Maranatha Baptist Church
The Lord v. Israel
  • Rejoice The Lord Is King

      • Psalms 142:1-3ESV

      • Psalms 142:4-6ESV

      • Psalms 142:7ESV

  • Rock of Ages
  • Hallelujah! What a Savior!

      • Micah 6:1-2ESV

      • Micah 6:3-4ESV

      • Micah 6:5-6ESV

      • Micah 6:7-8ESV

  • First, I want to start off with a disclaimer: sermon illustrations are not endorsements.
    Now… In the TV show The Office there’s a moment where Steve Carrell’s character Michael Scott makes the comment:
    “Sometimes I’ll start a sentence and I don’t know where it’s going. I just hope to find it somewhere along the way.”
    -Michael Scott -Brian Morris
    And if I am being honest, that’s how I sometimes approach sermon titles, sometimes I title the sermon before I finish writing it, or in the middle of writing it, occasionally before i even start the sermon - while hoping to tie the sermon to the title. Sometimes that doesn’t happen at all, and I assume no one notices it, other times it works out perfectly.
    Simple reason is that the deadline for the sermon title, is much sooner than the deadline for the sermon. But also, sermon titles are not nearly as important as content of the sermon.
    One example of how this worked out oddly was at the beginning of this series in Micah. The first sermon from Micah, I titled “The Courtroom of the Almighty”. Now I still think that title fits it’s that sermon. If you look back to chapter 1, we have this language of the Judge coming to bring judgment upon a guilty people. That being said, even when I was working on my sermon for chapter 1, I came across several commentaries that made the observation that the legal indictment against the people of Israel comes in chapter 6. But of course, I can’t repeat sermon titles can I?
    The formal indictment against the people occurs and the courtroom language appears is here in this text. We even see this in verse 1, where we read “Hear what the Lord says,” and the first word that he speaks is “arise.” Similar to the language when a judge enters into a courtroom.
    Now in the Trial of the Lord v. Israel
    The Plaintiff: The Lord
    The Messenger on Behalf of the Lord: Micah.
    The Defendant: Israel
    Witnesses: The mountains, the hills, creation
    The text breaks up into a few sections.
    The Opening Statements 1-2
    The Indictment v. 3-5
    The Requirement 6-8
    The Verdict
    Though we will not get there today, the sentencing happens in verse 9-16.

    The Opening Statement

    So the Lord calls someone to rise and make their case. There is some debate over whether the Lord is calling Micah forward to proclaim the case. Or if the Lord is first calling the defendant to make their case. Ultimately, it does not change the nature of the text on how we understand that. However, I favor the interpretation that it is Micah speaking that fits better with the grammar, and structure of the text.
    So this text begins by the Lord, who is the judge, but also the Plaintiff, calling Micah to stand and declare the case against Israel.
    And then in verse 2, there is this further statement concerning the nature of the case, and that the Lord is bringing an indictment against the people. Verses 1-2 serve as a preamble to the case.

    The Indictment

    Then in verse 3, we read the Lord is establishing the grounds upon which their relationship exists. He recaps the history of Israel, by referring back to the most important part of their history. He called them up from the land of Egypt. He pulled them out of slavery. Beyond that he sent them Moses, Aaron and Miriam. Moses being the one who brought the law, Aaron and Miriam being his brother and sister, but also that through Aaron comes the priesthood. So this is a statement concerning one of the most important families in their history. remember the law that I gave you. Remember the sacrificial system that you received through the mosaic law and Aaronic priesthood.
    In other words, he is reminding them of their covenant, and demonstrating how they have broken it.
    And then next reference is the events that occur in the book of Numbers. This might seem like an odd reference because neither Balaam nor Balak are the good guys in that story. (And frankly, neither is Israel.) From Numbers 22-25 there is a series of events where Balak the king of Moab is stressing out about Israel. He is worried about them coming to attack and wipe out Moab. In response to this he call the prophet Balaam that he might hire him to curse Israel. Balaam initially says no, and then Balak continues to ask him, even the Lord himself tells Balaam no. But Balaam eventually comes to the Lord and asks again - and Balaam is told by the Lord - you may go, but only do what I command you. This results in Balaam blessing Israel rather than cursing them. Three times. Soon after we get the narrative concerning Balaam and his donkey. This narrative ends with Moab and Midian in Shittim deceiving the Israelites by sending women into the Israelite camp to trick them into both idolatry as well as immorality. The resolution of this event occurs because of Phineas, Aaron’s grandson, takes a spear and pierces the Midianite woman who had brought in the idolatry and the immorality, and man whom she was with.
    Then in Numbers 31 Balaam is killed by the Israelites in battle, and the text tells us it is because he incited the deception that occured in Numbers 25.
    So why does God reference this event, in his indictment?
    Well here the prophet Micah is speaking a curse against Israel, this is the sort of thing that Balak would have hoped for. So here the opposite of Balaam’s oracles is occuring. But the statement remains the same.
    Balak and Balaam were not able to manipulate God. The Lord cannot be bought. The prophet Balaam did not speak on his own accord, but he spoke the words of YHWH. In the same manner, this serves as a defense for Micah. Micah is not able to sway God. Micah is not speaking of his own desire, or his own agenda against for his own people. But he is speaking only what the Lord commands him to speak. Even though the people and prophets are seeking to silence him.
    But that’s not all, in the account with Balaam, Balak has hired Balaam to curse Israel, but instead he blesses Israel three times. God has blessed Israel immensely in the Old Testament, and even turned the curses of their enemies into blessings.
    And then finally, he references Gilgal. This is referring to the last encampment east of the Jordan River. From Egypt to Shittim to Gilgal, the Lord has been kind and merciful to these people. Even in their sinful behaviors from building a golden idol, to failing to listen and take the land they were promised, to ignoring the sign of the covenant God still remained “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”
    So God is calling out the specific events, and significant figures in their history to remind them that he has only ever been good to them. The answer to the question “O my people, what have I done to you?” is that the Lord has been immensely good to them. And the answer to “how have I wearied you?” is that he has not - rather that he has promised them rest, but because of their sinfulness they hindered their own rest.
    The Lord has begun this court case by putting on display his righteousness to show that he has done them no wrong.
    The grounds for the covenant, and God’s faithfulness has been clearly displayed. But covenants have requirements and stipulations. God has kept up his side of the covenant. Have they?

    The Requirements

    And now Micah then moves to the requirements that God has for his people. But he does this through a set of hypothetical questions.
    God, what do you want from us? How shall I approach the Lord? What does he desire of us?
    Should I offer more sacrifices? is 1000 rams enough? What about 10000 rivers of oil? What if I give up my own child, to be sacrificed? Will all of that be enough to please God?
    And Micah’s questions here lead us to understand that this is not what God desires.
    When we consider verse 6-7 we read of theme that runs throughout various portions of the Scriptures. God does not delight in sacrifice. The sacrificial system was never because God delighted in the death of animals. And that is made clear in this passage as well as in Isaiah 1:11
    Isaiah 1:11 ESV
    11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
    And the question is similar to other aspects of Scripture… David asks in Psalm 51:16-17
    Psalm 51:16 ESV
    16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
    Psalm 51 deals with the sin of David when he took Bathsheba. But even so, David’s reflection is that God’s desire is not sacrifice.
    (Verse 17… the sacrifices of God are a broken and a contrite heart.)
    The purpose of the sacrificial system in the Old Testament was to demonstrate that the wages of sin is death. In order for sin to be atoned for someone had to die. In the Old Testament, the sacrificial system demonstrated a precursor to Christ. There was a substitutionary aspect to it. This animal died in their place so that they would not. The understanding was that this ram, this goat, this heifer, this turtledove are being put to death because that is what my sin deserves.
    The sacrifices were not what God required, the sacrifices for necessary so that God did not destroy them. God is holy, and cannot tolerate sin. So that he might remain in their midst it was necessary for them to atone for sins. This was done previously through the sacrificial system. However, that was not enough. They had to keep coming back week after week, sin after sin. Until Christ Jesus came to pay it all. Where Jesus did what the blood of bulls and goats could never do. Wash away sin.
    But now on this side of the cross, where the sacrificial system has been done away because Christ gives us something better we don’t offer those sacrifices anymore. Because slaughtering of animals was not what God wanted - he wanted righteousness.
    God does not desire that we sin and then we continue to come to him with half hearted repentance, as we mumble through a prayer that we are sorry that we sinned again… when really aren’t sorry.
    Those moments when we sin, and think “it’s okay, God will forgive me.” That was the heart attitude of the people of Israel at this moment. That’s why God tells them that their hands are full of blood in Isaiah 1. The sinned and sacrificed, sinned and sacrificed. Rinse and repeat.
    This is presumption upon God’s mercy. And it’s dangerous. If you sin and think to yourself “God will forgive me so it’s okay when I sin.” You don’t understand the cross.
    You do not deserve mercy. You deserve wrath. This is true for everyone of us.
    The Christian message is not simply Jesus died to save me so I can do whatever I want. The Christian message is that I have died with Christ, it is not longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me and the life I live.
    Galatians 2:20 ESV
    20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
    The Christian message is not merely Jesus died for me that I may continue on sinning, but that Jesus died for me that I might live a life or righteousness. Jesus saves us to something.
    Now, let’s return back to Micah…
    Micah 6:8 ESV
    8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
    The deeds that the Christian ought to do are not different than what the Lord required simply because the sacrifice is different. The Lord still requires that we do justice, that we love kindness and that we walk humbly with him.
    This is a frequently quoted, and well known verse, but let’s not forget that this falls in the middle of an indictment. This is not something that they did not know, this isn’t news to them… he has told you what is good. They had a similar message in Deuteronomy:
    Deuteronomy 10:12–13 ESV
    12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?
    Something that is interesting about this verse is how common it is. I’m certain that one of you has it as a decoration - and reasonably so. However, this has also appears in as the motto of the alcove or religion in the reading room of the congressional library in Washington. Now consider, if this verse is spoken here as an indictment against Israel who is Failing to do these things… then what does this say for a country that has it in their congressional library, but regularly abdicates justice - by releasing criminals, killing babies, and hating God. So this text still serves as an indictment toward any nation that would seek to claim it as instruction, and yet ignore it’s very instruction. I say that with soberness, not pride.
    And yet as Christians we can be quick to substitute ritual for true religion. Rather than doing what the Lord requires we often turn to making a decision for Jesus, being baptized, showing up at church on Sundays, putting our tithe or offering in the box, taking the Lord’s Supper and then not thinking about any of until it’s time for church again. Those things are important, but they are not all of the Lord’s requirements for his holy people. God doesn’t just want your show He wants an outpouring of justice, justice flowing like waters, and righteousness pouring out like a running stream. (Amos 5)
    What does it mean to do justice…
    While it certainly does connect to government aspect of making righteous judgments, it is not only that. We should pray that our government acts justly. But we cannot be fooled to think that this is all that is.
    There is an individual aspect to this as well. It also means that we ought to act justly. We should be fair in our personal dealings, in our business dealings, in our interactions with others. We should be honest with others. We should be compassionate. We should protect the orphan and plead the widows cause. We should encourage right living in others.
    God has taught us what is right and wrong in his law. Somehow modern Christians have been fooled into thinking that the Biblical law is useless because it has been fulfilled in Christ. We are no longer under the law, but we are under Christ. But remember what Paul teaches us - the law is a tutor to reveal to us what sin is. And sin is lawlessness. In addition to that the biblical law teaches us what justice is and what righteousness is - but the law was never sufficient to save.
    What does it mean to love kindness…
    This is not merely to be kind, but to love kindness.
    Doing justice and loving kindness, this could also easily be understood and the second table of the Ten Commandments. Commandments 5-10, which are often summarized by love your neighbor as yourself.
    What does it mean to walk humbly with God?
    If the previous two instructions cover the 2nd table of the law, this instruction would be the first.
    Most directly, this is to This is to humble yourself before God. This means that you confess that he is worthy of all glory and honor and praise, and you are not. This means that you have no other gods aside from him, as he is the only true God. This means that you honor his image, but not creating images of him. You honor his name by not taking it in vain. You honor his day, by gathering with the saints in worship on the Lord’s Day.
    Rightly worshipping God as only he is worthy of. Laying down your pride, repenting of you sinfulness and giving to God what he is owed. Reverence, worship and awe.
    Putting that together, the attitudes that the Lord has required of us are not complex - but they are summed up in two phrases….
    Love God. Love neighbor.
    And the lingering question that is implied from Micah 6:8 is not just “What has God required of you?” But ultimately, it is “Have the people done what was required?” But the question is not just for them? The requirements of the law fall on all of us. These requirements are ultimately what God requires of everyone of us.
    How do you plead?

    The Verdict

    The verdict is guilty.
    God’s justice must be upheld and the people in this text are shown to be guilty. But so are we.
    In the remainder of the chapter Micah will declare the sentence for the wicked, the guilty are promised destruction. But Micah doesn’t end of that note, as he moves into chapter 7. He promises the reader that salvation will come. And that the Lord is our salvation.
    So fast forward to the end of Micah:
    Micah 7:18–20 ESV
    18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. 19 He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. 20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
    Though each of us has been given a guilty verdict, and a sentence of eternal damnation in hell, because we have failed to love God, and failed to love neighbor. Jesus has taken that sentence upon himself, dying the death that deserved to die. And placing his righteousness upon us.
    But who is a God like this who would pardon our sins, by becoming a man to satisfy his Father’s wrath that we deserved might be forgiven?

      • Isaiah 1:11ESV

      • Psalm 51:16ESV

      • Galatians 2:20ESV

      • Micah 6:8ESV

      • Deuteronomy 10:12–13ESV

      • Micah 7:18–20ESV

  • Take My Life, and Let it Be
Maranatha Baptist Church
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