Ingratitude and Injustice
Opening Prayer
As you pray today, ask for humility to be a doer and not merely a hearer of God’s Word.
Read Micah 6:1-16
[1] Listen to what the LORD says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. [2] “Hear, you mountains, the LORD’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. [3] “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. [4] I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. [5] My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.” [6] With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? [7] Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? [8] He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. [9] Listen! The LORD is calling to the city- and to fear your name is wisdom- “Heed the rod and the One who appointed it. [10] Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house, and the short ephah, which is accursed? [11] Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights? [12] Your rich people are violent; your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully. [13] Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sins. [14] You will eat but not be satisfied; your stomach will still be empty. You will store up but save nothing, because what you save I will give to the sword. [15] You will plant but not harvest; you will press olives but not use the oil, you will crush grapes but not drink the wine. [16] You have observed the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their traditions. Therefore I will give you over to ruin and your people to derision; you will bear the scorn of the nations.” Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What is the Lord's "case" against his people?Micah 6 takes the form of a court case. God’s people are on trial and are found guilty. Despite all God had done for them since their deliverance from slavery in Egypt (the Exodus) they remained ungrateful. God had treated them better than they deserved, yet they were treating one another corruptly. Attempting to make a profit at others’ expense (10-12), the guilty would get a taste of their own medicine (13-15; see Psa. 28:4; Rev. 18:6); finally, the whole country would fall into exile (16). They might still be paying lip service, going through outward motions of worship (6,7), but there was no humility towards God and no justice shown towards their fellow human beings (8). God seeks a demonstration of justice as well as a display of worship from his people. Worship without justice merely reveals our ingratitude. Jesus tackled the Pharisees of his day on this (see Luke 11:42). If the church today is guilty of the same hypocrisy, how can this be rectified?
Apply
How are you or could you become more involved in promoting justice in your community and nation?
Closing prayer
Lord, I want my worship to please You, so I pray that I might link it with justice in my life, too.
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