Glory to God! The Lord God Almighty has blessed us with an inspiring passage (noted above) from the prophetical utterances of prophet Micah for this week’s Scripture for the Week meditation. The passage explicitly reveals what the Lord God Almighty requires of everyone who follows Him, that is, act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before Him. God does not demand anything costly to bring before Him according to the standard of the world. No one can please God with the abundance of one’s worldly possessions or the wealth one acquires on earth or the size of the offerings that one brings before God without obeying His righteous laws, decrees, and commands wholeheartedly (Micah 6:5-6 [also refer to: Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4]).

Despite all the blessings God showered upon the children of Israel, both Israel and Judah failed to keep His righteous laws and decrees wholeheartedly in addition to all the sins they committed against the God of their fathers – Yahweh (Exodus 22:18-31; Deuteronomy 8:19; 16:19; Amos 2:4-5, 6-8; 2 Kings 17:15; Jeremiah 11:10; Ezekiel 20:16). Like Apostle Peter wrote to the early Christian believers that Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:10) because the Lord God Almighty set them apart to be a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Similarly, a long time ago, God chose Abraham (while he was not a worshipper of Yahweh) and his descendants to be His very own and blessed them with the best of everything available on earth like fertile land, crops/produce, and so on. Moses kept on reminding the Israelites on their way from Egypt to Canaan that they are a chosen people and they have to keep all the righteous laws and decrees God had given them:

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. 7 The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments (Deuteronomy 7:6-9)

Although, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob remained faithful to Yahweh, most of their descendants did not follow Him wholeheartedly. They deliberately sinned against the Lord God who redeemed them from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt and formed them to be a mighty nation on earth. They neither worshipped the God of their fathers wholeheartedly nor remembered the faithfulness of God in their lives but they willfully disobeyed His righteous laws/decrees and sinned against Him, as it is mentioned in 2 Kings 17:7-20.

7 All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods 8 and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. 9 The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high places in all their towns. 10 They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. 12 They worshiped idols, though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.” 13 The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”

14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

16 They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. 17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

18 So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, 19 and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. 20 Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence.

God, being holy and righteous, punished Israel and Judah as their deeds deserved and took them out of His presence because of their numerous sins (Micah 1:5 [1 Kings 9:7; 2 Kings 17:13, 18; 21:13-14; 23:27]).  The Lord God disclosed some of these specific sins of His chosen people Israel (Capital: Samaria) and Judah (Capital: Jerusalem) to His prophet Micah (Micah 2:1-2; 3:9-12):

• • They plan iniquity (2:1a)
  • They plot evil on their beds (2:1b)
  • They carry out the iniquity and evil plans in the morning that they plotted at night (2:1c)
  • They have power to carry out the evil plan they plotted
  • They covet fields and seize them (2:2a)
  • They covet houses and take them for themselves (2:2b)
  • They defraud people of their homes (2:2c)
  • They rob people of their inheritance (2:2d)

• • The Lord invites the leaders and rulers of God’s people to listen to the voice of God (3:9a)
  • The leaders and rulers of God’s people despise justice (3:9b)
  • The leaders and rulers of God’s people distort all that is right (3:9c)
  • The leaders and rulers of God’s people build Zion with bloodshed (3:10a)
  • The leaders and rulers of God’s people build Jerusalem with wickedness (3:10b)
  • The leaders and rulers of God’s people judge for a bribe (3:11a)
  • The priests of God’s people teach for a price (3:11b)
  • The prophets of God’s people tell fortunes for money (3:11c)
  • Yet, the so-called priests and prophets look for the Lord’s support
  • Despite the falsehood of the priests and prophets of God’s people, they claim that the Lord is among them (3:11d)
  • Despite the falsehood of the priests and prophets of God’s people, they proclaim that disaster will  not come upon them (3:11e)
  • The Lord declares that because of their falsehood and wickedness, Zion will be plowed like a field (3:12a)
  • The Lord declares that because of their falsehood and wickedness, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble (3:12b)
  • The Lord declares that because of His people’s falsehood and wickedness, the temple hill will become a mound overgrown with thickets (3:12c)

From the above bullet points (taken from Micah 2:1-2 and 3:9-12), we can understand that Micah prophesied God’s judgment upon Israel and Judah, and particularly, Jerusalem would be reduced to a heap of rubble, a mound overgrown with thickets, and a place where the pagans will worship the idols of their gods. This will take place because of the sins of Israel against the God of their fathers whom they had forsaken. Due to this reason, the Lord’s anger burned against His people and prophet Micah rebukes the leaders and rulers of Israel and Judah (Micah 3:1-4):

• • The leaders and rulers of Israel and Judah are to obey the Word of God (3:1a)
  • The leaders and rulers must obey God’s righteous laws and commands (3:1b)
  • The leaders and rulers must embrace justice (3:1c)
  • The leaders and rulers of Israel and Judah must not hate good (3:2a)
  • The leaders and rulers of Israel and Judah must not love evil (3:2b)
  • The leaders and rulers of Israel and Judah must not tear the skin of the chosen people (3:2c)
  • The leaders and rulers of Israel and Judah must not tear the flesh from their bones (3:3d)
  • The leaders and rulers must not eat the chosen people’s flesh (3:3a)
  • The leaders and rulers must not strip off the chosen people’s skin (3:3b)
  • The leaders and rulers must not break the chosen people’s bones in pieces (3:3c)
  • The leaders and rulers must not chop up the chosen people like meat for the pan (3:3d)
  • The leaders and rulers must not chop up the chosen people’s flesh for the pot (3:3e)
  • The Lord commands the leaders and rulers of Israel and Judah not to hurt His chosen people because He will not answer them when they cry out to Him in their distress due to the sins they committed against Him (3:4a)
  • The Lord commands the leaders and rulers of Israel and Judah not to hurt His chosen people because the Lord will not answer their prayers but hide His face from them when they cry out to Him in their sufferings due to the evil they have done (3:4b)

Micah noted God’s plans of judgement upon the leaders, rulers, priests, prophets and people of Israel and Judah His chosen people, particularly upon the so-called priests and prophets (Micah 3:5-8):

• • The so-called prophets of the Lord failed to listen to the Lord (5:1a)
  • The prophets lead God’s people astray with wrong message (5:1b)
  • The so-called prophets proclaim ‘peace’ if they have something to eat (5:1c)
  • The so-called prophets prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them (5:1d)
  • The Lord rebukes the so-called prophets and their nights will pass without visions (3:6a)
  • The Lord rebukes the so-called prophets and their night/darkness will be without divination (3:6b)
  • Upon the Lord’s command, the sun will set for the so-called prophets (3:6c)
  • Upon the Lord’s command, the day will go dark for the so-called prophets (3:6d)
  • The seers will be ashamed because there is no answer from God (3:7a)
  • The diviners will be disgraced because there is no answer from God (3:7b)
  • The seers/diviners will cover their faces because the Lord will not answer them (3:7c)
  • The Lord will neither answer to the prayers nor disclose His plans to the so-called seers/diviners (3:7d)
  • The Lord fills the faithful prophets with power (3:8a)
  • The Lord strengthens His faithful prophets with the Spirit of the Lord (3:8b)
  • The Lord reinforces His faithful prophets with the spirit of justice (3:8c)
  • The Lord reinforces His faithful prophets with might and potentiality (3:8d)
  • The Lord’s faithful servants/prophets would declare the descendants of Jacob their transgressions (3:8e)
  • The Lord’s faithful servants/prophets would declare the descendants of Israel their sin (3:8f)

In most cases, we, the current generation of the followers of Jesus Christ, have failed to follow the righteous laws and decrees the Lord God has given us in its entirety, especially the ones Jesus taught His disciples that are recorded in the Scripture (New Testament). Although many think that it is hard to keep the righteous laws and decrees of God without fail, it is worthwhile to keep them perfectly and it is rewarding, as it is mentioned in Psalm 19:7-11

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.  The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.  The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.  The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.

11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Also, it is mentioned elsewhere in the Scripture that the righteous laws and decrees are trustworthy and they are established to last for ever and ever: The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. 8 They are established for ever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness (Psalm 111:7-8 [also refer to: 119:160]). Jesus also sternly instructed His disciples to keep the righteous laws and decrees and whatever they heard from Him and commanded them to teach others who choose to follow Jesus through their ministry (Matthew 5:17; 19:17; 28:18-20; John 14:15; 15:10; Revelation 22:14). The parables of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7) and the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10) reveal the fact that we are responsible to take care all that is entrusted to us. In regard to the commands of God, the parables teach us that we need to keep all the laws and decrees God has given us. This shows that obeying God’s laws and decrees does not mean obeying only some parts of the laws or as a onetime thing in life, but everyone who follows God must do it until the end of their time on earth, which means, one needs to practice it on a daily basis because God wants us to live a righteous life. This is exactly what God spoke through His servant Micah, that His people must act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before Him everyday (Micah 6:8). It’s not only just prophet Micah who prophesied these factors but most of the Old Testament prophets prophesied in a similar way. For instance, let us read from the writings of Moses the servant of God and prophet Isaiah:

12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees (Deuteronomy 10:12)

15 Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil—16 they are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied, and water will not fail them (Isaiah 33:15-16)

King David also narrated the importance of obeying the righteous laws and decrees of God, when he asserted: Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies (Psalm 119:97-98 [also refer to: Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2]). Also, as a chosen people of God, our first priority is to put God’s righteous laws and decrees into practice and live a life worthy of our calling. King David noted down the kind of life we are called to live (Psalm 15:1-5). As we prepare ourselves for a life with our heavenly Father in eternity, let us adapt our life to some of the principles from Psalm 15:1-5 and let us try our best to live according to it:

• • We are called to be blameless (Psalm 15:2a)
  • We must behave with an integrity of heart (Psalm 15:2b)
  • We are called to do what is righteous (Psalm 15:2c)
  • We are called to speak the truth from our heart (Psalm 15:2d)
  • We do not let our tongue utters slander (Psalm 15:3a)
  • We must not do any wrong to our neighbor (Psalm 15:3b)
  • We must not casts slur on others (Psalm 15:3c)
  • We must not despise a vile person (Psalm 15:4a)
  • We must honor those who fear the Lord (Psalm 15:4b)
  • We must keep our oath even when it hurts (Psalm 15:4c)
  • We must not change our mind at any given situation (Psalm 15:4d)
  • We are called to lend money to the poor without interest (Psalm 15:5a)
  • We must share our blessings with the impoverished (Psalm 15:b)
  • We must not accept bribes against the innocent (Psalm 15:5c)

Prophet Micah foretold their punishment (as we have seen earlier) as well as their future restoration if they repent and return to Him (mentioned below). The Lord is gracious and compassionate (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 103:8) and will reach out to anyone who calls upon His name (Revelation 7:9-10) and extend His helping hands to everyone who follows Him wholeheartedly (Romans 10:13). In the last days, the Lord will establish His Kingdom and dwell among His people (Micah 4:1-5):

• • The Mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains (4:1a)
  • The Mountain of the Lord’s temple  will be established and exalted above all the hills (4:1b)
  • The peoples from all over the earth will stream to the Mountain of the Lord’s temple (4:1c)
  • Many nations themselves will come to the mountain of the Lord (4:2a)
  • The nations not only come themselves but also will invite others to join them to come to the Mountain of the Lord’s temple (4:2b)
  • Many nations will come to the temple of the God of Jacob to seek the Lord (4:2c)
  • Many nations will testify that the God of Jacob will teach them His ways (4:2d)
  • Many nations will come to the God of Israel with the desire to walk in His paths (42e)
  • The law of the God of Israel would go out from Zion (4:2f)
  • The word of the Lord would be heard from Jerusalem (4:2g)
  • The Lord will judge between many peoples (4:3a)
  • The Lord will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide (4:3b)
  • The nations far and wide will beat their swords into plowshares (4:3c)
  • The nations far and wide will beat their spears into pruning hooks (4:3d)
  • The nations will not take up their sword against other nations under the Lord’s reign (4:3e)
  • The nations will not train for war anymore during the Lord’s reign (4:3f)
  • Everyone will sit under their own vine during the reign of the Lord Almighty (4:4a)
  • Everyone will sit under their own fig tree during the reign of the Lord Almighty (4:4b)
  • No one will make the inhabitants afraid during the reign of the Lord Almighty (4:4c)
  • The Lord Almighty will reign over all peoples (4:4d)
  • The ungodly nations may walk in the name of their gods (4:5a)
  • The nation that fears the Lord will walk in the name of the Lord (4:5b)
  • The Lord God Almighty reigns for ever and ever (4:5c)

God’s steadfast love for the people who follow Him wholeheartedly, the hope He promised to His chosen ones, and His plan of restoration for those whom He punishes (because of their sins against Him) are well connected themes in the prophetical utterances of prophet Micah. Above all else, if His people are willing to repent and return to Him, God is ready to forgive their sins and restore them to Himself. Despite their sins against Him, the Lord is willing to redeem His chosen people. Prophet Micah narrates God’s plans to restore them (4:6-13):

• • The Lord will gather the lame on the Day of the Lord (4:6a)
  • The Lord will assemble the exiles on the Day of the Lord (4:6b)
  •  The Lord will bring comfort/relief to whom He has brought grief (4:6c)
  • The Lord will make the lame His remnant (4:7a)
  • The Lord will gather and make them a strong nation whom He had afflicted (4:7b)
  • The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion (4:7c)
  • The Lord will reign over them from that day and forever (4:7d)
  • Zion will be rescued by the Lord God Almighty (4:8a)
  • The former dominion will be restored to Zion (4:8b)
  • The Lord will establish the Kingship to Jerusalem (4:8c)
  • The Lord seeks a response from His people why they are crying aloud now despite His promise to them that He will restore Zion and establish His Kingship in Jerusalem (4:9a)
  • His chosen people cries aloud as if they have no king (4:9b)
  • His chosen people cries aloud as if their ruler perished (4:9c)
  • His chosen people cries bitterly as if one go through severe pain (4:9d)
  • The Lord gives hint to His people that they have to leave the city / hometown [due to their sins against the God of their fathers] (4:10a)
  • The Lord alerts His people that they will writhe in agony because they have to leave their hometown and camp in the open field as captives [due to their sins against the God of their fathers] (4:10b)
  • The Lord warns His people that they will go to Babylon as captives [due to their sins against the God of their fathers] (4:10c)
  • The Lord’s promise to His people that they will be rescued from Babylon (4:10d)
  • The Lord’s assurance to His people that He will redeem them out of the hand of their enemies (4:10e)
  • The Lord warns His people that now many nations are gathered against them [due to His people’s sins against the God of their fathers] (4:11a)
  • The Lord warns His people regarding the plot of the nations to defile Zion [due to His people’s sins against the God of their fathers] (4:11b)
  • The Lord warns His people regarding the plot of the nations to defile Zion and celebrate their victory over Zion [due to His people’s sins against the God of their fathers] (4:11c)
  • The Lord gives His people hope that, though the nations plans to trample Zion under their feet, the nations do not know the Lord’s thoughts to foil their plan and rescue His people (4:12a)
  • The Lord gives His people hope that, though the nations plans to trample Zion under their feet, they do not understand that the Lord has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor (4:12b)
  • The Lord encourages His people to rise and thresh their enemies (4:13a)
  • The Lord promises His people that He will give them horns of iron to thresh their enemies (4:13b)
  • The Lord promises His people that He will give them hooves of bronze to thresh their enemies (4:13c)
  • The Lord’s promise to His people that He will strengthen them to break to pieces many nations (4:13d)
  • The Lord appreciates in advance His people of their willingness to devote their ill-gotten gains to the Lord (4:13e)
  • The Lord appreciates in advance His people of their willingness to devote their wealth to the Lord of all the earth (4:13f)

When God’s appointed time will come, the Lord will discipline His people by removing all the detestable things from among His people, as it is mentioned in Micah 5:10-15

10 “In that day,” declares the Lord, “I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots. 11 I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds. 12 I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells. 13 I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands. 14 I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles when I demolish your cities. 15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that have not obeyed me.”

In the last days, the Lord God will bring back His people from wherever they were scattered and gather them in their own land, that is Zion, where God will dwell and establish His Kingdom for ever and ever. In addition to the promise the Lord imparted through prophet Micah, God also revealed His plans through other prophets, like prophet Ezekiel:

‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God (Ezekiel 37:21-23)

The most important things we, the New Testament Israel – the Church – can learn from prophet Micah’s prophecies, in addition to the warnings of God’s judgement upon all who forsake His righteous laws and decrees (sin will be judged) and His promise of restoration of all who follow Him wholeheartedly (the righteous will be delivered) are:

1. 1. 1. The seat of God’s Temple is on Mount Zion – the Mountain of the Lord (Micah 4:1-5)
      2. Many nations will come to the throne of God to worship and adore Him (Micah 4:2)
      3. The reign of the promised ruler – Messianic rule of Christ (Micah 5:1-6)
      4. The prophecy of the birthplace of the promised ruler – Jesus Christ (Micah 5:2)
      5. The restoration of all who sit in gloom and darkness due to the present sufferings (Micah 7:8-9)
      6. The fact that there is no one like our Lord God Almighty (Micah 7:18)

Dear friends, as part of our meditation on Micah 6:8, we have examined some of the biblical factors surrounding the prophecies of prophet Micah, which indicates, first of all, the judgement of God upon all who neither keep the righteous laws and decrees of God nor follow Him wholeheartedly; secondly, the hope of restoration for all who repent and return to the Lord; and, finally, rewards to all who keep His righteous laws and decrees and follow Him wholeheartedly.  In the light of our meditation, it is time for us to examine our life to know the exact position in our spiritual walk with God. Also, it is time to rededicate our life once again before God in order to fulfill His purpose in and through our life. Remember, the Lord does not require anything from us other than to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly before our Lord God (Micah 6:8). May the Lord God Almighty bless us all! Amen!