Micah 6:8, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

In the Old Testament, the Children of Israel lived a yo-yo kind of relationship with God. Up one day, down the next. They would serve Him for a while and then backslide into outright paganism. Micah’s message to Judah addresses this. Chapter 6 is like an ongoing conversation between God and the people, set in a courtroom. God calls the hills and mountains as witnesses as He reminds them of all He has done for them. In verse 3, God straight out asks them, “What have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Testify against Me.”

In their response, the people asked what they needed to do to please God. “Do you want more offerings? How much must we sacrifice to please You?” The response God gave in verse 8 not only answers their question but also speaks to us today. “I want you to live justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly.” It’s really a call to live holy lives. In God’s answer, I hear an echo of 1 Samuel 15:22. “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” God was saying that it doesn’t matter how much we sacrifice if we are living in sin and disobedience. It’s only when we are walking in harmony with God that our sacrifices mean anything.

Paul addressed this same issue in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. Paul told the church in Corinth, “If I give away all my money to feed the poor, even if I give my body to be burned, but I fail to have the love of God in my life, it amounts to nothing.” It’s clear that obeying God’s commands and living holy lives is greater than all our sacrifices. I pray that we all will walk upright in the eyes of God and treat our fellowman right.