IN COURT WITH THE LORD

BIBLE PASSAGE: MICAH 6:1-8

• Picture taken from Google
• Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page
• APRIL, 2024

INTRODUCTION:

If were to ask how’s your relationship to God, what’s your answer? How about God, if he would answer, what would be the possible reply you expected based on GOD - YOU- relationship?

In Micah chapter 6, we can read that God had complaints against His people and the people urged God to voice out His complaints and it’s like telling the case in the court. Also, the Israelite people were complaining of God’s expectation of them.

In verse 3, God asked, “What have I done to you? And How have I wearied you? (In tagalog: Ano ba ang nagawa ko sainyo? Paano ba ako naging pabigat sainyo?)

Sometimes, as Christians, we think that being a Christian has a lot of responsibilities to do and this is one of the possible reasons why some of us don’t commit in a certain ministry. Have you experienced having complains in the ministry and converse it to the Lord?

I remember one time in our church when the ministry leaders had a meeting with the pastor and we talked about the prayer ministry. At the end of the meeting it was time to vote for what time would go church to pray (once a week) and the winner for that vote is 6:00am. I had a kind of complains at that time but I had no choice because that was time mostly the leaders voted for. I was thinking of the things I need to prepare on that early morning but I asked the Lord for my heart to humbly accept the decision. Eventually, God gave me the heart of acceptance and though there were sacrifices, I felt the intimate time praying with the Lord. I asked the Lord to forgive me and accept my service in prayer.

In the passage, let’s see the dialogue as witnesses of what had happened to the GOD-ISRAEL relationship.

 

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  GOD PROVIDES A BRIEF HISTORY OF ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE TO THEM.

God provides a brief history of all that God has done for them through the years (6:4-5). Given this story, they should be more grateful than their complaining suggests. Those “saving acts of God” (verse 5) on Israel’s behalf include: the exodus from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 1-15); the leadership of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam (a striking female reference, Exodus 15:20-21); the deliverance from the Moabite King Balak through the agency of Balaam as the people made their way through the wilderness (Numbers 22-24); and the climactic move into the promised land itself, using familiar shorthand:  from Shittim, east of the Jordan, to Gilgal on the west (see Joshua 2:1; 3:1; 4:19; 5:19). (workingpreacher.org)

 

We can see that like in a courtroom, Israel stepped as a witness and God asked what He has done. Sometimes we need to be reminded what God has done to our lives in order for us to remember that God has done nothing but good to all of us. Israel was thinking that they were cursed by God because of the things happened to them but God reminded them about what happened to King Balak who wanted to curse Israel through Balaam but God intervened and instead of cursing, Balaam blessed them.

 

Not only did God not do evil to Israel, He also did them an enormous amount of good. He redeemed them and gave them godly leaders. God’s case against Israel was strong and Israel was guilty in the prophet’s court.

 

In light of this, Israel must remember that God could never be persuaded to curse Israel, except if they brought curses on themselves through their own idolatry and disobedience. In the prophet’s courtroom God showed Israel that if they felt cursed in any way, it was entirely their responsibility. (enduring.com/bible-commentary)

 

Sometimes we are in the same situation with Israel; we blame God for everything that happens in our lives. We don’t see that our stubbornness has consequences and leads us to a wrong path.

 

Remembering God has done in our lives is the best way to be a witness that God doesn’t want us to have a miserable life. If we just only be obedient to His instructions.

 

 

2.  THE ISRAELITES REPLIED WITH BITTERNESS AND RESENTMENT (MICAH 6:6-7)

Wherewith shall I come before the Lord? This was a question asked out of bitterness and resentment. In Micah’s imagined courtroom, Israel called out to God from the witness stand and said, “Just what do you want from me?”

 

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? This reply from Israel is like saying, “You’re asking too much from me.”

 

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? This answer from the people was like saying “Would that be enough to please You?”

 

Sometimes we are in a situation that pleasing the Lord is hard for us. To the extent that we’re thinking that God is asking too much from us without realizing that obedience is the best way God wants.

 

Of all God has done for us, is it worth to become obedient to Him?

 

 

 

3.  GOD TELLS WHAT HE REQUIRES OF US (MICAH 6:8)

He has shown you: In Micah the prophet’s imagined courtroom God stopped the shouting of the angry defendant from the witness box. God essentially said, “You act as if what I require of you is some mystery. In fact, it is no mystery at all. I have shown you clearly what is good and what I require of you.”

To be just is to be fair in all you do. To act justly means to be honest and tell the truth. It means you treat every person equally, hold them to the same standard, and not apply a different system of fairness to one person versus another.   This means you will do what is morally right even when it is not socially popular. 

To love mercy means you will respond in the situation the way God would. You will uphold his standard in the earth and view every situation through this lens. It means you will love people the way he loves them and care for people the way he cares for them. Especially those who are less fortunate.

To walk humbly with God means you are not only careful about your walk, but you recognize your position is a result of God’s grace and nothing else. Your walk with God should cause you to increase in humility, not become full of arrogance.

When you add it all up, this verse is about your character. One of the ways character is displayed is how you treat people who disagree with you, and how you treat people who can give you nothing in return. In Matthew Jesus talks about how easy it is to love those who love you back. That does not display character or fruit. How do you love those who choose not to love you back, or where there is no personal benefit from loving them? When you can do these things, you are fulfilling the challenge to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God. This is what God has shown us. Now let’s go do it. 

In Micah the prophet’s imagined courtroom God has proven His case before the court. Israel was afflicted, but it was not because of the neglect or disregard of God. Their own sin brought their affliction upon them. In addition, what God required of them was not mysterious or too difficult – they simply did not do it.