Micah 6:4, commentary and pictures

Micah 6:4 stands within God's controversy and pleading with erring Israel, spoken in the reign of Ahaz to call them back to allegiance to Jehovah in repentance and reformation, with the mountains and the strong foundations of the earth, even heaven and earth, called to hear. In that controversy He asks His people what He has done to them and wherein and how He has wearied them, and invites and calls them to testify against Him. The verse recalls that He brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, redeemed them out of the house of servants and from slavery, and sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before them to lead them, and these acts prove and show His goodness and care and faithfulness and righteousness toward them.

Moses, Aaron, and Miriam were sent before Israel to bring about the deliverance from Egypt, and Aaron and Miriam occupied a position of high honor and leadership, both endowed with the prophetic gift and divinely joined with Moses in that work. Miriam showed force and strength of character from childhood when she watched beside the Nile over the basket hiding infant Moses, and her self-control and tact were made instrumental in helping preserve the deliverer of the people. Richly endowed and gifted in poetry and music, she led the women of Israel in song and dance on the shore of the Red Sea, and in the affections of the people and the honor of Heaven she stood second only to Moses and Aaron. This remembrance is joined to remembering what Balak king of Moab consulted and planned and what Balaam the son of Beor answered, from Shittim unto Gilgal, so that the people may know the righteousness of the Lord.

In light of that deliverance and leading, ritual gifts cannot satisfy Him, not burnt offerings nor thousands of rams nor ten thousands of rivers of oil nor even the firstborn for transgression, for He has showed what is good and requires doing justly and loving mercy and walking humbly with God, with humiliation of spirit. The verse shows a long-suffering God whose compassions do not fail, whose Spirit throughout probationary time entreats men to accept the gift of life, to turn from evil ways and live, to take hold of His strength and make peace with Him, with every provision and encouragement offered in Christ. This stands against the device and deception that leads men into sin and then leaves them helpless and hopeless and fearing and afraid to seek pardon.

After such deliverance and the blessings given to Israel, ungrateful rejection of His guidance is a serious failure to respond to what He had done for them, and departure from Him brings His sent and correcting rod upon His people in sickness, desolation, and eating without satisfaction because of sin. The chapter exposes God's mind against unfair actions, false dealing, falsehood, and robbery in business transactions, condemning mismanagement, speculation, and unjust trade that makes men and women poor, causes suffering, and ruins souls. He requires those who claim church membership, and especially those in leading positions, to renounce that kind of business, to stand in integrity even if it costs life, and never to sell or barter the soul by doing injustice to even one soul or person, and He will not be trifled with but will surely punish those who persist in misrepresenting His character by injustice, violence, lies, fraud, sharp dealing, and selfish grasping.