Micah 6:5, commentary and pictures

The call is part of God's controversy with His erring people in the days of Ahaz, in which He tenderly pleads with them to return to allegiance to Him. It bids His people remember what Balak king of Moab consulted and what Balaam son of Beor answered concerning Israel, and His leading from Shittim to Gilgal, so they may know the righteousness of the Lord. This remembered history is His appeal to them and evidence of His righteous dealings with them.

That remembrance stands with His question of what He has done to weary them. It stands with His reminder that He brought them up from Egypt and redeemed them from bondage and gave them Moses, Aaron and Miriam as leaders. The deliverance from Egypt and the guidance through those leaders are set beside the counsel of Balak and the answer of Balaam as evidence of His dealings with His people.

The verse shows that God is long-suffering and His compassions do not fail. Throughout probationary time He entreats people to accept the gift of life. He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked but calls the wicked to turn from evil ways and live. He invites those whom Satan has led into sin and left helpless and hopeless to take hold of His strength and make peace with Him, with every provision made and every encouragement offered in Christ.

As part of Micah 6, the verse bears on God's mind about righteousness in dealings between people. It condemns unfair action, false dealing, falsehood and robbery that take money from men and women, make them poor and cause suffering. It requires integrity that will do injustice to not even one soul. The recall of God's past dealings, including Balak's counsel and Balaam's answer on the journey from Shittim to Gilgal so the people may recognize the Lord's righteousness, calls for grateful response to God's blessings and following the light He gives, while perversely rejecting that guidance keeps Him from fulfilling His promises and continuing to speak words of encouragement.