Micah 6:8 - Gods Marching Orders!
The LORD has told you, human, what is good;
he has told you what he wants from you:
to do what is right to other people,
love being kind to others,
and live humbly, obeying your God.
Micah 6:8 (NCV)
"To do justly, and to love mercy" is to act with justice and
kindness. These are manward virtues and sum up the intent of the second
table of the Decalogue. "To walk humbly with thy God" is to live in
harmony with the principles of the first table of the Decalogue. This is
Godward virtue. Love expressed in action with respect to God and to our
fellow men is "good"; it is all that God requires, for "love is the
fulfilling of the law" (Rom. 13:10). [SDA Commentary]
Micah urged a return to God that would be demonstrated in a
change of heart-a change of heart that would necessarily issue in a
lifestyle of love and justice, of compassion and caring for their
fellowmen as they walked close to God. [Victor Teacher's Commentary]
Thou art to walk humbly with thy God; to humble thyself to walk.
This implies to acknowledge thy iniquity, and submit to be saved by
his free mercy, as thou hast already found that no kind of offering
or sacrifice can avail. Without this humiliation of soul there
never was, there never can be, any walking with God; for without his
mercy no soul can be saved; and he must be THY God before thou canst
walk with him. (Adam Clarke Commentary)
"Yes, we have sinned. How can we make up for all that we have
done? We could bring sacrifices, but they can never wash away sins.
All our religion can never save us. Even if we sacrificed our own
children, that would not cleanse us. We know what God wants us to do: to
act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before our God." How
true this is! God does not want extravagant gifts and sacrifices; He
wants our hearts. [Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old
Testament]
There are things required in life. To drive a car, you must
have a driver's license. To teach in a public school you need a
teaching certificate. These things are required so that a person may
"do" something, or "be" something. To be a follower of God, there are
requirements. Fear God, not as the "Great Punisher in the Sky," but rather
with a reverence for who and what He is! We can begin to see Him in
His creation. To walk in His ways is to order your life, your walk,
according to His Word, which must be regularly read to know Him more
fully. And as you begin to know Him more fully, you grow in affection
for Him. And this ultimately leads to the desire to serve Him. To
know Him, to love Him, to serve Him. Is that your desire? Today
draw near, read His Word and pray to Him. It is His desire you
should. [In His Time, Walk with Wisdom]
There are many who believe and profess to claim the Lord's
promise; they talk about Christ and about the Holy Spirit, yet receive no
benefit. They do not surrender the soul to be guided and controlled by
the divine agencies. We cannot use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to
use us. Through the Spirit God works in His people "to will and to
do of His good pleasure." Phil. 2:13. But many will not submit to
this. They want to manage themselves. This is why they do not receive
the heavenly gift. Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch
for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of God
awaits their demand and reception. This promised blessing, claimed by
faith, brings all other blessings in its train. It is given according
to the riches of the grace of Christ, and He is ready to supply
every soul according to the capacity to receive. DA671,2
To walk with God involves constant prayer and watchfulness.
[Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown Commentary]
Every act must come from a relationship to God, making Him Lord
and us His humble servants. [Disciple SB]
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