Micah 6:8

Below is commentary from one of my favorite Bible teachers, David Guzik, on the well known verse from Micah 6:8.  I have always loved this verse, but upon reading it got to wondering just what God meant by "do justly" and "love mercy." The verse says this is "what is good and what God requires of me." That means it is expected of me.  The dictionary defines required as,  "to claim or ask for by right and authority." So it isnt as though God is just suggesting this way of living, but He is claiming by His authority that this is how we ought to live.  If I have decided to follow Him and have given Him authority in my life, then it is God's right to ask this of me.

This made it personal and got me thinking... do I "do justly" and "love mercy" and do I "walk humbly with God?" I needed more information on just what was expected of me.  That's when I went to David Guzik's commentary to see what he might add after much study of the verse.  And what I found will hopefully encourage you as it has encouraged me.

 Micah 6:8

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

a. He has shown you: “You act as if it is some mystery what I require of you. In point of fact it is no mystery at all. I have shown you clearly what is good and what I require of you.”

b. To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God: The Lord answers the contentious witness in open court. “What I require of you isn’t complicated. Simply do three things.”

c. Do justly: “Act in a just, fair way towards others. Treat them they way you want to be treated.”

d. Love mercy: “Don’t just show mercy, but love to show it. Give others the same measure of mercy you want to receive from the Me.”

e. Walk humbly with your God: “Remember who I am - your God. If you keep that in mind, you will walk humbly before Me.”

i. “I would not advise any of you to try to be humble, but to be humble. As to acting humbly, when a man forces himself to it, that is poor stuff. When a man talks a great deal about his humility, when he is very humble to everybody, he is generally a canting hypocrite. Humility must be in the heart, and then it will come out spontaneously as the outflow of life in every act that a man performs.” (Spurgeon)

ii. Spurgeon’s sermon Micah’s Message for Today applied the idea of how to walk humbly with your God:

• Walk humbly when you are spiritually strong
• Walk humbly when you have much work to do
• Walk humbly in all your motives
• Walk humbly studying God’s word
• Walk humbly when under trials
• Walk humbly in your devotions
• Walk humbly between you and your brothers in Christ
• Walk humbly when dealing with sinners

iii. “True humility is thinking rightly of thyself, not meanly. When you have found out what you really are, you will be humble, for you are nothing to boast of. To be humble will make you safe. To be humble will make you happy. To be humble will make music in your heart when you go to bed. To be humble here will make you wake up in the likeness of your Master by-and-by.” (Spurgeon)