The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Micah 6:8,
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
If we follow the line of thought in Micah's prophecy we find Israel to be in the cross-hairs of God's judgment. The Lord brings his indictment and announces his judgment. Verse 3 brings an interesting turn in God's indictment. In that Israel had abandoned God, he asks the question, "My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me." After freeing the Israelites from their enslavement in Egypt, providing for them and bringing them into the land he had promised their patriarch, Abraham, it is a good question.
In light of the rhetorical question with its implied injustice, rebellion and sin of Israel toward her God, Micah asks how can he make amends? Will burnt offerings do? Thousands of rams? Ten thousand rivers of olive oil? How about sacrificing his firstborn? What will appease God for the continued sinful rebellion of Israel toward her God?
God's answer is somewhat in the vein of what David acknowledged when confronted by Nathan over his adultery and murder, "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise." Psalm 51:16-17. In answer to Micah's question the answer is that his people are to, "...act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." In other words, forget about the religion and have a right heart attitude toward God.
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
If we follow the line of thought in Micah's prophecy we find Israel to be in the cross-hairs of God's judgment. The Lord brings his indictment and announces his judgment. Verse 3 brings an interesting turn in God's indictment. In that Israel had abandoned God, he asks the question, "My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me." After freeing the Israelites from their enslavement in Egypt, providing for them and bringing them into the land he had promised their patriarch, Abraham, it is a good question.
In light of the rhetorical question with its implied injustice, rebellion and sin of Israel toward her God, Micah asks how can he make amends? Will burnt offerings do? Thousands of rams? Ten thousand rivers of olive oil? How about sacrificing his firstborn? What will appease God for the continued sinful rebellion of Israel toward her God?
God's answer is somewhat in the vein of what David acknowledged when confronted by Nathan over his adultery and murder, "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise." Psalm 51:16-17. In answer to Micah's question the answer is that his people are to, "...act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." In other words, forget about the religion and have a right heart attitude toward God.
As I have said before, an impossible task for all who are dominated by a sinful nature. All of us have been and it is only till we embrace the Lord in faith and become filled with his Spirit are we able to walk humbly with our God. The accusation that we, in our lost and fallen state cannot is what Scripture calls the offense of the cross, Galatians 5:11.
God tells us we are sinful. God tells us we are spiritual dead and lost. God tells us we are estranged from him, that we are not good enough to have any kind of relationship with him. This is not just truthful, but it is also a jarring and an offensive thing to be confronted with. Particularly when we are so thrilled with ourselves just the way we are. The gospel message is not just a message of love, communicated through the willing sacrifice of Jesus to pay the penalty of our sins, it is also an offensive message... and should be. We need to be confronted with our sinful condition or we will never recognize the need we have of a savior.
My thoughts on a current found in our pop-culture today: Here is the motivation of the spiritual forces of darkness to promote the notion of political correctness and a victim-status for the allegedly offended in our culture today. While many of us shake our heads in disbelief over the seemingly vapid and mindless concern for the supposed American natives who are offended over the Washington Redskins name, (an offended group of real native Americans no one seems to be able to find), and a lack of coherence and logic as to why that name should be considered offensive, it is hotly pursued by the pundits among us. Why? It is not the name and it is not the issue that is important. What is important is to establish within our culture the notion that the most important thing in life is to not offend anyone. Get it?
I'm not suggesting these pundits have any clue as to what it is that motivates them, but motivated they are nonetheless. It will come to pass that evangelizing the lost will be considered to be an attack on others, child abuse, etc. God is building his kingdom and the devil is doing his best to slow that agenda. He knows what his fate is once the kingdom is deemed full by God and this age comes to a close.
Just a few thoughts on what lies ahead for the gospel mission as the message itself will become an identifiable transgression in our society. "We must not point to others shortcomings... it may offend them." This will result in anyone carrying the gospel message to be defined as an offensive bully, not one who carries a message of love.
What do you think? Am I off the mark here?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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