I. Introduction
A. If you’ve ever taken any time to study the Bible (particularly the Old Testament) you may have noticed that it is not written in chronological order.
a. Sometimes that makes Bible Study a little difficult, because it takes a little work to put what you are reading in the context of when it was written.
b. Instead of being broken down chronologically, the O.T. is divided into sections.
c. 1st 5 books called the Pentateuch (5 scrolls) – also called The Law
d. History – Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Nehemiah, Esther, Ruth
e. Wisdom Literature – Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Eccl., Song of Solomon
f. Major Prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
g. Minor Prophets – Last part of the O.T.
B. I really don’t like the term Minor Prophets, because it makes it sound like they are less important.
a. Only thing minor about them is that those books are not as long as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
b. What they have to say is just as important as what Moses writes in the Pentateuch.
C. Awhile back I began to feel convicted that I was treating the minor prophets like they didn’t have anything important to say.
a. Read through those books on my journeys through the bible over the years, but I had never taken the time to really study them.
b. Realized I had very seldom even preached out of those books.
D. So, several months ago I began to read through the Minor Prophets very slowly, trying to find context, overall theme, and application.
a. The product of that has been the messages I’ve brought the last several Sundays.
E. This morning we’re going to continue that by looking at what God says through the prophet Micah.
F. Turn with me to Micah 6:1-8, and let’s take a look at what the Lord requires
II. Breaking it Down
A. Micah wrote at a very schizophrenic time in Israel’s history.
a. Chapter 1 tells us Micah was active during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
b. That means Micah’s ministry covered a period of about 60 years.
c. He wrote about the same time that Isaiah wrote his book, and about 20 years before Israel was invaded by Babylon and the Israelites were sent into exile.
B. I say Micah wrote at a very schizophrenic time in Israel’s history, because Israel was struggling with its identity.
a. Jotham, the first King Micah served under was a good king, who walked with God.
i. However 2 Chron. 27 tells us that while Jotham walked with God the people did not.
b. Ahaz was not a good king.
i. He worshipped false gods, and even sacrificed his own sons by burning them alive.
c. Hezekiah, on the other hand, for the most part was a very good king.
i. He repaired the Temple, reinstituted Temple worship and sacrifices, and demanded the people worship God.
ii. However Israel was constantly under siege during Hezekiah’s reign.
iii. Sennacherib, the King of Assyria threatened to invade and even camped his armies around Israel.
iv. It’s a great story that I don’t have time for today, but God miraculously gave Hezekiah victory without Hezekiah even having to lift a finger.
C. But, in spite of having a good king, Israel had a huge problem, and God sent Micah to call them on it.
a. Hezekiah may have convinced them to repair the temple and begin sacrifices there again, and apparently the people did.
b. But there was a problem.
c. They did only what they were compelled to do.
d. While it is true that right actions lead to right emotions, right actions must be accompanied by sincere desire.
e. That was the problem with Israel.
f. They had fallen into an empty kind of religion.
g. The N.T. addresses this very thing when Paul talks about those who have a form of godliness, but denying its power.
D. This, I think, is the number one danger in the church, especially in America, today.
a. Empty religion.
b. Religion that fills pews, but makes no demands of the believer.
c. Religion that goes through the motions, but doesn’t truly desire a mighty move of God.
d. Religion that wants the benefits of a relationship with God with none of the requirements that go with the relationship.
e. Religion that goes through the motions.
E. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ why are you here today?
a. If you’re a seeker, and you’re not really sure about this whole Jesus thing yet you get a pass for the next few minutes.
b. Everything I’m getting ready to say begins with relationship.
c. If you don’t really have a relationship with Christ then doing the things I’m getting ready to talk about won’t do you any good.
d. You have to start with a relationship.
F. But if you are a follower of Jesus Christ why are you here?
a. Because that’s what you’re supposed to do, or because you want God to do something in your life today?
b. To fulfill an obligation or to meet with the Most High God?
c. To offer a few empty sacrifices or to offer yourself as a living sacrifice?
G. That’s what Micah addresses with the Israelites.
H. In Micah 6:3 God asks the Israelites a very poignant question:
a. What have I done to you?
b. How have I burdened you?
I. Is that how you view your faith.
a. Is your faith a burden?
b. A great sacrifice to the Lord?
J. God reminds them what he has done for them.
a. He hasn’t been a burden, he has been their salvation, yet they respond to him with empty religion.
b. They go through the motions.
K. Now notice verses 6-7.
a. This is so important.
b. The Israelites are going through the motions of all the right things, but they have none of the right motivations.
L. Let me apply this in a 21st century context.
a. The Israelites go to church on Sunday morning, and then treat their waitress like crap on Sunday afternoon.
b. They tithe their 10% and then scoff at the idea of helping the downtrodden.
c. They go to church and even say a few amens and think that’s enough for the week.
d. They honor God with their mouths while their hearts are far from him.
e. They look at their Bible on Sunday, and would be ashamed if someone knew what they looked at on Monday.
M. Listen.
a. The things God mentions here are good things.
b. Sacrifice, the tithe, they are good things.
c. But if they come out of an empty heart they don’t mean anything.
d. And so God suggests a way to put feet to your faith.
e. If you love me, this is what I require.
i. Act justly
ii. Love mercy
iii. Walk humbly with your God.
III. Making Application
A. Act Justly
a. It is amazing how simple these are.
b. As I studied this I was looking for some complex application, because what God requires of the believer couldn’t be so simple.
c. But do you know what act justly means in the Hebrew?
d. It means do the right thing.
i. Do the right thing by God.
ii. Do the right thing by other people.
iii. If God says it do it.
e. Our motto in America is do what’s right for me.
f. God’s motto is do what is right… period.
i. The thing is, the Bible doesn’t leave a lot of grey area.
ii. So if you want to know what is right, just read the book.
iii. So it’s pretty simple.
B. Love mercy
a. The Hebrew literally means love grace.
b. You know what that means?
c. Don’t be quick to give people what they deserve.
d. Instead respond with what people often don’t deserve.
e. Grace, love, and forgiveness.
f. You know what these first to things boil down to, essentially?
g. God wants us to get along.
h. It’s amazing how those two things can change everything.
i. Treat people the right way, and be willing to forgive.
j. How are these two lived out?
k. Let me give you one example.
l. Video
C. Walk Humbly
a. The other two deal primarily with our relationship with each other.
b. This one deals primarily with our relationship with God?
c. The other two are impossible if we don’t start here.
