I. Introduction
A. Required
B. Background on Micah
1. His name means “Who is like Yahweh?”
2. Country prophet, not a city boy
3. Contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea
4. It is Micah who prophesies that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.
5. Serves as a prophet to the Southern Kingdom, but it is thought that his prophecies were delivered just before the fall of the Northern Kingdom to Assyria
6. He writes to both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
7. An interesting thing about Micah is found in Jeremiah. When Jeremiah prophesied about the destruction of Jerusalem, the priests and other prophets wanted to put him to death. Jeremiah’s defenders (elders of the people) point to Micah as an example of a prophet who prophesied doom against God’s people and quote from Micah 3:12. They point to the fact that Micah was not killed for what he prophesied, and neither should Jeremiah.
8. Most of Micah’s prophesies are doom and gloom, but he also prophesies quite a bit about the remnant (specifically mentioned 5 times) that will survive captivity and a brighter future for God’s people.
C. Court Room Scene
1. In Micah 6 there is a brief courtroom scene where God’s people accuse Him of being unjust and unkind to them.
a. In verses 6-7 God lays out their complaint against Him; they can’t please Him.
b. His answer is that He had already told them what was good and what He required
2. This evening, let’s examine what God said in response to the people’s complaint.
II. What Does the Lord Require?
A.
1. Micah proclaims that Judah will have to pay for its sins
a. Micah 3:1-4
b. Disappearance of righteous men (Micah 7:2)
c. Quartet of evildoers
i. Land Sharks (Micah 2:1)
ii. Rulers who loved evil and hated good (Micah 3:1-4)
iii. False prophets who divined for money (Micah 3:11)
iv. Corrupt priests (Micah 3:11)
2. The people thought they would be protected simply because they were God’s people (3:11), and that they could “buy” God’s favor with sacrifices (Micah 6:5-7)
a. God had come to bring justice to all these situations (1:3; 3:12)
b. It seems that it is Micah’s prophecies which brought Hezekiah to repentance (Jeremiah 26:18).
3. Our God is just, which means He must sin.
4. God is a righteous judge, which means He punishes sin for those who are not repentant.
5. However, God sent His Son to pay the price for our sins so that He could be both and .
a. Romans 5:6-11 remind us that it is God Himself who has dealt with our sin through Christ.
b. With both of these thoughts in mind, God wants us to view justice through His eyes, not our own. We can be bad judges of justice at times.
c. This is how God is both righteous and merciful.
B.
1. God desires to be to His people.
2. The ESV translates this as to love kindness, which is a good way to put it, but it might be a little confusing to us.
a. God is speaking of His mercy in light of His righteousness here.
b. The Hebrew word is chesed, which is the word for God’s covenant love.
c. Some translations use the word mercy
d. If not for God’s mercy, the Messiah would never have come
e. Micah 7:18-20 is one of the most encouraging verses in Micah
f. Even though God is just, He is also merciful
3. God wants His people to be as well.
a. Illustration: Some see mercy as weakness, but that is far from the truth. It takes strength to offer mercy instead of seeking your rights. Has there ever been a time when you had every right to get even with someone? It’s challenging to hold back what might be due to someone rather than unload on them.
b. Even though we may have the right, doesn’t always mean its right.
c. Luke 6:36 reminds us, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
d. Mercy is a gift of patience, kindness, and compassion.
4. Lets think about dealing with one another how God deals with us. If we do, that will humble us.
C.
1. Notice that it is not just about walking humbly; Micah says that God wants us to walk humbly with God.
2. The main reason for sin, most of the time, is .
a. 2 Timothy 3:2 For people will be lovers of self…
b. Bad leaders are selfish, bad followers are selfish, bad Christians are selfish…
3. God requires that we humble ourselves to know that His are better than ours.
a. God requires that we follow His ways, not our own.
b. His ways are best even if we don’t see it that way. Following Christ means humbling ourselves instead of claiming our rights.
c. Humility not only challenges us to look for a better way but also to look for a better . Micah 4:1-2
III. Conclusion
A. What Does the Lord Require
1. Justice according to God.
2. Mercy that sustains us.
3. Humility, which elevates God and others above self.
B. Invitation- This evening, what does the Lord require of you?