Mic 6 | MHM | STEP | God's Expostulations with His People This section begins with a serious message from God to His people. God calls everyone to listen carefully because He has something important to say. The prophet must speak loudly and clearly, even to the mountains and hills, to show how serious this message is. God is upset with His people because of their sins. He wants them to think about all the good things He has done for them, and asks why they have turned away from Him. God uses examples from Israel’s history to remind them of His kindness and to prove that He has always been fair and loving. v. 1 : God tells His people, Hear now what the Lord says . The message is not from a normal person, but from the living God. The prophet is told to speak strongly and make his voice heard, even to the mountains and hills. This means the message is very important. God wants everyone to know what He is about to say, even if the people themselves are not listening. The mountains and hills are called to witness, because the people have become careless and stubborn. This is similar to when Isaiah said, Hear, O heavens! and give ear, O earth! (Isaiah 1:2 ).

‏ Micah 6

God's Expostulations with His People

This section begins with a serious message from God to His people. God calls everyone to listen carefully because He has something important to say. The prophet must speak loudly and clearly, even to the mountains and hills, to show how serious this message is. God is upset with His people because of their sins. He wants them to think about all the good things He has done for them, and asks why they have turned away from Him. God uses examples from Israel’s history to remind them of His kindness and to prove that He has always been fair and loving.

v. 1: God tells His people, Hear now what the Lord says. The message is not from a normal person, but from the living God. The prophet is told to speak strongly and make his voice heard, even to the mountains and hills. This means the message is very important. God wants everyone to know what He is about to say, even if the people themselves are not listening. The mountains and hills are called to witness, because the people have become careless and stubborn. This is similar to when Isaiah said, Hear, O heavens! and give ear, O earth! (Isaiah 1:2 ^a).

v. 2: God announces that He has a controversy, or argument, with His people Israel. Their sins have started a dispute between them and God. Even though they are His chosen people, their sins make God angry. God says He will plead with them, not to destroy them, but to help them understand their wrong and to bring them to repentance. Unlike when God judged the heathen with anger, here He pleads with Israel with compassion. God wants to reason with them, so they will see that His ways are right and fair (Ezekiel 18:25 ^b).

v. 3: God asks His people, O my people, what have I done to you? Wherein have I wearied you? God challenges Israel to show if He has ever been unfair or harsh with them. He has not made them serve Him in a way that is unreasonable or difficult (Isaiah 43:23 ^c). God has always been just and kind, so there is no good reason for their rebellion (Jeremiah 2:5 ^d). He invites anyone who has ever served Him to testify if they have found Him to be a hard master.

v. 4: God reminds them of His goodness in the past. He brought them out of Egypt, where they were slaves. He saved them by His power, not by paying a price, but by force. When He led them through the wilderness, He provided good leaders—Moses, Aaron, and Miriam—to guide them (Exodus 7:1; Exodus 15:20 ^e). God wants His people to remember how much He has helped them, especially in their early history.

v. 5: God tells them to remember what happened with Balak, the king of Moab, and Balaam, the prophet. Balak wanted Balaam to curse Israel, but God made Balaam bless them instead. This showed God's power to turn curses into blessings because He loved His people (Deuteronomy 23:5; Proverbs 16:1 ^f). God also reminds them of the journey from Shittim to Gilgal, when He brought them into the Promised Land. These acts showed God's justice, goodness, and faithfulness. God wants His people to remember these things, so they will understand He is right and fair in everything He does.

Anxiety Respecting the Divine Favour

This section shows how the people of Israel feel uneasy and anxious about how to make things right with God. They know they have done wrong and want to find a way to please Him and be forgiven. They ask what they should do or give to be accepted by God. Their first ideas are about sacrifices and outward actions. But God teaches them that what He really wants is not expensive offerings, but a heart that loves justice, mercy, and humility.

v. 6: The people ask, Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? They understand that they must come to God with respect and seek His favor. Each person is concerned about their own sin and wants to know what will make peace with God. They wonder what kind of offering would be enough to cover their sins and please God. This shows their deep worry about how to be forgiven and accepted.

v. 7: The people suggest different sacrifices. They ask if God would be pleased with thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oil. They even talk about giving their firstborn for their transgression, just as some nations did. They are willing to give up anything, even what is most valuable to them, if it will make up for their sins. But these things—no matter how costly or painful—are not what God really wants. Outward sacrifices alone cannot make up for sin or bring true forgiveness. God wants more than just gifts or rituals.

v. 8: God answers clearly what He expects: He has shown you, O man, what is good. God has already told people how to live. What He wants is not just sacrifices, but that we do justly (treat others fairly and honestly), love mercy (be kind and forgiving), and walk humbly with your God (live close to God with a humble heart). This is what really matters to God—how we act, how we treat others, and our attitude towards Him. These are more important than any offering or sacrifice (Hebrews 11:5 ^g).

Accusations and Threatenings

This section shows how God continues His case against His people because they refused to change their ways. Even after God told them what was right, they still did wrong. God, through His prophets, warns the people before punishment comes. He points out their sins, such as injustice and idolatry, and explains the consequences. God’s message is clear: if the people do not listen and change, they will suffer judgment and shame.

v. 9: God’s voice calls out to the city, especially to Jerusalem and Samaria, through His prophets. The prophets speak loudly so everyone can hear. Wise people will recognize that this is the voice of the Lord. God tells everyone, Hear the rod, and who has appointed it. This means they should pay attention to the warning and understand that God is the one sending it. Every time God sends trouble, it has a message. People should try to learn from the hard times and see what God is teaching them (Job 5:6; Job 23:14 ^h).

v. 10: God accuses the people of injustice and cheating. He asks if there are still treasures of wickedness in their houses and a scant measure used for business. Even after many warnings, people are still dishonest. God cannot call them pure if they keep doing wrong.

v. 11: God says He cannot accept people who use wicked balances and a bag of deceitful weights. These tools are used to cheat others. God sees this as a serious sin, even if the people try to look religious.

v. 12: The rich people are full of violence and use their power to hurt others. Many people tell lies and use their tongues to deceive. Some even lie about God, saying things like, The Lord does not see (Ezekiel 8:12 ⁱ).

v. 13: Because of these sins, God will punish the people. He says, I will make you sick, in smiting you. Just as they hurt others, now they will suffer. The riches they gained by cheating will not help them. What they took in greed, they will be forced to give up (Job 20:15 ^j).

v. 14: They will not find satisfaction in what they have. They will eat but still be hungry. Their country will have troubles inside. Even if they try to hold onto what they have, they will lose it. Even their loved ones may be taken away into captivity. What people value most is often what they lose first.

v. 15: The people will work hard, but not enjoy the results. You shall sow, but not reap. Others will take what they have planted and made. They will make oil and wine, but not use or drink them. Their efforts will be wasted, just as God warned in the law (Leviticus 26:16; Deuteronomy 28:30, 38 ^k; Isaiah 62:8-9 ^l).

v. 16: The people are also guilty of idolatry, following the evil ways of Omri and Ahab, who led Israel to worship idols (1 Kings 16:26, 31 ^m). Even though many years have passed, the people are still doing the same wrong things. God says He will make them a desolation and a hissing, which means their land will be ruined and other nations will mock them. Their former honor as God’s people will now become a reason for shame (Ezekiel 36:20 ⁿ). If people who claim to follow God ruin themselves by sin, their fall is even more shameful.