Introduction: About the only familiarity most Christians have with the Book of Micah occurs at Christmastime. It was in Micah’s book that Herod’s scribes looked to answer the question of the Wise Men: "Where is He who is born to be King of the Jews?" Micah’s book answered: "Out of you (Bethlehem) will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, of ancient times" (5:2). This God from eternity was also described as "a Savior who is Christ, the Lord." Now we are in a position to answer the question in today’s Old Testament Reading: WHAT DOES GOD WANT FROM YOU?

  I. He desires for us to plead guilty of our sins--Mic 6:2, 11-14

    A. Greed--v11

    B. Violence and lying--v12

    C. This ill-gotten gain will not satisfy and will be lost--v14

    D. We are summoned to plead guilty to our sins--Rom. 1:18-32

 II. God's acts of past love summon us to trust and serve Him--vv3-5

    A. The greatest OT parables reminds of God’s faithfulness--Isa 5:3-4

    B. God's Son was found guilty though He had done no wrong--John 19:4-6

III. God wants you to respond with living sacrifices of thankful love--text, vv6-8

    A. Not with Old Covenant sacrifices--6:6-7a

    B. Not with pagan Sacrifices--v6:7b

    C. But with living sacrifices of love--6:8; Rom 12:1-2; Deut 10:12-13; 1 Sam 15:22; Eccl 12:13-14; Hos 6:6; Titus 2:11-14; re : humility: Isa 57:15; 1 Pet. 5:5-6

Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Old Testament: Thou art to walk humbly with thy God; hatsnea, to humble thyself to walk. This implies to acknowledge thy iniquity, and submit to be saved by his free mercy, as thou hast already found that no kind of offering or sacrifice can avail. Without this humiliation of soul, there never was, there never can be, any walking with God; for without his mercy no soul can be saved; and he must be Thy God before thou can walk with him. Many, when they hear the nature of sin pointed out and the way of salvation made plain through the blood of the Lamb, have shut their eyes both against sin and the proper sacrifice for it, and parried all exhortation, threatening, etc., with this text: "God requires nothing of us but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with him." Now I ask any man, Art thou willing to stand or fall by this text? And it would cost me neither much time nor much pains to show that on this ground no soul of man can be saved. Nor does God say that this doing justly, etc., shall merit eternal glory. He well knows that no fallen soul can act thus without especial assistance from him, and that it is only the regenerate man, the man who has found redemption through the blood of the cross, and has God for His God, that can thus act and walk. Salvation is of the mere mercy of God alone; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

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