JUSTICE, MERCY AND HUMILITY – MICAH 6:8
-Introduction
-I know I can’t speak for others, but I can say that I have thoroughly enjoyed our Wednesday
evening Bible classes on the minor prophets.
-explain “minor” prophets – “minor” based on quantity of writing, not quality
-As we have made our way through that study, there have been a couple of things that have
stood out to me.
1. Even though the words of those books were penned hundreds of years ago, it seems as if
those prophets were/are speaking to our current day society.
2. There are some reoccurring topics/themes.
-It is this second point that I want to focus on this evening. In particular, I would like to focus
upon one verse - Micah 6:8.
-Micah 1:1 – Micah’s message came during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.
-This would make Micah a contemporary to Isaiah – Isa 1:1.
-It seems that Micah was not fond of the cities and was most concerned with problems and
injustices being faced and endured by the peasant farmers.
-Of course his message was inspired – Mic 3:8.
-The time in which Micah preached his message was a time of economic upheaval. As a
result, there were many injustices in the activities of mankind – dishonesty, unfair
practices, cheating, bribery, etc.
-“The custodians of the law abused their powers; nobles fleecing the poor, judges
accepting bribes, prophets flattering the rich, and priests teaching for hire” (The Twelve
Minor Prophets, George L. Robinson, Baker Book House 1965, pgs 95-96
-Micah 6:8
-I am confident that I cannot do justice to the topics contained in this verse.
-Regardless of how many sermons I lined up back to back, I could not exhaust the
contents of these topics – justice, mercy and humility.
-Justice, Mercy and Humility
-Let’s consider the basic definitions of these words:
-Justly – (Strongs*) – mishpat – “properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced
judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or [participant's] divine law,
individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty;
abstractly, justice…”
-This Hebrew word occurs 424 times in the Old Testament – often times translated as
judgment: God’s judgments - Lev 18:4&5; or man’s judgments – Deut 1:17.
-God’s judgments include virtue and justice. Mankind’s should, too.
-We face many problems today that would be better handled if our justice system
would only remember what true justice is. Justice is what is right and God’s
word is the basis of right.
-When we start making judgments separate and apart from God’s word, we open
the door (wide open) to many, many problems.
-This is something we must remember in our personal lives as well.
-Mercy – (Brown-Driver-Briggs**) – “goodness, kindness, faithfulness”
-NAS – “to love kindness”
-This word occurs 247 times in the Old Testament. (mercy, kindness, goodness, etc)
-Ps 103:17-18 (NAS – “lovingkindness”)
-Isn’t it wonderful to serve a kind and loving God!
-Far too many people have forgotten (or never known) true kindness toward others.
-Matt 22:36-40
-1 Cor 13:4 – love “is kind”
-Eph 4:32
-Humbly – (Brown-Driver-Briggs**) - to be humble, to be modest, to be lowly…to show
humility
-Although this particular Hebrew word is found in only one other verse in the O.T.
(Prov 11:2), the necessity of a humble heart is taught throughout the scriptures.
-Prov 22:4, 2 Chron 7:14
-The words of Micah 6:8 applied to the people of that day and they needed to hear the message
and they needed to heed to it. (Unfortunately, as a whole, they rejected it.)
-The concepts of Micah 6:8 were not limited to his day and to his people. They are universal.
They apply to all people for all time.
-Therefore, we should be just (fair & right), merciful (kind & good) and humble in our
walk with God.
-Summary and Invitation
-With the great individuals of faith found throughout the scriptures, you find these attributes
somewhere in their lives.
-The ultimate example of such is in the life of Christ – just, merciful and humble.
-To do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God are the ingredients of true happiness,
fulfillment and satisfaction in life.
-It is rewarding to do the right thing – not because of the vain glory of mankind – but
because it pleases our Father in heaven.
-And, because it pleases our God, we should feel the satisfaction, joy, confidence,
assurance and edification that results.
-edification = building up
-Obedience to God builds you up while sinfulness tears a person down.
-Which are you doing?
-Many people follow other paths in life – in accordance with the concepts the world teaches and
represents – which are contrary to God’s word.
-These paths lead to inner turmoil.
-example of Solomon and Ecclesiastes – “vanity of vanities”, “vexation of spirit”
-If people don’t realize it now (and unfortunately many don’t), they will realize it
for all eternity.
-God’s path leads to peace – now and for all eternity.
-Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.
-Are you?
-Our walk with God begins at obedience to the Gospel: Believe (John 3:16),
Confess (Matt 10:32), Repent (Luke 13:3,5), Be Baptized (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16)
-Then continue to follow God’s instructions: Rom 6:4, Eph 4:22-24
-If you’ve strayed from God’s path, come back to it. Come back to Him. 1 John 1:7-9
*Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.
**The Online Bible Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon,
Copyright (c)1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute
for Creation Research.