#DailyDevotion Do Right, Love Mercy, Live Humbly Before The LORD
Micah 6:6-8 6What should I bring when I meet the LORD and bow to God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings with calves a year old? 7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should I give my firstborn for my wrong, the child of my body for my sin? 8You were told, O man, what is good and what the LORD wants from you: only to do what is right, love mercy, and live humbly with your God.
So, at first reading, one might ask, well what else is one to bring before the LORD of hosts? The prophet lists off the different sacrifices required by the Torah of Moses in the covenant the LORD made with Israel. Certainly morning and evening sacrifices were required by the Law. The LORD told Israel to give to him the firstborn of the flocks and their sons. There were the sacrifices for the day of atonement. There were the sin offerings, peace offerings and thanksgiving offerings.
The prophet is telling the people what is more important to the LORD than those things. It seems the people of Israel were thinking the LORD their God only required them to offer these sacrifices. On top of that, they apparently were even offering up their children for their sins as a sacrifice, something the LORD never commanded them. This is not the only time the LORD hated Israel and Judah’s sacrifices. David in Ps. 51 says, “16If You wanted sacrifice I would give it, but a mere burnt offering doesn’t please You.” The LORD says in Isaiah 1, “11“Of what use to Me are your many sacrifices? I’ve had enough burnt offerings of rams and enough fat from fattened calves. And I don’t delight in the blood of bulls, lambs, and male goats. 12When you come to appear before Me, who asks for this trampling of My courts? 13Don’t bring any more worthless food offerings. I detest the incense, your festivals on the first of the month, your Sabbaths and calling of assemblies.”
In Jeremiah 11, the LORD says, “22But when I brought your fathers out of Egypt, I didn’t talk to them or order them for the sake of burnt offerings and sacrifices. 23But this is the order I gave them: Obey Me; then I will be your God, and you will be My people. And live in the ways I order you, so it will be well with you.” Now this is the same thing Micah is saying in verse 8, “You were told, O man, what is good and what the LORD wants from you: only to do what is right, love mercy, and live humbly with your God.” Jesus quotes Hosea 6 to the Pharisees, “ 6I want mercy and not just sacrifice; I want you to know God and not just bring burnt offerings.”
It seems these sacrifices were not being offered in faith. The people were thinking if they only sacrificed to the LORD then they could go and do whatever they wanted during the week. They ignored the greater part of the Law, fear, love and trust in the LORD and love your neighbor as yourself. Many Christians also think unfortunately if they just went to Church and gave their offerings then God would be pleased with them. Then they can forget the LORD and their neighbor the rest of the week and sin all they want. The LORD though wants us to put our faith in Jesus as our Savior from sin, not our Savior to sin. The LORD wants us to treat others as He has treated us, with mercy and love. In doing so we know the LORD and He knows us.
Heavenly Father, grant us faith and your Spirit, to love mercy and do what is right and not treat you as a forgiveness machine but to know and love you for your mercy and kindness toward us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.