|
Micah Chapter Six (3) The trial of the people ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) Who were they told to listen to, where does the LORD tell them to stand up and plead their case before, what did the LORD say to let them hear what they have to say, what does he tell the mountains to hear, who does he tell to listen, whom did the LORD have a case against, and whom is he lodging a charge against?
______________________________________________________________________________ Here Micah pictures a courtroom. God, the
judge, tells his people what he requires of them and recites all the ways they
have wronged both him and others. Chapters 4 and 5 are full of hope; chapters 6
and 7 proclaim judgment and appeal to the people to repent. 2) What did the LORD ask his people, from where did the LORD say he brought his people out of, from what did he redeem his people, and whom did the LORD send to lead his people?
______________________________________________________________________________ The people would never be able to answer this question because God had done nothing wrong. In fact, God had been exceedingly patient with them, had always lovingly guided them, and had given them every opportunity to return to him. If God asked you, "What have I done to you?" how would you reply. 3) What did God ask his people to remember, and why did he tell them to remember their journey from Shittim to Gilgal?
______________________________________________________________________________ God continued to be kind to his forgetful people, but their short memory and lack of thankfulness condemned them. When people refuse to see how fortunate they are and begin to take God's gifts for granted, they become self-centered. Regularly remember God's goodness and thank him. Remembering God's past protection will help you see his present provision. 4) What was Micah's question to the people, with what did Micah ask how he shall come before the LORD, with what did Micah ask if the LORD would be pleased with, with what did he ask the people he should he offer for his transgressions, and what did he ask them he should offer the fruit of his body for?
______________________________________________________________________________ The recital of Israel's history suddenly ends, and Micah speaks on behalf of the people, asking God what their responsibility is in light of his faithfulness to the covenant. There is irony here as the prophet asks how one may come before the "exalted God." The word "exalted" connotes "height" and speaks of God in his dwelling place in heaven. What is the proper way to worship him? With burnt offerings and calves a year old? Yearling calves were regarded as the choicest sacrifices. "Thousands of rams" suggests the large quantity of animals that one might offer to curry God's favor. But God is interested neither in the choicest animals nor in the number offered. Even greater quantity of oil will not bring the worshiper into fellowship with God. The list reaches a shocking climax in the mention of the firstborn. Child sacrifice was carried out by certain Israelites on occasion (2 Kings 3:27-16:3; Isaiah 57:5). The firstborn represents the most precious thing one could give to God. Again, this was not what God wants. (Taken from The NIV Bible Commentary, Zondervan Publishers) 5) What has God showed them, how should they act, what shall they love, and how are they to walk?
______________________________________________________________________________ People have tried all kind of ways to please God (6:6, 7), but God has made his wishes clear: he wants his people to be just, merciful, and to walk humbly with him. In your efforts to please God, examine these areas on a regular basis. Are you fair in your dealings with people? Do you show mercy to those who wrong you? Are you learning humility? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Israel's Guilt and Punishment ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6) Who is calling to the city, what is wisdom, what did Micah say to heed, what did the LORD ask if he should still forget, in what way did the LORD ask how he should acquit a man, what are her (the wicked city's) rich men, what are her people, what do their tongues speak, and for what reason has the LORD begun to destroy her (the wicked city)?
______________________________________________________________________________ The voice of the Lord suddenly sounds out.
"Calling to the city" signifies the cry of alarm heard when disaster threatens a
city. Micah adds that it is wise to fear God's name. The "rod" is the punishment
that Israel would endure, and she was to "heed" it. The people were to attend to
the fact that the invasion would come and that it was God who would effect it
through the instrumentality of the Assyrians. 7) Even though they eat, what will still be empty, even though they store up, why will they not to be able to save, even thought they plant, what will they not be able to do, even though they press olives, what will they not be able to use, and even though they crush grapes, what will they not be able to do?
______________________________________________________________________________ The land was to fall under the devastation of the sword and be totally unproductive. The greed that motivated the rich in that day would no longer be gratified because of the desolation of the land. (Taken from The NIV Bible Commentary, Zondervan Publishers) 8) What have they observed, what have they followed, and what will God give them over to?
______________________________________________________________________________ Omri reigned over Israel and led the people into idol worship (1Kings 16:21-26). Ahab, his son, was Israel's most wicked king (16:29-33). If the people were following the commands and practices of these kings, they were in bad shape. Such pervasive evil was ripe for punishment. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Answers Micah Chapter Six ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) the LORD...before the mountains...the hills...the LORD'S accusation...the everlasting foundations of the earth...his people...Israel ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Taken from The NIV Life Application Study Bible, Zondervan Publishers |