What Does God Require?

Introduction

Teaching at FHU has brought some interesting insight into human nature. Undergraduate students are varied in motivation and approach.

Some students want to come to class; they long to learn; they want to do well. These are students who take good notes and do most of the reading required for the course. Some students feel obligated to come to class. They don’t really want to be in class but they will come. But they may miss if something better comes along. Didn’t sleep well, so they miss an early morning class. Hungry, miss the middle of the day class to get a good meal. But these students will read some; take some notes, and try to pass the course.

Some students see school through the prism of freedom. This prism distorts reality but it is hard to explain that to some students. They are free of parental oversight and spend their time in college enjoying the experience to the fullest. They will go to class some; they will take some notes; they will pass the tests and courses but not by much. Then there are those special students. The first day of class is for receiving the syllabus outlining the expectations of class and see how little they can do and still pass. They are more motivated by not attending class, not taking notes, and passing only enough of the tests to pass the class. These are students who want to know how many classes they can miss and still pass; the lowest grade which will allow them to get a passing grade. These are the students that object to what are perceived as harsh standards. They plead their earned failing grade through a minimal standard as if the minimum is enough to bring success. “I read from at least 2 books in order to write the term paper.”

Students reveal much about human nature. And our approach to God may be very similar. Some want to be in God’s presence at worship and they are motivated by how they can honor God. This is what pushes them in this world. Some come to worship because they have to and do good deeds because it is the right thing to do; unless something better comes along. Some see their relationship with God through the prism of freedom. They see God’s role as forgiver and thus their job is to enjoy life. Don’t do anything too bad but God will forgive anyway. Then there are those special folks. They want to know what the minimum requirements are in order to think of themselves as faithful. Attendance at the assembly is sporadic; their good deeds are done but they think more about self than how to honor God.

In our text, God looks at his people once again. What he sees doesn’t please him. But the people are convinced that they can be faithful. They are convinced that they can show how much they love while continuing to live for themselves. Micah’s prophesy rejects such a view. As we shall see faithfulness extends in two directions—towards God and towards others. May God help us to hear his words with clarity.

The Trial

As we have seen before, there are times when God comes to his people as if it were a trial. Such is the case here in Micah 6. God has something to say to his people. His accusations are rather severe. He calls the mountains as witnesses. This may seem strange to us but it makes sense. In Deuteronomy 27:12-13, Israel is told that when they enter into the promised land that part of the group is to stand on Mount Geriaim to bless the people and some are to stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses. In this way, the mountains have heard what God expected. How he would bless for Israel’s faithfulness and how he would curse for their lack of faithfulness. Moreover, the mountains are said to be “everlasting foundations.” They last; they endure. Their presence will stand long after the trial is over and they will stand from generation to generation.

So it makes sense to call the mountains as witnesses for this trial. But there is something a bit different from this trial. Verse 2 clearly specifies that God has something to say. But notice verses 1 and 3. In both of these verses God gives the people the opportunity to speak first. It isn’t though to justify their case, it is an opportunity to speak against God. In fact, the phrase “answer me” literally means “testify against me.” God wants the people to explain what he has done wrong. Testify how God has wronged them.

God takes up his defense in verses 4-5. He points to his faithfulness to his people in bringing them out of Egyptian bondage. He points to providing leadership with Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. He points to an incident in Numbers 22 in which Balak was looking to curse God’s people and Balaam instead blessed them. He points to their journey into the promised land. All of this would have demonstrated God’s faithfulness. He provided leadership, food and water without end, clothes and shoes that never wore out, finally bringing them into the promised land. The point—Testify how I have wronged you?

The people’s response in verses 6-7 demonstrate their perception of relationship with God. They are willing to show how dedicated they are to God; how firm their faith. They will bring burnt offerings; these which required the entire animal to be burned up. It would have cost them greatly to bring such offerings. They will bring year old calves. At great cost they would bring the best of their herds. They will bring thousands of rams. More and more sacrifice if needed will be brought. Or they will bring rivers of oil. Exaggeration to demonstrate how committed they are to connection to God.

God responds in verse 8. Let me show what is good. Justice and mercy must come from you towards others and to walk carefully with God.

Justice sums up the social requirement in regards to others. To practice justice is to avoid oppression, gossip, or bribery. It is to pursue helping those who are weak; insisting that others be treated with care in the same way we are. Mercy or loyalty is a word used to describe the character of God. When God revealed his loyalty to Israel the expectation was that Israel would express that same type of loyalty or mercy to others. As God was faithful with Israel, Israel was expected to be faithful toward God and toward others. This idea of a careful or humble walk with God means that God wants his people to be guided by Him rather than our own selfish motives. It is to dedicate ourselves to hearing only his voice and his words.

Lessons

There are times when we testify against God. We accuse him of being unfaithful. And we fail to remember his faithfulness. When was the last time that you rehearsed the faithfulness of God? When was the last time you remembered the faithfulness of God and refused to allow current negative events to be perceived as unfaithfulness? When was the last time you took stock of the times of your unfaithfulness and saw God’s faithfulness even in the midst of your sin? Or better yet, when was the last time that you saw the faithfulness of God in helping you be the person you are?

In 1964, Victor and Mildred Goertzel published a revealing study of 413 “famous and exceptionally gifted people” called Cradles of Eminence. They spent years attempting to understand what produced such greatness, what common thread might run through all of these outstanding people’s lives. Surprisingly, the most outstanding fact was that virtually all of them, 392, had to overcome very difficult obstacles in order to become who they were. This book has now been updated with a second edition in 2003.

Some come to this text in Micah and use verse 8 as a way of demonstrating that God is only interested in a proper ethical response from his people. But this is to misuse the text. Israel’s response stressed worship. They saw their response as doing what was right in worship and that would be sufficient to show their faithfulness to God. If he wanted more, then more would be given. It was the failure to translate their worship into how they treated people that upsets God. There is no attempt here to set aside worship for social ethics. It isn’t an either/or situation but a both/and. Worship is important. God gave detailed descriptions about worship to his people, but his intent was always that worship would lead to treating others in the way God had treated them.

In the same way, our worship is to realign ourselves with the faithful God. The God who has been just toward us. He sought that which was best for us and the God who has been loyal or merciful. When we see that then we are to treat others the way God has treated us.

But it isn’t simply worship God and treat others right, but on a deeper level it is to love God and love others. We love God and we love others but the example that we follow is the example of God. He, who gave his son for us; he who raised him from the dead, this God has shown us what is good.

Some come wanting to know what is the minimum I can do and still get a passing mark. Such an approach to worship means that there will be no transition to living life to honor God. We have received from God far more than we deserve. His faithfulness convicts us to be faithful toward him and toward others.

Our vision calls us to help the weak. This is justice. Even as God has helped us in our weakness, so we turn our attention to those who are disregarded. Our vision calls us to be merciful to those who have not been shown mercy. This is to be loyal based upon the character of God. These things we will do because God has shown us what is good.

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