Micah
Chapter 6
Call to Judgment – Complaints and Threats
Hear what the Lord says:“Stand up, let the mountains hear your claim, and the hills listen to your plea.”
Hear, O mountains, the Lord’s complaint! Foundations of the earth, pay attention! For the Lord has a case against his people, and will argue it with Israel.
“O my people, what have I done to you? In what way have I been a burden to you? Answer me.
I brought you out of Egypt; I rescued you from slavery; I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.
O my people, remember what Balak, king of Moab, plotted, and what Balaam, son of Beor, answered him. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, how you came to know the Lord’s righteous paths.”
“What should I bring when I come before the Lordand bow down to God Most High? Should I come with burnt offerings, with sacrifices of yearling calves?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with an abundance of oil libations? Should I offer my firstborn for my sins, the fruit of my body for my wrongdoing?”
“You have been told, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
The voice of the Lord cries out to the city (it is wise to fear your name).”
Complains and Threats
Hear, O tribe and assembly of the city!
Is there still within you unjust wealth and cursed short measure?
Shall I approve your false scales and your bags of fake weights?
O city, whose rich are full of violence, whose citizens speak lies, people of the deceitful tongue!
See, I am delivering a grievous blow to you, leaving you desolate because of your sins.
You will eat but not be satisfied; your insides will continue crying. What you overtake, you will not carry off; and those who escape, I will hand over to the sword.
You will sow but not reap. You will crush your olives but not anoint yourselves with the oil. You will crush the grapes but not drink the wine.
You follow Omri’s rules and imitate Ahab’s court. I will allow your downfall so that your citizens become mockery. You shall face the contempt of the peoples.”
Commentaries
Call to Judgment – Complaints and Threats.
This chapter has three parts: Call to judgment (6:1-5), Cultic compensation (6-9a), and Denunciations and threats (9b-16). The response to the Lord’s questioning in the first part, which is similar to that in Deuteronomy 26:17, is the primary message of this prophecy and relates to the authority of the priests, who instructed the faithful on the proper sacrifices to be made in the temple (Is 1:10-17). In verse 8, the prophet clarifies what the Lord expects from the people: literally “to practice justice,” “to love faithfulness,” and “to walk humbly with your God.” A liturgy separated from practicing justice and remaining faithful to the covenant does not please the Lord.