Saturday 20210925
This morning, as I was reading chapters 5 through 7 of the book of the prophet Micah, I was reminded of a well known passage where the Lord Yehovah asks the people of Israel to ponder over what He requires of them. In Micah 6 verses 6 through 8, the Lord Yehovah tells Israel that, instead of burnt offerings of thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oil, what He really requires from them is that they walk with Him in justice, in mercy, and in humility.
Micah 6:6 - 8 NIV
With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Following the above reproof, the prophet Micah of Moresheth goes on to rebuke the people of Israel of their sins of covetousness in making dishonest gains, of violence, of lies and deceit.
Micah 6:10 - 12 NIV
Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house,
and the short ephah, which is accursed?
Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales,
with a bag of false weights?
Your rich people are violent;
your inhabitants are liars
and their tongues speak deceitfully.
This portion of the book of Micah reminds us of the words of our Lord Iesous in the NT, when he rebuked the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of their hypocrisy in Matthew chapter 23, saying,
Matthew 23:23 NIV
‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices – mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practised the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesou, the Anointed One, let us be careful always to pay attention to the "more important matters" of God's teachings. Let us live our lives each day walking in justice, in mercy and in faithfulness and humility before God our Father, Creator of the Heavens and Earth.
