| Introduction God is patient with his people. We all have experienced that. Even when he confronts them because of their sin, he does it patiently and lovingly. The people of God have been murmuring against God. They have been saying that they got the short end of the stick in this covenant deal. So, God brings the facts into the picture. I. God pleads his case, 1-5. A. Israel had broken the covenant that God had made with it. B. God had all the right to punish them without any explanation. C. The people had forgotten how God had always born their burdens and were complaining about the new burden that was upon them – Assyria was outside Israel threatening to invade. D. Yet, instead of coming down on Israel with all his might, God pleads his case before the court of heaven and earth. 1. Micah is the bailiff in charge of convening the court; God is the plaintiff, and the people are the defendants. 2. God calls his creation as witness to his love for his people, 2. "They [the mountains] are to be summoned to concur in the divine judgment, with their knowledge of generations of men's misdeeds upon which they have gazed as silent observers since time immemorial." Leslie Allen 3. God presents his case, 3-5. a. God asks Israel what wrong he has done to them, 3a. 1) Note that despite all the unfaithfulness of Israel God still calls them "my people." 2) Isn't that encouraging that even when we are not faithful to God, he doesn't abandon us and still looks at us as his people? b. God wants to know in what way he has wearied (burdened) them, 3b. 1) Israel accused God of having put so many burdens on their back that they had to seek other gods for relief. a) We look at this situation and think, "how dare these people think that God would do something wrong!" b) Yet, we are often guilty of the same thing. i. We rebel against the authorities God has placed over us. ii. We are discontent/unhappy/depressed about the place God has put us in. iii. We refuse to believe all that God has said in his most precious Word. c) All these are sinful actions and thoughts that must be repented of. d) The beauty of this whole thing is that every time we repent of our sins and turn to Christ, he will lovingly forgive us. 2) When I read this question, I could almost hear God asking me in what way he had burdened me. Mt. 11:28-30 – Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. c. God asks for evidence of the wrong that he has done to Israel, 3c. 1) Israel had no evidence of God's unfaithfulness to them. 2) We too tend to forget that God bears whatever burden he gives us. 3) We tend to think about the difficulties of life and forget about the blessings that come from God. d. God helps Israel remember his covenant faithfulness to them, 4-5. 1) God brought deliverance to Israel out of the bondage of slavery, 4a. 2) God gave them godly people to lead them, 4b. 3) God protected them from their enemies, 5a. 4) God revealed himself to them as the righteous God, v. 5b. e. As I was reading this passage, I was reminded of God's faithfulness to me. 1) He has delivered me from my sins. 2) He has provided godly people to lead me in my life. 3) He has protected me against Satan's attack. 4) He has revealed himself to me through his Word. f. As you read this passage you also should be reminded of God's faithfulness to you. II. The people of Israel realize their mistake and say a major "Oops", 6-7. A. After hearing God's plea, the people realized that God was upset with them. B. They said "We better do something to win God's favor back to us." C. Instead of repenting, they tried to bribe God, 6a. D. They first consider presenting a burnt offering with one-year old calves, 6b. 1. Burnt offering = sin offering that is completely consumed by fire 2. Calves were very expensive E. They progress to a thousand rams, 7a. 1. One ram was all that was necessary for a sin offering. 2. A thousand rams was unheard of. D. Next, they say "how about thousands of gallons of the finest oil? Would that appease God?" E. Lastly, they say "what if I give my own son to be sacrificed on the altar? That should be enough?" God says, "No, I'll give you my first-born Son." F. Note that every one of these ways that the Israelites mentioned is not what God prescribed for them to do. 1. A calf was not to be offered as a sin offering. 2. A few drops of oil was all that God asked for. 3. A human sacrifice was an abomination to the Lord. G. We too at times are tempted to approach God in ways that are not his ways. H. Note also that the Israelites were trying to buy Gods forgiveness, 7b. 1. They kept on heightening their offerings. 2. They thought that empty offerings would buy God's favor. I. The sad thing is that we might find ourselves trying to buy God's favor as well. 1. "If I come to church all the time, God won't be mad at me." 2. "If I pray long, God will like me" 3. "If I suffer a lot for the gospel, God will be my friend." 4. "If I punish my body by not eating, I will find favor." 5. "If I remain in despair, I will earn some future relief." J. The problem is that we cannot do anything nice enough to earn God's love. Is. 64:6 – All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. K. But do you know what? We don't have to do anything to earn God's love – he freely gives it to us. Romans 5:5,8 – Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us…But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. III. Don't act so silly, God has already shown you what he wants from you, 8. Dt. 10:12-13 – And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? 1. There could not be a better shower. 2. If God shows it is certain. 1. God uses the word Adam, which is an inclusive word. 2. God has shown to every person what he requires of him/her. 3. I read this passage with my name on it (read) and you should do the same. C. God has shown us what is good 1. What is good and what he requires of us are synonyms in this passage. 2. What God requires of us is not a burden, or a sacrifice, but it is good. D. God has shown us what are the four things he requires of us: justice, mercifulness, fellowship with him, and humbleness. 1. In these four requirements God summarized the two greatest commandments (justice and mercy = neighbor; fellowship and walk = God). 2. In order to love our neighbor we have to be just towards him/her. "[To be just is] to hurt no man's person, property, and character; to give to everyone their due, and do as he would desire to be done by; which as it is agreeable to the law of God, so to the light of nature, and what is shown, required, and taught by it." John Gill a. To hurt no man's person, property, and character. b. To give to everyone their due 2) Give just criticism (speak the truth in love) 3) Do as he would desire to be done by – Don't do anything that you think you would not like if somebody did it to you. 3. Biblical love for the neighbor is a merciful love. a. This word has a large range of meaning and they are represented here. b. Can mean mercy, kindness, lovingkindness, goodness, favor, compassion, goodliness, and pity. c. We are not only to be merciful, but we are also to love being merciful. 4. Humility and fellowship with God summarize the greatest commandment of them all. a. In the Bible, to walk with somebody is to live daily in that person's footsteps. b. God wants to have fellowship with his people. 1) Like Adam, we should walk in the garden with God. 2) Like Jacob, we should wrestle with God in prayer. 3) Like Mary, we should sit at Jesus' feet and listen to him. 4) In worship, we should have a sweet time with the Jesus. 5) In devotion, we should listen to his Word. 5. God wants his people to be humble. a. Humility is the same as selflessness. b. Humility is the realization that I am not worth anything. c. Humility is to live according to the knowledge that the best I can do is just like rubbish before God. d. Humility is to know that although I am not worth the air I breath God sent his only Son to die for me. Conclusion
So God sets before you what he wants you to do and it is simple: do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.
http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2017/07/what-god-requires-of-me-march-61-8.html
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