Micah 6:1

Micah 6:1 says, Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.  God calls on His people to hear His voice.  If the people didn't listen, then Micah was to still boldly proclaim the word of God to the mountains and hills.  If we are to represent God in the world today, we must first hear His voice.  We are to continue to proclaim His word even if it seems that no one is listening.  Verse two adds, Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.  God called on the earth to bear witness to the fact that He had a controversy with His people.  We can be sure that when God has a controversy with His people that God is not at fault.  When God's people are not following His will the whole world suffers.  Verse three continues, O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.  God asked His people what He had done against them that they would not follow Him in faith.  We today should ask the same question when we feel that the world is overwhelming us, or when we begin to put all our faith in material things and ignore God.  God might rightly ask what He has done to cause us to act in such a manner.  Verse four states, For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.  God reminded the people of what He had done for them.  They were His people because He chose them and since they were His people He had delivered them from the powers of the world.  God brought them out of captivity in Egypt and gave them religious leaders to follow.  We as followers of Christ today are so because God has chosen to deliver us from the power of sin by our faith in Christ.  Verse five adds, 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 reminded them that when Balak had desired to destroy Israel that he was led to bless God instead.  The righteous of God will ultimately always prevail.  Verse six continues, Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?  When we are in rebellion against God, we would do well to ask how we can be restored to Him.  Of course, the answer is the same as when we first came to God, and that is through repentance and acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ through faith.  We can bring no offering that will bring restoration.  Verse seven says, Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or 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?  I believe that the meaning here was that we can bring nothing material, no matter how much it might be, that will make us right with God.  God's forgiveness cannot be bought, but is given by our faith in Christ.  Verse eight adds, He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?   Micah said that God had already shown them, as He has shown us, what He expected from them. They were to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.  I believe when we walk humbly with God through the leadership of the Holy Spirit, that we will automatically do justly and love mercy.  Notice that there was nothing said about bringing anything material to be in the right relationship with God.  Verse nine continues, The LORD’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.  God said that since they would not follow Him that judgment was coming.  Anytime we, as followers of Christ, fail to follow God in obedience to His will we can expect our actions to bring judgment.