What Does God Require? (Online) Series

INTRODUCTION

Outline

1. That We Do Justly

2. That We Love Mercy

3. That We Walk Humbly

Introductory Remarks.

1. Today's lesson will explore the profound theme: "What does God Require?" Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, ministered in the Southern Kingdom (Judah). The name Micah means, "Who is like Jehovah?" The theme of Micah is: "To hear." A recurring theme unto God's people: "The first of all commandments is to: Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord...There are no other commandments greater than these," Mark 12:29-31. Isaiah prophesied in the king's court, while Micah humbly spoke unto the ordinary people. Micah, like Amos, prophesied strongly against immorality, social injustices, and the oppression of the poor by the rich and powerful. These seem to be similar sins that now plague our Nation, along with the Coronavirus, COVID-19. Micah was answering the question of the people: "Wherewith shall I come before the LORD?" Micah responded: "He hath shown thee, O man, what is good (righteous), and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God?" Micah 6:6-8. These are qualities of faith and obedience that God delights in His people. We will notice what God requires and how this Nation has: "fallen short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23.

2. First and foremost, we must understand that God requires that: "we do justly" before Him, our brethren, and our fellow man, regardless of their religious, racial, political, or economic standing. God has somewhat against Judah and America. They were dealing treacherously, dishonestly, and without integrity among each other and with their fellow man. The rich set out to oppress the poor. The merchants defrauded and deceived their customers. Their religious establishment permitted their immorality, injustices, and corrupt practices to go unchecked. Micah was crying out within the land against the people, while Isaiah was accusing: "That the leaders of this people have caused them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed," Isaiah 9:16. Is there one crying out in this land, to do justly unto all men, that God might be well pleased?

[With this brief introduction, let’s consider our first point of what God requires: “To do justly.”]

BODY OF LESSON

I THAT WE DO JUSTLY

A. Micah, the prophet. The name Micah means: "Who is like Jehovah?" There is none so just as the King of Kings: And yet none so merciful, who pardons, "the remnant of His heritage," Micah 7:18. His prophecies and preaching is vital in aiding us to identify, correct, and resolve some or all America's problems today. Observe,

1. Isaiah prophesied in the king’s court, while Micah humbly spoke to ordinary people. Some preach to a vast audience, a mega institution, while others preach only to a handful of godly people.

2. Whatever our audience, we must charge them to "Hear the word of the Lord." Let it be clear: the assembly size does not sanctify the message. However, the sermon (the word of truth) does bless the meeting, whether great or small. Jesus said, "Sanctify them through thy truth, for thy word is truth," John 17:17.

3. Micah's theme is: "To hear." It is a recurring theme for these people: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might," Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Hear the prophecies of Micah.

B. He wrote: "The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple," Micah 1:1-2. What did God witness and desire to tell His people? Here it is,

1. They had forgotten His goodness: "O my people, what have I done unto thee? And wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against me. I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before thee," Micah 6:3-4.

2. They forgot their ancestors’ sins: "O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal: That ye may know the righteousness of the LORD," Micah 6:5.

NOTE: Balak, king of Moab, wanted Balaam, the prophet, to "curse the children of Israel." Hear what Balaam said unto Balak--

a. Balaam’s answer: "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak," Numbers 24:12-13; 2 Peter 2:15-16. We must speak the word of the Lord!