WEEKLY SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON
An international
Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday July 19, 2015
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readers worldwide
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JUSTICE,
LOVE, AND HUMILITY
(What
GOD requires)
(Micah
6)
In Micah 6 we find the prophet’s
third message to Israel. Here he reminds GOD’s people, then and now, just what
the LORD requires from those who profess to be HIS children. First the LORD
asks the people to state their case against HIM, and, to let all creation
testify on their behalf. Knowing that they had no case against HIM, the LORD
then begins to present HIS case against Israel, and in verse 2, the LORD says
that HE will prosecute Israel to the full extent of the law.
In verse 3, the LORD
begins HIS case by asking Israel “What have I done to make you turn from ME? Tell
ME why your patience is exhausted! Answer ME!” Then, without actually waiting
for an answer (for HE knew they had no excuse for their abandonment of HIS laws)
the LORD reminds Israel of how HE redeemed them from slavery in Egypt (Exodus),
using Moses, Aaron, and even Miriam (because of her role as a prophetess - Exodus
15:20-21), to deliver them into a state of freedom (v.4). Moses represented GOD
to man, while Aaron represented man to GOD.
In verse 5, the
Israelites are reminded by GOD of how King Balak of Moab tried to have them
cursed through the prophet Balaam, and how HE caused Balaam to bless them
instead (Numbers 22-24). GOD also reminded them of how, on their journey from
Acacia to Gilgal (Joshua 3:1 & 4:18-24), HE tried desperately to teach them
about HIS OWN faithfulness to them as HIS chosen people, by drying up the
Jordan River, just as HE had done with the Red Sea, so that they could cross
over into the “promised land” without getting their feet wet.
And so, in this third
message from the prophet Micah (Vs.6-8), he reminds GOD’s people, then and now,
just what the LORD requires from those who profess to be HIS children. Here in
this passage, the people ask what they can bring to the LORD that would serve
as an acceptable sacrifice of atonement for their evil deeds. They then suggest
everything from yearling calves, to their own children.
Child sacrifice is one
of the things that their, newly found, idol god Mollech requires. GOD would never
require a child sacrifice. They had become so spiritually confused, that they
were actually suggesting to GOD, the same kind of worship that they provided
for their idols, instead of worshiping GOD “HIS way”, which is how we are all
supposed to worship HIM. Micah reminds the people at this point, that, the LORD
has already told them what is good, and, what HE requires from each of us. HE
requires us to “do what is right”, “to love mercy”, and to “walk humbly with
HIM”.
GOD does not wish for
us to only be related to HIM in a ritualistic way, but rather, HE wants us to
possess an inward desire to obey HIM, and relate to HIM in a “personal” way. HE
does not want us to look at obedience as a burden, or a mental task, because,
when we take on that attitude, over time, we will begin to loathe HIS standards,
instead of seeking to learn and incorporate them into our lives.
Micah 6:8 is a powerful
statement. It is one of the many great “pure statements” that can be found in
the annals of Old Testament literature. It sums up the very heart and make-up
of the Christian Walk with GOD. It is an ethical injunction that is not
intended to be a way of salvation, but rather, it is simply meant to express
the way “the saved person” should walk, not in the world, but rather, the way
he or she should walk with GOD.
The word “good”, in
this passage, is defined as “practical” and “moral”, not “speculative” or “philosophical”.
GOD’s definition of “good” contains three elements, and they are;
·
To
act justly
·
To
love mercy
·
To
walk humbly with HIM
And when we desire and
act upon obtaining those qualities, and then, begin to live by them, we are
doing that which GOD requires of us. We show through our behavior that we have
gained a desire in our heart to please GOD, and we no longer embody, or exhibit,
the desire to please the world.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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