Micah 6:8 - God's Marching Orders!
Mic.6:8; God's Marching Orders!
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Micah 6:8 (KJV) He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and
[what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Micah 6:8 (TEV) No, the LORD has told us what is good. What he
requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to
live in humble fellowship with our God.
Micah 6:8 (NCV) 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 (NLT) No, O people, the LORD has already told you
what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to
love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Justly. is to order one's life according to the "judgments" of
God. [SDA Commentary]
Mercy, is a rich word which includes the idea of faithful love
in action. [Believer's SB]
To walk humbly. When men walk humbly with God they order their
lives in harmony with the divine will. [SDA Commentary mod]
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Micah 6-7 formed Micah's third message. [New Bible Companion]
Overview
Micah stated God's case against Israel (6:1-8) and announced
God's sentence (vv. 9-16). He lamented the breakdown of covenant life
(7:1-6), yet lived in hope (vv. 7-10) of God's ultimate victory (vv.
11-20). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
SECTION HEADINGS
The LORD'S Lawsuit Against His People (6:1-16)
What God Is Looking For (6:1-16)
What Does the Lord Require? (6:6-8)
What God Requires of Man
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Deut. 10:12-13 (KJV) And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy
God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all
his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all
thy heart and with all thy soul, [13] To keep the commandments of
the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy
good?
1 Samuel 15:22 (KJV) And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great
delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of
the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken
than the fat of rams.
Proverbs 21:3 (KJV) To do justice and judgment is more
acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Eccles. 12:13 (KJV) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole
matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty
of man.
Isaiah 1:16-19 (KJV) Wash you, make you clean; put away the
evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; [17]
Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the
fatherless, plead for the widow. [18] Come now, and let us reason together,
saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white
as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
[19] If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the
land:
Isaiah 57:15 (KJV) For thus saith the high and lofty One that
inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy
place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive
the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite
ones.
Isaiah 58:6-11 (KJV) Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to
let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? [7] Is it
not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor
that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou
cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? [8]
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health
shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before
thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. [9] Then shalt thou
call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say,
Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the
putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; [10] And if thou draw
out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then
shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
[11] And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul
in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a
watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Isaiah 66:2 (KJV) For all those things hath mine hand made, and
all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I
look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth
at my word.
Lament. 3:26 (KJV) It is good that a man should both hope and
quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
Hosea 12:6 (KJV) Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and
judgment, and wait on thy God continually.
Matthew 5:3 (KJV) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:7 (KJV) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall
obtain mercy.
Luke 18:14 (KJV) I tell you, this man went down to his house
justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall
be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
James 4:6-10 (KJV) But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he
saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. [7]
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you. [8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse
your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. [9]
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to
mourning, and your joy to heaviness. [10] Humble yourselves in the sight
of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
1 Peter 5:5-6 (KJV) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves
unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be
clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to
the humble. [6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of
God, that he may exalt you in due time:
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
"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 (see on Matt. 22:39, 40). "To walk humbly with
thy God" is to live in harmony with the principles of the first
table of the Decalogue (see on Matt. 22:37, 38). 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]
God wants persons to have fellowship with Him and with one
another. [Disciple SB]
We must always remember, we are the created, He is the Great
Uncreated! We are the clay, He is the Potter. In our society today we
demand immediate gratification, immediate knowledge, immediate
understanding. When a person finds themself demanding of God anything, it is
time for a spiritual pulse check. Demands do not honor; demands are
made to one that is obligated to you. God is not obligated to us for
anything. Beware the spirit of this age, and do not demand of Almighty
God. [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
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]
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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