Micah 6: 6-8
How do you know when someone cares about you or loves you? Caring for someone and showing love is synonymous. Love languages are universal such as gifts, acts of service, quality time, physical touch or words of affection. However sometimes people don’t receive love from another because there natural language (like words of affection) don’t understand another persons natural language (acts of service).
“Care” = “Love for others”. Deuteronomy 10:19; Psalm 133:1-3; John 13:14; John 15:12; Romans 12:9-10; Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 13:1; 1 John 2:9-11;3:10-11;16-18;4:7-12
“Care” = “Kindness toward others”.Proverbs 12:25; 19:17; 1 Cor 13:4; Gal 5:22; Eph 4:32; Col 3:12; 1 Thess 5:15; 2 Tim 2:24; 2 Peter 1:5-7
In Micah 6:1-5, God as prosecutor in this cosmic court-room (vv. 1-2) states His case: (1) He rescued Israel from Egypt; (2) He gave as leaders Moses, Aaron, and Miriam; (3) He reversed the intended curse of Balaam (Numbers 23-24) and (4) He brought His people into the Promised Land. Micah 6:6-7 is Israel's confused reply to God’s past faithfulness recounted in Micah 6:1-5. (Micah 6:1-5 footnote. Ryrie Study Bible Expanded Edition. Chicago. Moody Bible Institute, 1994 p1382) How does Hebrews 12:14,24; 1 Peter 1:15-16 and Romans 12:1 answer the question, “With what shall I come before the Lord”?
Personal holiness (setting yourself apart) is a commitment of oneself to God. It’s totally surrendering oneself to the Lordship of God. We can only come to the Lord in holiness that God gives (John 3:3-5, Eph 2:8-10). He provided the Way in Jesus. Hebrews 12:24 “You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.” We must give ourselves to God as “a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable.” - Rom 12:1.
Micah 6:8 says the Lord requires you “to do justice”, how does Isaiah 1:17 and Jeremiah 22:3 helps me understand justice from God’s point of view. Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3 “learn to do right. Seek justice is concerned with relieving the oppressed AND correcting the oppressor. Defending the fatherless and plead for the widow. Executing justice and righteousness is to deliver out of the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. It involves doing no wrong, not being violent to strangers or temporary residents, the fatherless or widow. Not shedding innocent blood in this place.
Micah 6:8 says God requires you “to love kindness”, practical help:
- Ephesians 4:32 - become useful, helpful and kind to others have compassion and understanding (tenderhearted) - forgive others readily and freely as God in Christ Jesus forgave you.
- Proverbs 12:25 - be an encouraging with your words, help lift anxiety from people’s heart
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15 - don’t pay back wrongs with more wrongs, but always aim to show kindness and seek to do good for everyone
- 2 Timothy 2:24 - Don’t be a fighter, instead be kind to everyone - preserving the bond of peace - this requires patient, forbearing willingness to suffer wrong.
- God saves the humble but brings low the proud
- “If” I humble myself
- and pray
- and seek God’s face
- and turn from wicked ways
- “Then” God will will hear from heaven
- and will forgive my sin
- and will heal my land