Micah 6: What God Requires
IMAGINE THAT YOU are handed a summons to appear in court for breaching an agreement. Then to your surprise you read that the one who had initiated the suit is God. This is what happens to Judah in chapter 6. God calls them to court and argues his case by reminding them of his faithful acts and their faithlessness.
Warming Up to God
How has God recently shown you his faithfulness?
Read Micah 6. »
Discovering the Word
- What kinds of complaints against Israel does the Lord list in this chapter?
- What is the significance of the answer that God gives to his own question (vv. 3-5)? (These verses refer to Ex; Nu 22—24 and Jos 4.)
- God requires the Israelites to sacrifice in worship. So why does he seem to be against it here (vv. 6-8)?
- How do the actions of the people (vv. 9-12, 16) contrast with what God requires (v. 8)?
- What sort of punishment awaits wicked towns or cities (vv. 13-15, 16)?
Applying the Word
- How can remembering God's saving acts in the Bible and in your life (vv. 4-5) change your attitudes when you want to blame him (v. 3)?
- Sometimes Christians reduce spirituality to simply doing certain things, like going to church or having consistent quiet times. How does this chapter expand your view?
- Where is the voice of the Lord crying out (v. 9) against your town or city?
Responding in Prayer
Ask God to show you how you can better embody verse 8. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you do so.
For Further Study
Evangelical Truth by John Stott