Micah 6:6-8
Introduction: As a contemporary of Isaiah, Micah was born in Judah and prophesied in Jerusalem.
Micah was a country preacher, he was poor and he spoke to the poor or common person.
After sharing the prophecy concerning the birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2), Micah now shares with the people about becoming someone God is pleased with.
Although many people believe that various offerings with calves of a year (vs. 6), the number of offerings made, giving your child or the fruit of your body as an offering, and even massive anointing services are pleasing to God (vs. 7), yet, Micah would dispel these teachings and share what it takes to please God (vs. 8).
What does God want in order to please Him?
1. God Wants A Person Willing To Do Right In A World Choosing To Do Wrong (vs. 8).
A. Acting justly means that you are fair, honest, and full of integrity.
B. A good example of a person of this stature was Job. He was known as being fair, honest, and full of integrity. So much was his testimony valued that even God challenged Satan to shake this man's faith. As we all know, Satan could not break Job's faithfulness to God, and Job maintained his integrity through a series of calamities (Job 1).
C. The person who would be defined as doing that which is right by God is a person who doesn't simply act right outwardly, but one who is committed to God inwardly. David wrote in Psalm 51:6, "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom."
D. Salvation comes from a change from within, so also inwardly, the true person is revealed. The man, thus, who would please God, must be full of integrity (Hebrews 10:22), one who does not waiver from his faith (Hebrews 10:23), and one who wants others to choose to follow God also (Hebrews 10:24).
2. God Wants A Person Who Loves Mercy. (vs. 8).
A. It is clear that God needs people who are compassionate, and who show kindness toward others. Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-45, the natural man teaches us to love our neighbors, but hate our enemies. Jesus teaches us differently. Rather than hate He teaches us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to them that hate us, pray for them which use us, and persecute us. The reason we do this is because we are the children of God.
B. Paul told the Romans in Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." In order to love mercy, you must be totally dedicated to the God of mercy.
C. Paul later told the Romans in Romans 12:17-21, "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Paul recognized that being the type of sacrifice we should be to please God, is not one defined by man, which was animal sacrifice, but by God, a living sacrifice. Showing love, care, compassion, kindness, and longsuffering even to our enemies.
D. Remember Jesus said, in Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy." Every one should examine their heart, are they capable of caring for others? The answer will determine if you meet the definition of the merciful that God is please with in our text. Mercy, by the way, is defined as God not giving us what we deserve. If we got what we deserved, we should all be cast into hell, but God gives us something else, Himself as our refuge. Thus, we should treat others with a compassion, that does not measure up to their treatment of us, but that should measure up to God's standard of acceptance.
3. God Wants A Person Who Will Walk Humbly With Him. (vs. 8).
A. Paul wrote to the Romans in Romans 3:10-18, that there are many reasons why God would declare, "...all have sinned, and come short of His glory." (Romans 3:23). Each of the reasons that God gave, reveal man in his pride, puffed up, being led by his lusts, and not led by the Spirit of God.
B. Paul would finally declare in Romans 3:26, "...I say, at this time his (Jesus) righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Understand that it takes humility to accept Christ into your heart. When a man accepts Jesus as his Lord and Savior, he is admitting that he cannot make it on his own and that he needs Jesus.
C. In speaking to the Ephesians about the way the Gentiles came to enter a relationship with Jesus, Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-10, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, let any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." As you can see, the natural man is too full of himself to serve God adequately, but the Spirit-filled man can.
D. We see that God saved man through His grace, man believes or exercises his faith in God, then man becomes the 'pet project' of God. As God's workmanship, God makes each believing person into the person God needs him to be.
E. Last of all, why does God favor humility so much? Because that was what made Jesus so great. In Philippians 2:5-11, commonly called the Kenosis or "The Self-Emptying of Christ", Jesus is seen as God, but in humility we see Him laying aside His credentials. Jesus was always full deity, but rather than exposing Who He was by power, Jesus wanted people to believe by His words. Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, what did Jesus say to the Father? In Matthew 26:39, Jesus said, "...nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Jesus was humble in all ways, but His humility reveals to us His great strength as God.
Conclusion: Micah proclaimed this message before the people, and it was his heart's desire that the people would accept this message, conform to what God wants, and then serve God in a greater manner. What about you? Are you the person God needs, the person who chooses to do what is pleasing in God's eyes? Are you one who loves mercy, kindness, and compassion? Are you one who walks humbly with God? What is your answer to these questions? Your answer will either say that God is pleased with you or not.
