Micah: Justice + Mercyনমুনা

Hear Now . . .

By Gary Adyniec

“And I said: ‘Hear now, O heads of Jacob, and you rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice? You who hate good and love evil; who strip the skin from My people, and the flesh from their bones; who also eat the flesh of My people, flay their skin from them, break their bones, and chop them in pieces like meat for the pot, like flesh in the caldron.’ Then they will cry to the Lord but He will not hear them; He will even hide His face from them at that time, because they have been evil in their deeds.”  Micah 3:1–4 (NKJV) 

Today’s passage can be examined not only from a biblical view, but also a world view, a national view, and finally, a personal view because it fits all of them. 

First, the biblical view. Intense and vivid, right? Sadly, it wasn’t far from reality. The leaders from both tribes (Israel and Judah) had turned away from God. They were idolatrous, wicked, greedy, and took advantage of the downtrodden, marginalized, and oppressed. This isn’t what God commanded of His people. 

As Psalm 97:10 (NKJV) reminds us, “You who love the Lord, hate evil,” as well as Proverbs 8:13, which says, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” God commands His people to “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with [their] God” (Micah 6:8 NIV). So, “hear now” and consider the words of the Lord and how they speak to the different facets of our lives as believers. 

Around the world, every day, there are leaders and authorities who take advantage of others, oppress the defenseless, and hate good but love evil. We can also see this in our country and culture. While it sometimes seems like they “get away with it,” we can rest assured in knowing God is a God of justice,  nothing escapes His justice, and “because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience” (Colossians 3:6 NKJV). One day, unless they turn from their wicked ways, they will experience God’s righteous judgment and wrath. 

Let’s break this down even more and look at it from a personal perspective. First Corinthians 6:6–8 (NKJV) says, “But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!” How many times have we heard someone say they don’t go to church because the people there are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites? 

Friends, the truth of God is clear. Every single day we’re confronted with injustice and wickedness. The culture around us is calling wrong right and right wrong, distorting God’s ways and hailing it as truth, and taking advantage of the marginalized. So, what can we do? We can live with conviction in an age of compromise! By the power of the Spirit who “teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions” we can “live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:12 NIV) so we “may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’” (Philippians 2:15 NIV). When we do this, God will use us to make a difference and reach people with the gospel of Jesus! 

Pause: As Christians, we should know what justice is and the difference between good and evil. Do we honor justice and what is good? 

Practice: “And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”—Micah 6:8 (NKJV). Seek to live out this verse. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come seeking mercy for what our nation has done because we haven’t been doing our part. Forgive us and help us to start doing our part so the Church can magnify You and others will look on and glorify You. Amen.