Gò0dNews for Everyone
Three Things
T
by Dr. Rob Debelak
he well-known passage of Micah 6:8 responds to a
constant, humble walk with God speaks to life-conduct; it
main question posed in v. 6a: “Wherewith shall I
calls for abandoning arrogance in the journey with God.
come before the Lord, and bow myself before the
If the people had asked about sacrificing their firstborns
high God?” The question is extended in three subsequent
(v. 7b, which was forbidden), they could have had “role-
angles raised by people searching for an answer to, “What
playing” Abraham in mind (Genesis 22). Rather, v. 8 calls
will it take to worship God acceptably?”
one to walk in humility with God, like Abraham—and
The first thought is sacrifice, as verses 6 and 7 mention
that covers a lot more bases! Further, the reminder for
Old Testament animals offered in ritual, and involved
exhibiting justice, mercy, and a humble walk with God
some cost. The next frantic inquiry couples offerings
were indicators of people who had a relationship with God
with excessive lavishness (thousands… ten thousands), and implies increases of considerable value! The third query employs hyperbole—exaggeration (offering one’s firstborn), and though “over the top,” the overstatement may mask just how spiritually bankrupt people can be. What will it take? What must I give? How much is needed? To what extreme must I go? Likely, we’ve all been there—we recognize our need to be in God’s good graces, yet strangely, we opt to trivialize a true relationship with Him. Like those in the text, our questions may betray a form of bargaining with our spirituality that sadly asks, “What is a right relationship with God really going to cost me?” God’s response, though, through His spokesman, Micah, does not address the waywardness of the questions. Rather, the prophet reminds the people of three things,
but had forgotten the holy life He had called them to, how to worship acceptably, and what it meant to please God in one’s life. Those who would respond favorably would reflect
three important things they already know: “He hath shewed
God’s own character (He is just, He loves mercy, and He
thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require
walks with us). Those wanting to honor the Lord would
of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
evidence fruit of God’s work in their life, seen most notably
humbly with thy God?”
in right relationships with others (justice, mercy) and in a
The first of these, justice, aims at consistently ensuring a
life submitted to God (a humble walk).
fair shake for everyone. The second, mercy, is an expression of God’s kind of covenant love—as such, “loving lovingmercy (or “getting a kick out of being merciful”). Finally, a
44 // September 2020
About The Author
kindness” gets at taking delight in regularly extending Dr. Rob Debelak is associate professor of Bible in Lee University’s Online Program. He has taught at Lee University for 25 years, and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He and his family reside in Cleveland, TN.
