Title: In the Spirituality of Everyday Life, January 30th
Micah 6:1-8
in everyday spirituality
God's argument
Micah is said to have been a man of the 7th century B.C.E. When northern Israel was destroyed by Assyria and southern Judah suffered a lot, Micah, a native of the common people, appeared in Jerusalem and preached to the people. Seeing that the book of Micah was written in the form of poetry with rhyme rather than prose, it seems that Micah's literary ability was outstanding, or his sermons were handed down orally for a long time, resulting in a beautiful literary form. In any case, we can learn from today's text what Micah and the prophets centered around him were concerned about during the time of the National Louan.
What does it mean that God opens his thesis with the foundation stones of mountains, hills, and earth as witnesses? Although it is a very literary expression, it can be said that ‘history’ is the evidence of truth. People die in less than 100 years, and a country also appears briefly in history and then disappears, but the cornerstones of mountains, hills and land are always there. It is not easily damaged by history, and it proves that history. Micah is now explaining the justification of God and the injustice of the people of Israel in terms of history.
God's Righteousness
Micah raises the question of whether God is responsible for this desperate ordeal that Israel is facing right now. “You who are my people, answer me. What have I done to you, and what evil have I done to you?” (verse 3). At the end of verse 5, he concludes: “Do you not know that there is nothing wrong with this Yahweh?”
The fact that God is not at fault is what history proves. That Yahweh God brought the Israelites out of Egypt (verse 4). All the sufferings that occurred in Israel's history were also resolved by God (v. 5). According to Micah's understanding of history, God did nothing wrong with the people of Israel. Even so, the Israelites complained to God about the trials they were going through. In this situation, Micah is now holding a trial on the side of God, Yahweh, to find out who is at fault.
I'll give you a small example in case it helps a bit. Occasionally, if you watch a documentary about the animal world, you can discover the mysterious movement of life in nature. In Africa, water buffalo often die in the midst of a large migration in search of grass. Sometimes they are attacked by wild beasts, and they become food for crocodiles while crossing rivers. It is pathetic to see such a picture, but such a death allows other wild beasts to survive, and moreover, the herd of water buffalo can reach the pasture safely. Partly it's a devastating fight, but overall it's a life movement in itself.
form of faith
In front of Micah's argument that history confirms God's legitimacy, it is now the Israelites' turn to answer. If there is no fault of Yahweh God in the difficult situation Israel is facing, it is ultimately their own fault. How can they get forgiveness from God and get out of these difficulties?
Verses 6 and 7 are their answers and questions at the same time. It is also our question. “What do I need to bring with me to worship Jehovah, the God who exalts me? Should I go out with a burnt offering? Should I go out with a calf? Would Yahweh be pleased with a few thousand rams? Do we even have to offer our firstborn son to get rid of the sin of rebellion? In order to take away this mortal sin, do I have to sacrifice even a child born of this body?”
The sacrificial methods discussed here are most typical of Old Testament times. To offer burnt offerings, calves, rams, eldest sons, and children means that you have a desperate heart for God. The story of Abraham's attempt to sacrifice his son Isaac, born at the age of 100, on Mount Moriah is a clue that confirms the fact that Abraham is the father of faith not only in the Old Testament but also in the New Testament. Even in the New Testament era, where they believe that the sacrifices of the Old Testament were already completed by Jesus, there are still many people who think that their relationship with God will be renewed by offering something to God. Not long ago, “thousand burnt offerings,” which were modeled after Solomon’s sacrifices, became popular. I can understand the feelings of people who do such things, but I feel pity because they seem to be engrossed in almost meaningless things.
But in fact, not only in this religious dimension, but also in our daily life, the attitude of trying to get the real thing by giving something is rampant. Without realizing it, they sacrifice their own children, and they live by offering calves and rams. Making an incompetent child study excessively, using a gimmick to gain political power, or running a company in the name of developing a university, what leads a university is an attitude to get the ultimate by giving something.
content of faith
Micah replies: “Son, do you not know what the LORD likes and desires?” (8a). Offering calves, rams, and offspring is not the answer. We cannot win the heart of God by clinging to our religious forms. What God wants is: “To do justice, to be willing to repay favor, to live cautiously with God,” what else could there be?
Many Israelis who heard Micah's sermons may have found it a little surprising. I thought it was right to dedicate a lot of time and material to God and to make a splendid sacrifice, but I thought that it would be the only way to receive God's forgiveness and to please God, but Micah is talking about a completely different story now. I don't know if you're talking too much. Because justice, mercy, and being with God seem a bit different from what heats us up or encourages a sense of mission.
everyday spirituality
The point Micah is talking about here is by no means meant that we suddenly become fighters of justice, suddenly become masters like Buddha or Confucius, or become theological and spiritual masters like Paul. It is difficult to do so, and it is not necessary to deepen your relationship with God. Here, he is saying that only faithfully conscious of the Spirit of God in daily life and living according to it is what pleases God. It's about living right in your daily life.
So Micah rebukes those who live immorally in verse 9 and below. “Listen to me, you ignorant people, you city nerds who only lie, you scammers at the end of every word. How will you forgive me for things that will be punished, things that I have accumulated through unclean things?” Since then, these issues have continued to be listed. It is saying that it is meaningless to risk your life for a plausible sacrificial act without living properly in everyday life like this.
But it is difficult to think of Micah as merely shouting about morality. Although a moral and ethical life is important, it cannot be an end in itself. Because in many cases the moral standards apply to each other differently. For example, it is difficult to establish clear standards as to whether the death penalty is necessary or not. In order to protect Mt. Cheonseong, a female monk named Ji-yul has been fasting for more than 90 days. In other words, it is not easy to establish absolute standards as to whether a high-speed rail should be built through the mountains, whether other methods should be found even if it is expensive, and how we should participate individually or at the church level in this struggle.
In the end, what we need is to restore our daily spirituality, not to create some daily norms. It is to secure a space where the Spirit of God and the Spirit of life can work in our daily lives. Such a person will make life-oriented decisions in every moment of life that he faces. Restoring this spirituality is the attitude of Christians that is still needed not only in times of national disaster like Micah's but also in our turbulent times today.
How can we secure this daily spirituality? It has no royal road. We must read God's Word deeply, observe the signs of this world, and share a deep relationship with the Spirit of Life through close relationships with our neighbors. To those who maintain such an attitude, the Spirit of truth will come and become their master.