Title What shall we worship?
Contents
Micah was written more than 2,600 years ago in B.C., almost contemporary with the prophet Isaiah. He is a prophet who was active mainly in Judah in the second half of the 8th century. He was active in Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, and unlike Isaiah, who came from aristocratic contemporaries, he came from a poor class and was a prophet who cried out for justice with sharp criticism against the injustices of those in power. Micah especially emphasizes that 'empty religious rites' are something God hates. Prophet Micah pointed out that the current curse on them was due to their false beliefs while observing the situation in which the leaders and the people at that time were walking on the path of extreme depravity with injustice and corruption, lies and pretense. There is. Micah also points out their false piety and false religious life, and teaches us what kind of worship is true worship.
1. Formal sacrifice (verses 6-7)
They sacrificed a 'one-year-old calf' as recorded in the Law. They thought that this was the 'best sacrifice' in the Law (Ex. 29:10-14; Leviticus 8:2), which would please God if offered. And it seems that they thought that their tens of thousands of sins could be forgiven by offering a large amount of sacrifice, like 'a thousand rams or ten thousand rivers of oil' (Leviticus 2:1; 1 Kings 8:36; Isaiah 1: 11). And the people, not satisfied with the sacrifice, also offered their firstborn son as a sacrifice, a pagan method of worship. However, these sacrificial methods were outward, not understanding the fundamental meaning of God's ordinances and laws. In other words, they misunderstood that they could allay God's wrath by sacrificing their children like the Gentiles rather than repenting themselves (2 Kings 3:27; 16:3).
They did not know that the sacrifice was not a means of stopping God's wrath, but rather a sacrifice for God's grace and mercy. Worship should not be for the purpose of receiving forgiveness of sins, but for the people who have received forgiveness of sins to praise God's grace of redemption.
2. With what to worship God? (Verses 8-9)
God showed the people the good way to go in order to make the right sacrifices.
First, it is a life of justice. God's people must lead a righteous life by imitating God's love and righteous character.
Second, it is a gracious life. 'Son of man' (hesed) in the text refers to all kind and merciful acts of superiors and subordinates.
Third, it is a life of humility. Humility means acknowledging your worthlessness before God and expressing the life God wants you to live.
Fourth, it is a life of obedience.(9)
A saint can be humble when he is obedient. At that time, the Israelites were proud of themselves and their spiritual eyes were darkened. So they not only ignored God's voice, but acted on their own accord. On the other hand, God punishes the iniquity and evil of those who fear him. Therefore, a wise person will always obey the word of the Lord.
3. Consequences of Worship Worship (verses 10-15)
The Israelites made profit by accumulating unjust wealth and using unclean scales and weights. But they could deceive the human eye temporarily, but not God. (Mic 6:11,12) The rich are full of violence, and their inhabitants lie, their tongues deceive in their mouths. Furthermore, in verse 12, it is said that their tongue deceives in their mouth. This is the Hebrew accent, meaning 'as soon as you open your mouth you are ready to tell a lie'.
On the other hand, God's chastisement comes upon humans who live in sin, and there is no way to stop the punishment. What is the punishment? (Mic 6:14,15)
First, you cannot reap what you sow. For the transgressor cannot be supplied with sufficient food due to famine and calamity.
Second, their lives will be filled with disappointment and discouragement. This tells us that material suffering and spiritual anguish will follow the person who has sinned.
Third, spiritual famine makes many people more thirsty. This is the result of sin. The cause of all the problems that are happening around us today begins with spiritual darkness and spiritual famine without the Word of God. Amos 8:11) Behold, the days are coming, saith the Sovereign LORD, and I will send a famine upon the land, not a hunger for food, nor a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the word of the Lord.