Read Micah 6:9–16
Questions from the Scripture text: What cries unto what (Micah 6:9a)? What will wisdom see (verse 9b)? What will it listen to (verse 9c)? Why (as implied by the rhetorical question in verse 9d)? What sorts of treasure are where (Micah 6:10a–b)? And what else is there (verse 10c)? What does the Lord think of it? What rhetorical question does YHWH ask about Himself in Micah 6:11? What assessment does He make of them in Micah 6:12? How will He respond (Micah 6:13)? What are the details of how this judgment will be applied (Micah 6:14-15)? How do Micah 6:16a–c summarize their offenses? How do verse 16d–f summarize the Lord’s response?
Why is wickedness dangerous for God's people? Micah 6:9–16 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 wickedness is dangerous for God's people because God is faithful to Himself and His covenant warnings.
Why does the Lord repeat His case here? The key is in Micah 6:9: “Hear the rod!” He is explaining His actions so that the reader and hearer will be warned against committing similar offenses. They thought they would accumulate “treasures” (Micah 6:10a–b), but all they are accumulating is wickedness. Their “inadequate ephah” (verse 10c) was intended to obtain wealth for them, but it just made them abominable to the Lord. The rhetorical question in Micah 6:11 is making the point that He would have to be denying Himself to bless them in their wickedness. They may have obtained wealth, but at the cost of iniquity (Micah 6:12). So, the Lord faithfully kept to the covenant curses that He had threatened in Deuteronomy 28:30–33, Deuteronomy 28:38–41 (Micah 6:14-15). Micah 6:16a–c summarize the sins of Micah 6:10-12 as a repeat of the offenses of the northern kingdom dynasty of Omri and Ahab. The Lord has been faithful to His covenant curses with respect to the northern kingdom, and He will be faithful to them now with the southern kingdom (Micah 6:16d–e), precisely because they are His people (verse 16f).
When have you been tempted to cut corners or take advantage of others in order to accumulate wealth? What do your sins do to you before God? How/when can God’s faithfulness be dangerous to you?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for when we have thought so much about material prosperity that we have been forgetful about offending You. We have been like Omri and Ahab, and then like Judah after them. Forgive us, we pray. Make us to remember that You will always be faithful to Yourself, and that You have warned and chastened Your people throughout the ages. Thus, bring us to repentance, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP78B “O Come, My People” or TPH1A “That Man Is Blest”
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