Micah 6:8 NASB
He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Other translations
International Standard Version
He has made it clear to you, mortal man, what is good and what the LORD is requiring from you— to act with justice, to treasure the LORD’s gracious love, and to walk humbly in the company of your God.
King James Bible
He hath shewed 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?
Study
The prophet here answers the questions in vers. 6 and 7, by showing the worthlessness of outward observances when the moral precepts and not observed.
He denies that any external forms will make up for the want of spiritual qualities.
The sacrifice of the heart is what God demands; but “man convinced of sin is ready to sacrifice what is dearest to him rather than give up his own will and give himself to God” (W. Robertson Smith).
The passage reminds us of Isaiah 1:10-15, Hosea 6:6.
Evidently Hezekiah’s reformation had been purely external (comp. Isaiah 29:13).
He hath shewed thee
Literally, one has told thee, or, it has been told thee, i.e. by Moses and in the Law (Deuteronomy 10:12, etc.). Septuagint, Αἰ ἀνηγγέλη σοι, “Hath it not been told thee?”
What doth the Lord require of thee?
Comp. Deuteronomy 10:12, ‘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?’
The prophets often enforce the truth that the principles of righteous conduct are required from men, and not mere formal worship.
This might well be a comfort to the Israelites when they heard that they were doomed to be cast out of their country, and that the temple was to be destroyed, and that the ritual on which they laid such stress would for a time become impracticable.
So the inculcation of moral virtues is often connected with the prediction of woe or captivity.
(For the prophetic view of the paramount importance of righteousness, see 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 40:6, etc.; Isaiah 1:11-17; Jeremiah 6:20; Hosea 6:6, etc.; see Zechariah 7:7.)
To do justly.
To act equitably, to hurt nobody by word or deed, which was the exact contrary of the conduct previously mentioned (Micah 6:10, 2:1-2, 3:2-3, 9-10).
To love mercy.
To be guided in conduct to others by loving kindness.
These two rules contain the whole duty to the neighbour.
Compare Christ’s description of genuine religion (Matthew 23:23).
To walk humbly with thy God.
Humility is the primary religious virtue in the Old Testament (comp. Isaiah 2:12).
This precept comprises man’s duty to God, humility and obedience. “To walk” is an expression implying “to live and act” as the patriarchs are said to have “walked with God,” denoting that they lived as consciously under his eye and referred all their actions to him. Humility is greatly enforced in the Scriptures (see e.g. Isaiah 2:11, 12).
Septuagint: ἕτοιμον εϊναι τοῦ πορεύεσθαι μετὰ Κυρίου, “to be ready to walk with the Lord;”
Vulgate: Solicitum ambulare cum Deo;
Syriac: “Be prepared to follow thy God.”
But our version is doubtless correct.
Devotional
Sometimes what we need to do is very simple and plain, isn’t it?
▪︎ I need to handle those around me justly, practicing patience and dealing with others in fairness, without partiality.
▪︎ I need to practice mercy, blessing others in need with what they don’t deserve but so greatly need.
▪︎ I need to walk humbly with God, knowing that without His grace and help I will fail.
Prayer suggestions
▪︎ Ask God to make of you what He wants; As He fashions you.
▪︎ Ask God to bless you as you seek to be a person of justice, mercy, and humility.
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
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