(The great blessings of the Micah Mandate)
"What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
As I found myself in the book of Micah over the weekend I came across a favorite passage in ch.6, verse 8, what has been commonly referred to as the “Micah Mandate.”
As I've spent a few days reflecting on my thoughts of this powerful verse, I can think of no other devotional than the one before us today, as it is packed with truth and without a doubt should be added to verses you’ve committed to memory, if you haven’t already done so.
This verse has long been one of the most well-known and loved verses in the Bible. In recent years it’s popularity has grown particularly in social justice circles. One of the biggest reasons people are drawn to it is because of its straightforward approach and memorable flow. Micah 6:8 is one of the verses that is front and center in our “Remember The Word” program with prisoners.
But when things become familiar to us we tend to overlook or forget how they actually apply. I think the Micah 6:8 meaning is powerful and something every follower of Jesus should embrace whole-heartedly.
This verse has the power to transform our life and faith if we simply follow it. So let’s jump right into the meaning of Micah 6:8 and see what it means for us today.
Let’s Start With The Context Of Micah 6:8
One of the biggest hurdles in understanding Micah 6:8 is learning the context. So many people know what the verse says, but almost no one knows any of the verses surrounding it. When we ignore the context we run the risk of misinterpreting the verse, or at least miss the beauty and depth it has for us. So before we dive into the meaning of Micah 6:8 let’s look at the verses preceding it. It will be helpful.
This book was written by the prophet Micah who ministered to the people of the Southern Kingdom. Before Jesus, God’s people were under the Mosaic Covenant. Being one of the most prophetic books, it teaches us how this covenant worked. How many times throughout the Old Testament did God make it clear that there were terms associated with every Covenant He made.
The Lord always spoke with a warning. There would be great blessings to God’s people if they embraced Covenantal obedience, but dire consequences if they became disobedient, Covenant breakers.
Throughout the book of Micah we see him point out how the Israelites had broken this covenant and judgment was coming. In contrast he also promised restoration because of God’s promises.
One commentator I looked at summed up Micah this way. “The Book of Micah consists of three messages. In each one the theme of judgment is prominent, but there is also mention of restoration and a remnant (Micah 2:12, Micah 4;7, Micah 5:7-8, Micah 7:18). Eventually God would restore the Israelites to a position of world prominence under their Messiah.”
In Micah 6, the chapter we are looking at, we see an imaginary conversation between Israel and God. In Micah 6:1-5 God addresses the disobedient people of Israel. In response we see Israel ask, what shall we do? They seem to earnestly desire what to do in order to find restoration with God. (Micah 6:6-7)
The Lord follows up with an immediate response to their question. The Lord God responds with what we call “The Micah Mandate.” “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.” Micah 6:8
Let’s try and understand the meaning of this amazing verse. Once we understand the context we can better comprehend and learn from what God is telling us through His prophet. To help us better see how this verse applies to our lives today, I’ve broken it down where we can examine the three key components of this passage.
What Does The Lord Require Of You?
Remember the context. The Israelites had disobeyed God once again. From the exodus from Egypt and for hundreds of years thereafter, we see this pattern of rebellion and disobedience time and again. God has confronted them and in response they are asking what they shall do. How can they be restored?
Our amazing God is so long suffering toward His people, and don’t you find it just a little bit perplexing after their history with God, to have to ask what we need to do to get right with God?
In Micah 6:6-7 the Israelites are offering all sorts of sacrifices and things they can do to appease God. But these sacrifices are not what God wants. In the end, it’s never been about sacrifices with God; it’s always been about obedience. God isn’t so concerned about external things; He wants our heart.
This is evidenced in the the fact that God has already told them what he wants, what would be good for them when they fall off the path of obedience into sin (Deuteronomy 10:12, Deuteronomy 10:18, 1 Samuel 12:24, Hosea 12:6). What he really desires is a behavioral change, a heart change; he wants his people to listen to what he says.
So what should God’s people do? Let’s look at the three things required of man.
#1 –To Act Justly
Justice is defined as the quality of being just. It is righteousness, equitableness, and moral rightness. To be just is a call to action—not to be silent or complacent when others, especially the most vulnerable, are abused, mistreated, in need, scorned or exploited.
We tend to equate justice to social justice today because of how prevalent that ideology has become. And there certainly are crossover elements, but we shouldn’t limit what it means to act justly to simply that.
Micah’s audience would have understood this in a broader sense. To act justly was to act morally and live with a proper sense of right and wrong. It carries with it this idea of not just doing what is popular, but going against the grain to do what God says is best. This applies to how we treat others and how we live when no one is watching.
It is to commit yourself to doing what is morally right in every circumstance. This requires actions and not mere lip service. Too many say just things with their words, but fail to actually live justly. God requires his followers to act justly.
#2 – To Love Mercy
To love mercy is to show “hesed,” covenant faithfulness to one another. When someone went beyond what was required or expected, showing special kindness, love, mercy, etc., that was hesed. The use of hesed in Hosea 6:6 suggests that God desires more from us than just loyalty, as a wife or husband wants more than loyalty from a spouse. Micah 7:18 says God delights to show covenant faithfulness. It's who He is.
Only because He has shown us great mercy can we do the same for others. Both justice and mercy are central to God’s character and you will see both all throughout the Bible. God’s people are expected to show mercy to those around them. God is a merciful God who has continually poured out his mercy on his people.
He doesn’t give us what we deserve but what we desperately need. And in response we are to love mercy. The Greek equivalent to the word Hesed is one that we are all familiar with, – “Agape."
Our love for God is shown in how we treat those around us. Jesus tells us that the world should recognize us by our love. And this isn’t just to love those who love us, but to love everyone. I think it’s safe to say that God’s people have some work to do. The church as a whole right now isn’t exactly known for love. And if you are a Christian it’s our job to fix it; you should love mercy.
Let me go back to the word hesed for a moment. It’s so important. The meaning of hesed has no English or Greek equivalent. It is born from a root word that means to bow one’s head toward another and stems from a covenant relationship.
However, the meaning of hesed encompasses much more. Entire books are dedicated to unraveling what it means, but the more we learn of it, the more we discover the mere stringing of letters cannot completely describe a concept beyond finite comprehension.
Bible versions translate hesed with many different words such as love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, mercy, devotion, and favor. One word is often inadequate to embrace what hesed represents.
Blended words using “love” as a foundation give a fuller understanding. Hybrid combinations such as loyal-love, steadfast-love, faithful-love, lovingkindness, unfailing and loyal love may come closer to the Hebrew intent. Many scholars feel “lovingkindness” represents hesed best. All I know is that each of us need more “hesed’ in our lives.
#3 – To Walk Humbly With Your God
The reality is we are all broken and hopeless on our own. We are in desperate need of a savior. The problem is many Christians become prideful and feel they are better than others. But we should instead be humble. We didn’t earn anything, rather God freely gave it to us.
To walk humbly means that we should depend on God rather than our own abilities. To be humble is to recognize that our own abilities fell short; it was God who brought us to where we are. Therefore we shouldn’t be arrogant and rely on ourselves, but rather we should be humble and rely on God.
Truthfully brother and sisters, I hardly know where to begin when I think about what the corporate church would look like, along with our individual lives as God’s children if humility was something ingrained into every aspect of our lives. How do people talk about you when you’re not around?
Could there be any more of a compliment if someone described you as a humble person. Some people associate humility with weakness, or meekness. May it never be! ‘And there’s nothing wrong with a meek person.
Moses was described as the meekest man on the fact of the earth. What a description for one of the mightiest men of God who ever lived. A few things to mention about walking humbly before the Lord as we conclude.
Why Humility Is So Important
Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)
Why is humility important? Here are a couple of reasons:
1. God opposes the proud.
It is worth taking a moment to let these words sink in. God opposes the proud. If God opposes us, we’re finished. If God be for us, who can be against us? But if God is against us, what hope do we have?
God opposes the proud. He cannot bear to see pride in his children. Arrogance will eventually bring us under his fatherly discipline.
2. God gives grace to the humble.
We sometimes use the expression: “Money makes money.” You have to have some before you can make some. Well, it’s the same principle here. Humility is a grace that attracts more grace.
Pride closes the door to spiritual growth, but humility opens the door of your life to more of God’s grace. To the humble, God gives patience, peace, and gentleness. The fruit of the Spirit grows in the soil of humility. Humility is the key to spiritual growth.
3. God will lift you up.
“God gives grace to the humble.” What a marvelous promise! God leads each of us on a path with many twists and turns. When you are faced with surprises and disappointments that God has allowed in your life, humble yourself. Accept what He allows. Because if you do that, God Himself will lift you up in due time.
Final Thought:
Micah 6:8 sums up what our faith should look like. In a powerful and succinct verse we see what should be markers for our faith. The reality is following Jesus isn’t just about our beliefs, but primarily our actions.
So ask yourself, Am I acting justly? Do I love mercy? Am I walking humbly?
The humility of Christ, in his life and death and resurrection, also testifies to one of God’s clearest and most memorable promises in all the Scriptures: he humbles the proud, and exalts the humble.
So it was with Christ. He humbled himself, and “God has highly exalted him” (Philippians 2:9) — literally, “super-exalted” (Greek hyperypsōsen). And so too will our God, without exception, exalt those who are his in Christ.
No matter how deep your valley, no matter how long it feels like you’ve been left to rot in your humbling, no matter how alone you’ve felt, he will raise you. In Christ, you will be super-exalted, in time. God’s favor for the humble will shine out. His rescuing grace will arrive. He will not leave his humbled unexalted.
These are heart questions that will help us see if we are actively living out our faith. The meaning of Micah 6:8 should spur us to action. Cause us to align our beliefs and how we live. It should challenge us to evaluate how we are treating others. And align our heart with God’s.
Thank you O Lord for showing us how to live through the word of your Prophet, Micah. May justice prevail in our lives; may we demonstrate hesed love and kindness for our fellow men, and may we for all our days walk humbly before you. Amen
From: Fight the Good Fight of Faith & Love Journal: by Gregg Harris
Comments