Read Micah 6:1–8
Questions from the Scripture text: With what command does Micah 6:1 begin? Who is speaking (verse 1a)? What does He command them to do (verse 1b)? How publicly are they to plead their case (verse 1c)? Whom else will the mountains hear (Micah 6:2a)? And who else will hear Him (verse 2b)? Why (verse 2c)? What will He do (verse 2d)? What does He call them in Micah 6:3a? What rhetorical questions does He ask (verse 3a, b)? What does He invite them to do (i.e. if they can, verse 3c)? What three things had He done (Micah 6:4)? What does He urge them to do (Micah 6:5a)? Of what else does He remind them (verse 5b–d)? In order to drive home the truth about what (verse 5e)? What does v6 imply will be the people’s response, and what questions do they ask about that response (Micah 6:6)? What does he imply about the proposed answers in Micah 6:7? What do Micah 6:8a-b remind about the answer? What three requirements has He shown them (verse 8c–e)?
How should we repay God for all His goodness? Micah 6:1–8 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word read in the public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers should repay God for His goodness in the way that He says to in His Word.
The Lord now prosecutes Israel publicly and loudly (Micah 6:1-2). Specifically, he makes the point that their guilt against Him is aggravated by all of His special goodness to them (Micah 6:3). He has redeemed them (Micah 6:4a–b), provided for them godly leadership (verse 4c), and guarding them against the most determined enemies (Micah 6:5a–c), along their entire journey (verse 5d). He has shown forth not only His great salvation, but especially His righteousness, His justness in all dealings with them (verse 5e). But God’s people go astray whenever they try to come up with their own way of worship. They treat God as if He wants calves, rams, or oil in repayment (Micah 6:6-7b). This misses that the point of the sacrifices is to draw near to Him ourselves, and it ends up in the most extreme wickedness of child sacrifice (verse 7c–d). But the wickedness begins with trying to come up with how to serve God ourselves, which is a sin against His goodness and faithfulness to have already spoken to us clearly (Micah 6:8a–b). What He requires of us is that we be conformed to His image (doing justly, verse 8c), to love His character (love covenant-love, Micah 6:4d), and to live in worshiping fellowship with Him (Micah 6:8e). Dear reader, has God not been marvelously good to you as well? Do not come up with your own response; learn from Him how to respond, and do so by His grace.
What are some of the ways that God has been wonderfully good to you? How does He want you to respond?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for redeeming us, just like You brought Israel out of Egypt; and, for giving us everything needful, just like You gave Israel good leadership; and for being with us every step of the way, just like You were with Israel from Acacia Grove to Gilgal. Forgive us for when we have come up with our own ways of repaying You, rather than doing justly, and loving Your steadfast love, and walking humbly with You. We have deserved Your chastening. But forgive us for Christ’s sake, and conform us to Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH341 “Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed”
No comments:
Post a Comment