Micah 6:1-8
6:1 Hear what the LORD says: Rise, plead your case before the
mountains, and let the hills hear
your voice.
6:2 Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the
earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.
6:3 "O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me!
6:4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of
slavery;
and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
6:5 O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor
answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts
of
the LORD."
6:6 "With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall
I come
before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
6:7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I
give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to
do
justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
here's a group called Heartsounds, which has a wonderful song based on this passage on
CD. One member is Sam Creyer, the choir director at my church. The other is the Rev. Gary
Piatt, UCC. Sharon in Bethlehem
It would seem that the LORD is more impressed with becoming his servant than putting on
worshipful displays, however heartfelt they may be at the time. In those days, it was
bowing down and presenting burnt offerings - in our day, worship might include lifted
hands or even dancing - however, we would do well to consider a walk with God as its own
form of worship.
Sally in GA
I don't know when I've been so caught by one phrase: "with your God." That's
my sermon title, though I'm not sure where I'm going with it.
Bottom line is that I feel like I've been preaching the same sermon over and over,
calling for action, calling for ministry, participating in the body of Christ. Each sermon
in some way challenges all to jump in and DO the gospel.
Well today I need to hear, and so I need to preach, that God want us to be "with
our God". Yes we hear about doing justice and loving kindness, but I need to just
walk for a while with God.
I guess that this will be a humble sermon. A little bit reflective. But it must
communicate that it is God that asks us to walk with him. We are likely to sing, I want
Jesus to walk with ME. But here we have God wanting US to walk with HIM.
I know it's a big challenge. Walking with God implies so much. But I just want the
comfort of knowing that my need for God is just what God wants from me. And for today,
that's enough.
Pam in San Bernardino
I've been thinking about the casting of creation as the jury in this trial. I recently
came across an article by Rev. Akintunde E. Akinade, of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. He
points out that African people "believe both humankind and the whole creation were
made in the image of God and the entire creative process is envisioned as the veritable
autobiography of God." That's an interesting concept! Have we been behaving as God
created us to behave? As faithful stewards within the created order? MTSOfan
Thanks, Pam, for reminding me that being still and knowing is often the exact thing we
are called to do. For the past 4 months my congregation, like many, have been trying to
figure out what we can "do" to become peacemakers. Perhaps its time for them,
and for me, to hear that simply walking with God is the way toward wholeness.
JAC in MA
I'm the visiting preacher this weekend at a large suburban congregation where the
current senior pastor is leaving because of intense conflict in the congregation and
sniping from the "power people" in the church. The liturgy and worship are VERY
formal. I'm taking a cue from the previous discussion on this text and titling the sermon
"Taking Civil Action" -- a play on the "courtroom" setting -- Israel
v. God in front of the jury of creation. The message, I think, is that our salvation
history (like Israel's) calls us to treat one another with justice and kindness -- that
is, with civility.
Any thoughts about how to make this point so that it can still be heard by an angry
defensive congregation would be humbly appreciated.
RevEv
How do we define "walk with God"? What does it mean to walk? The above
mention that we should "be still and know God" seems to run counter to the idea
of walking. Doesn't walking connote movement?
And of worship, I wonder about the things we do and the things we place in our worship
settings. This week I am struggling with the sudden placement of the American flag just
off the center of our pulpit area? Could this be the "burnt offering" of a guilt
ridden people, like those of the Israelites?
When we worship, don't we walk with God? When we commune with, travel beside, sit with,
worshipfully stand by the cave door to hear the whispers of God, aren't we then moved to
act on behalf of God. When we truly encounter God in worship, we can do no other than to
Act Justly and Love mercy.
So, what does it mean to "walk with God"?
SELOFTIS in NC
Do Justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God... Why is that so comforting? I do
not know but it is. Manzel
Since this is Superbowl Sunday, I'm moving toward a football metaphor. It isn't what's
said and done in the huddle that matters; in fact, you get only so much time within the
huddle before you're penalized. What counts is how one plays the game, as part of a team,
on the field. My title will be, "Don't Fumble; Be Humble!" MTSOfan
One helpful song for this Sunday's service would be the wonderful "My God and
I" --- it states so beautifully "we walk and talk; go through the fields
together; we laugh and talk, as good friends should and do." The moving song makes us
realize that "walking with God" is so natural and fulfilling. BEING with God in
that fashion brings about a REAL relationship! That is true "religion".
Bob in Texas
I am trying to link this passage with the beatitudes. I read the Micah and Matthew both
as a call to participate with God in God's redemptive reconciling action in the world.
Walking humbly with God does connote some passivity but there is also action required.
We are called to attitudinal chage. Too often we consider ourselves above
something/someone. We are do-gooders, detached from the reality of those to whom we do
good. Is this humility? I think not. We are all sinners and reliant on the grace of God.
Anyway, I would appreciate any input on linking the Micah and Matthew pericopes.
shalom, David in WV
the punch line in v.8 translates wonderfully into a 3-pointer for wiggle time with the
kids: play fair; take care of each other; remember God is with us. David in WV- such a
simple restatement may open some links with the gospel
I'll contrast these attitudes and actions with the absurd (sarcastic?) list of
offerings in vs. 6-7 and title it "Goods or Services?" Joe in Zion
