The people of Judah were in big trouble. They were still following the sacrificial system in Jerusalem. But that wasn’t the problem.
The sacrificial system was ordained by God for relief from sin and guilt. It was complicated and could be quite a burden if done right.
But it wasn’t the sacrificial system that Micah warned the Israelites about at the end of the 8th century B.C. when they were in mortal peril from their enemies. It was abuse of the poor and vulnerable and worship of false gods.
“Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?” Is it really burnt offerings that God wants?
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Friends, what could be more simple than that?
Are you feeling a little behind the “good Christian” eightball? Does it seem like there are a lot of things people are telling you to do in order to make the grade?
We sure can make things complicated. And that goes for religion too.
But in a single sentence Micah cuts through it all. Three simple things that, yes, even you and I can do.
First, do justice. Stand up for fair play. Pay fair wages. Follow the Ten Commandments and do no harm to your neighbor.
Second, love kindness. God has treated us kindly when we deserved much worse. And loving his merciful kindness means being kind and merciful to others.
Finally, walk humbly with your God. Consider others to be of more importance than yourselves. Be a servant like Jesus made himself a servant. Take the lowest seat first.
Three simple things in one simple sentence. Not only can we remember them, but, by the grace of God, and with the spirit of Jesus filling our sails, we can surely do them.
Written by Jay Trott
