God’s Requirements

 

“He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8, ESV

Earlier in Micah 6, the Lord has rebuked Israel for rebelling against him despite all he has done for them. “O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me. For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage; And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.”, Micah 6:3-4.

Israel then tells the Lord that they have done what he asked, offered sacrifices for atonement, and asked what more he wanted. Micah 6:7 “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” Israel reasons that any more sacrifices demanded would be unreasonable, and they have already done all that the Lord has asked for.

Micah 6:8 tells us that what is important to God are not offerings and material sacrifices. What he requires of his people is justice, love, kindness and humility above all.