence and respect for God is wise and that wisdom will lead you on the path to understanding God's ways (v.8). 

The rod of correction was being applied.  The rod at that time was the Assyrian army that was in the process of crushing the northern Kingdom and Samaria.  They would soon come calling on Jerusalem and lay siege to it in the days of Hezekiah.  Who has apponited this rod or correction?  Was it not clear to them that the Lord brought this destruction?  Were they not listening to the prophet's warning?  The Lord told them this would happen if they walked with other God's and turned their back on Him. 

God appointed the rod; and they might ask, "Why?  Why would God do such a thing?"  He answers the implied question.  There were still treasures of wickedness.  These treasures are wicked because they were gained by dishonest means.  This 'house' could be the homes of the wicked individuals, but in a larger sense, the people and nation were wicked because this was an acceptable way to them.  The house of the wicked could well be characterized as Israel. 

They used the 'short measure'.  A 'measure' was an ephah; a basket holding an ephah (.43 bushel).  The short measure was a basket that resembled and ephah but, in fact, shorted the buyer giving him less than he paid for.  The same was done with wicked scales that cheated the buyer from the full weight of what they purchased.  This cheating in weights and measures was prohibited in the law (Lev 19:35-36).  This ill-gotten gain was the wicked treasure that made a wicked house.

These ethical failures had permeated the people.  The rich became wealthy by fraud and greed.  The average person became jaded by this culture of evil and oppressive attitudes.  They are all characterized as liars and deceitful.  It gives the appearance that everyone is looking out for themselves, taking all they can get in any way they can get. 

Micah 6:13-16

Verse thirteen begins with 'therefore'; this wicked gain and the attempts to justify it had made this people ripe for judgment.  The people might ask why God was doing this; but in a very real sense the people had brought this on themselves by their wicked actions.  Israel would be struck with the rod of correction; first by Assyrian and later by Babylon.  They would be made desolate for their sins. 

Their sins would bring curses on them.  Their life would not be fruitful; all the gain that seemed so easy in their sin would bring futility that cannot be overcome.  Though they will eat, they won't have enough to be satisfied.  Hunger will become was prevalent as their lies and wickeness.  They will try to store up food; and when it appeared they were doing so, the enemy will come with sword and take it away.  They would put seed in the ground but never harvest it.  They would harvest the olives and press them for oil, but never get the use of it.  This is the fruit of their unrighteousness; the affliction and curse of sin and wickedness. 

These ways were cultivated by Omri and his son Ahab, kings of the northern kingdom.  They led the nation astray and introduced Baal worship; idolatry and adultery.  Their statutes and counsels were still being honored in that day.  This will bring them to desolation by the hand of God.  The same sins that led to the fall of the northern kingdom were now bringing about the destruction of the southern kingdom and Jerusalem. 

Micah 7:1-4

Micah now speaks on behalf of the believing and godly remnant.  This 'woe' is an unusual one, used only one other time in Job 10:15.  It may be seen as the cry from deep in our soul when we realize we are standing in the path of God's anger.  The faithful and obedient follower was so rare it is likened to trying to find fruit after the harvest was over.  It was trying to find graps after they had already been harvested.  The remnant seemed nonexistent.  We might liken this to our hunger for fresh fruit in the late winter.  There is none to be found.  In the same way, the faithful man seemed to have perished from the earth. 

It seemed that the entire country had lost its collective mind.  They forgot who they were; or better yet 'whose' they were.  Instead of children of God they were characterized with violence and self-centeredness.  They wold lie, commit violence; even with both hands – as if to say their every effort and energy was focused on the evil deeds.  Politics and bribery and corruption had brought honesty, integrity and justice to the grave.  And while they scheme together, they don't even trust each other.  At best, they are like a briar and a thorn; they will ensnare, wound and tear at their victims; drawing blood without conscience, bring pain and sorrow without thought. 

The day has come.  The day the watchman warned of and the punishment is coming.  Now, the chaos, disorder and confusion (perplexity) will be the fruit of their evil. 

Micah 7:5-7

Micah documents the complete breakdown of family and disintegration of society.  A friend could not be trusted nor a companion trusted.  Trust and confidence no longer meant anything.  You had to even be careful what you say to your spouse; there was respect for marriage and privacy within the home. 

The family came apart, each seeking their own way; everyone person in pursuit of their own interest.  Everyone was on the throne of their own life.  There was no longer an overarching set of principals everyone agreed to or were committed to.  It's as if everyone said, "I don't care about rules or laws, integrity or justice, I want my way!"

So the faithful remnant felt lost, outnumbered and out of place; like a foreigner or ambassador in a strange land.  Their hope was still sure.  The promises of God don't rely on the faithfulness of the world around us.  So, they wait for the Lord; the very God of salvation with complete confidence that He will hear.

Micah 7:8-10

Jerusalem speaks up in response to the judgment that is coming.  At the fall of Jerusalem, all her enemies would rejoice.  But she warns, she will arise.  Even in the darkness of exile, the light of the Lord would be with her. 

God brought the lawsuit, He rendered the decision and He determined the extent and duration.  He will also redeem them from their bondage and once again return them to His promise.  The just God who brought this on Israel will also bring justice to those who sinned agaisnt her.  The enemy who once taunted them, "Where is the Lord your God?" will find out where He is.  They will see and they will be stomped down like the mud in the streets. 

Micah 7:11-13

In this coming day, not too far in the distant horizon, they could see a time coming.  A time when all the nations would be judged.  Their deeds bring about their devastation and Israel will stand solely as a beacon of hope.  This is a fulfillment of Genesis 12:3 in that those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse her will be cursed.

Micah 7:14

Micah offers a prayer.  This first line is amazing.  It pictures the Lord as the shepherd of His flock using His staff send the flock to graze in the rich and fertile land that had, at that time, been conquered by enemies.  But, the word used for 'staff' is also used to describe the sceptor of the king.  The staff of the Lord is to shepherd, the secptor with which to reign, a rod by which we are corrected, a weapon by which enemies are conquered.  

Micah 7:15-20

It is by Israel God revealed himself.  It is by Israel that God brought salvation into the world.  It will be by Israel that all nations will be shamed.  He will rule from Jerusalem.  For the Jews of Micah's time; it was like looking across the horizon, past judgment, past exile, past the return to the land, to a day – the day of Yahweh.  We see the restoration of the covenant relationship that was the focus of this book.  We should note this isn't because the people deserved it; or that they served their time and God had to restore them; but simply because of God's goodness, mercy and faithfulness.  The story of the bible is God's story.  Sin destroyed the relaitonship between God and man; God restored that relationship.  We know that relationship is restored by the New Covenant; by the cross a way was made for us.  When we repent, trust and believe in the work Jesus did on the cross we can be restored to our Lord.  We will be relationship with Him and do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our Lord (6:8). 

©2017 Doug Ford