Micah 6:8
Verse
Context
The Case against Israel
7Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Sermons




Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
He hath showed thee, O Man, what is good - All the modes of expiation which ye have proposed are, in the sight of God, unavailable; they cannot do away the evil, nor purify from the guilt of sin. He himself has shown thee what is good; that which is profitable to thee, and pleasing to himself. And what is that? Answer, Thou art: - I. To do justly; to give to all their due. 1. To God his due; thy heart, thy body, soul, and spirit; thy Wisdom, understanding, judgment. "To love him with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength, and thy neighbor as thyself." This is God's due and right from every man. 2. Thou art to give thy neighbor his due to do to him as thou wouldst that he should do to thee, never working ill to him. 3. Thou art to give to thyself thy due; not to deprive thy soul of what God has provided for it; to keep thy body in temperance, sobriety, and chastity; avoiding all excesses, both in action and passion. II. Thou art to love mercy; not only to do what justice requires, but also what mercy, kindness, benevolence, and charity require. III. But how art thou to do this? Thou art to walk humbly with thy God; הצנע 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 canst 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. No. He shows that in this way all men should walk; that this is the duty of Every rational being; but 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. The manner of raising attention, says Bp. Newcome, on Mic 6:1, Mic 6:2, by calling on man to urge his plea in the face of all nature, and on the inanimate creation to hear the expostulation of Jehovah with his people, is truly awakening and magnificent. The wards of Jehovah follow in Mic 6:3-5. And God's mercies having been set before the people, one of them is introduced in a beautiful dramatic form; asking what his duty is towards so gracious a God, Mic 6:6, Mic 6:7. The answer follows in the words of the prophet, Mic 6:8. Some think we have a sort of dialogue between Balak and Balaam, represented to us in the prophetical way. The king of Moab speaks, Mic 6:6. Balaam replies by another question in the two first hemistichs of Mic 6:7. The king of Moab rejoins in the remaining part of the verse; and Balaam replies, Mic 6:8. Bps. Butler and Lowth favor this. I cannot agree.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
The prophet therefore proceeds in Mic 6:8 to overthrow these outward means of reconciliation with God, and reminds the people of the moral demands of the law. Mic 6:8. "They have told thee, O man, what is good, and what Jehovah requires of thee, simply to do right, and love good, and walk humbly with thy God." הגּיד, impersonal, "one has told," or they have told thee, namely Moses in the law. The opinion that Jehovah should be supplied as the subject is a very improbable one, for the simple reason that Jehovah is expressly mentioned in the second dependent clause. The use of כּי אם, nisi, as in the similar connection of thought in Deu 10:12, may be accounted for from the retrospective allusion to the gifts mentioned by the people: not outward sacrifices of any kind, but only the fulfilment of three following duties: namely, above all things, doing righteousness and exercising love. These two embrace all the commandments of the second table, of whose fulfilment Israel thought so little, that it was addicted to the very opposite, - namely, injustice, oppression, and want of affection (vid., Mic 2:1-2, Mic 2:8; Mic 3:2-3, Mic 3:9 ff., Mic 6:10 ff.). There is also a third: humble walk with God, i.e., in fellowship with God, as Israel, being a holy priestly nation, ought to walk. Without these moral virtues, sacrificial worship was a spiritless opus operatum, in which God had no pleasure (see at Sa1 15:22 and Hos 6:6).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
He--Jehovah. hath showed thee--long ago, so that thou needest not ask the question as if thou hadst never heard (Mic 6:6; compare Deu 10:12; Deu 30:11-14). what is good--"the good things to come" under Messiah, of which "the law had the shadow." The Mosaic sacrifices were but suggestive foreshadowings of His better sacrifice (Heb 9:23; Heb 10:1). To have this "good" first "showed," or revealed by the Spirit, is the only basis for the superstructure of the moral requirements which follow. Thus the way was prepared for the Gospel. The banishment of the Jews from Palestine is designed to preclude the possibility of their looking to the Mosaic rites for redemption, and shuts them up to Messiah. justly . . . mercy--preferred by God to sacrifices. For the latter being positive ordinances, are only means designed with a view to the former, which being moral duties are the ends, and of everlasting obligation (Sa1 15:22; Hos 6:6; Hos 12:6; Amo 5:22, Amo 5:24). Two duties towards man are specified--justice, or strict equity; and mercy, or a kindly abatement of what we might justly demand, and a hearty desire to do good to others. to walk humbly with thy God--passive and active obedience towards God. The three moral duties here are summed up by our Lord (Mat 23:23), "judgment, mercy, and faith" (in Luk 11:42, "the love of God). Compare Jam 1:27. To walk with God implies constant prayer and watchfulness, familiar yet "humble" converse with God (Gen 5:24; Gen 17:1).
John Gill Bible Commentary
He hath showed me, O man, what is good,.... This is not the answer of the prophet to the body of the people, or to any and every one of the people of Israel; but of Balaam to Balak, a single man, that consulted with him, and put questions to him; particularly what he should do to please the Lord, and what righteousness he required of him, that would be acceptable to him; and though he was a king, he was but a man, and he would have him know it that he was no more, and as such addresses him; and especially when he is informing him of his duty to God; which lay not in such things as he had proposed, but in doing that which was good, and avoiding that which was evil, in a moral sense: and this the Lord had shown him by the light of nature; which is no other than the work of the law of God written in the hearts of the Heathens, by which they are directed to do the good commanded in the law, and to shun the evil forbidden by it; see Rom 2:14; and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly; or "judgment" (e); to exercise public judgment and justice, as a king, among his subjects; to do private and personal justice between man and man; to hurt no man's person, property, and character; to give to everyone their due, and do as he would desire to be done by; which as it is agreeable to the law of God, so to the light of nature, and what is shown, required, and taught by it: and to love mercy; not only to show mercy to miserable objects, to persons in distress; to relieve the poor and indigent; to clothe the naked, and feed the hungry; but to delight in such exercises; and which a king especially should do, whose throne is established by mercy, and who is able, and should be munificent; and some Heathen princes, by their liberality, have gained the name of benefactors, "Euergetes", as one of the Ptolemies did; see Luk 22:25; such advice Daniel gave to Nebuchadnezzar, a Heathen prince, as agreeable to the light of nature; see Dan 4:27; and to walk humbly with thy God? his Creator and Benefactor, from whom he had his being, and all the blessings of life, and was dependent upon him; and therefore, as a creature, should behave with humility towards his Creator, acknowledging his distance from him, and the obligations he lay under to him; and even though a king, yet his God and Creator was above him, King of kings, and Lord of lords, to whom he owed his crown, sceptre, and kingdom, and was accountable to him for all his administrations: and this "walking humbly" is opposed to "walking in pride", which kings are apt to do; but God can humble them, and bring them low, as Heathen kings have been obliged to own; see Dan 2:21. (e) "judicium", V. L. Munster; "jus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
6:8 Good means what is right in God’s eyes; God is the source of all goodness (Gen 1; Exod 33:19; 34:6-7; Deut 12:28). • what is right (Hebrew mishpat, often translated “justice”): God’s order in the world requires treatment of others in fair, non-manipulative, non-oppressive ways. • mercy (Hebrew khesed): This passionate, undeserved loyalty is the defining quality in God’s holy character (see Ps 136). Those who know God will act in the same way toward others (see Gen 21:22-24; Josh 2:12-14; Matt 5:43-48). • walk humbly: Humility must characterize God’s people. They must not live in a spirit of arrogance or special privilege. They must be humble and reverently fear God. Mishpat and khesed are incompatible with human arrogance. God desires us to be in an ongoing intimate relationship with him (a “walk”; cp. Deut 28:9; Josh 22:5) that transforms the way we relate to other people.
Micah 6:8
The Case against Israel
7Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
The Reproach of the Solemn Assembly
By David Wilkerson4.9K55:00JOL 1:14JOL 2:1MIC 6:8HAB 2:20ZEP 3:17HAG 1:7MAT 6:33In this sermon, the speaker expresses concern about the negative effects of the prosperity gospel and false prophets on believers. He describes witnessing people engaging in strange behaviors during church services, such as falling on the floor, laughing hysterically, and writhing like snakes. The speaker criticizes evangelists who claim to have the power to knock people down or impart the Holy Spirit through physical actions. He also highlights the spread of this distorted gospel message, including in South America and Cuba, and warns against the dangers of Ponzi and pyramid schemes within the church.
A Heart After God Is Better Than Skils by K P Yohannan
By K.P. Yohannan4.4K05:021SA 16:7PSA 51:17PRO 3:5MIC 6:8MAT 23:121CO 1:272CO 12:9PHP 2:3JAS 4:10This sermon shares a powerful testimony from Tripura, India, where the love of Christ transformed warring tribes into brothers and sisters, uniting them in faith. It highlights the impact of a humble and transparent leader, Anil D. Verma, whose dependence on the Lord surpassed his administrative skills. The message emphasizes the importance of prioritizing inner life reality and knowing the Lord, as God uses those who are honest, sincere, humble, and broken for His work.
How the Spirit Sends Revival
By J. Edwin Orr4.3K49:40Revival TheologyJER 33:3MIC 6:8MAT 22:37MAT 28:19JHN 16:8ACT 2:37ACT 6:5In this sermon, the preacher discusses various revivals throughout history, highlighting the impact of preaching and teaching in bringing people to God. He mentions the American Revival of 1858, where there were no extravagant displays but still a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The preacher also shares a story of a shoe salesman who wanted to teach Sunday school and was encouraged to start his own class, emphasizing the importance of individual initiative in ministry. The sermon concludes with a mention of Jeremiah Lampier, who started a prayer meeting that grew exponentially, leading to conversions and transformation in the lives of individuals and their families.
Testimony - Part 3
By Jackie Pullinger4.2K09:57TestimonyPSA 82:3PRO 14:21ISA 58:10MIC 6:8MAT 25:40LUK 10:25JAS 1:27In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the overwhelming number of people in need in Hong Kong. They express a desire to understand and love the people in their community, but feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of faces and stories. The speaker then shares their realization that they can make a difference in a specific area called the World City, where there is a need for a nursery to care for babies and support for teenagers who cannot afford to go to school. They also mention the presence of homeless individuals in the area. The speaker sees this as their calling and a way to make a positive impact in their community.
What Is Prophetic? - Part 1
By Art Katz3.7K1:30:19PropheticEXO 22:22PRO 14:31ISA 1:17AMO 8:4MIC 6:8LUK 12:48JAS 1:27In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being prepared to preach the word of God. He reflects on the example of Moses and the depth of God's dealing with him during his time in the wilderness and leading the people. The speaker also mentions a personal experience where he was drained but was able to speak after a worshipful man sang. He highlights the need for patience and waiting for the full disclosure of God's message before passing judgment. The sermon also touches on the destructive nature of worldly ambitions and the consequences of playing games with people's lives.
Voices From Hell Speaking to America - Part 1
By Alan Cairns3.4K09:08PSA 33:12PRO 14:34PRO 29:2MIC 6:8MAT 22:21ROM 6:232CO 10:5EPH 5:111TI 2:11PE 5:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of discerning between different sins and understanding that while all sin is damnable, not all sin is equal. It encourages believers to engage in the political process with a discerning eye, recognizing the threats to Christian morality and the right of Christianity to exist in society. The message underscores the need for God's people to stand against anti-Christian ideologies and to make informed decisions based on God's truth.
From Babylon to Jerusalem - (Daniel) ch.4:1-5:31
By Zac Poonen3.0K1:00:59From Babylon To JerusalemDAN 4:10DAN 4:27MIC 6:8MAT 3:10LUK 13:6In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Nebuchadnezzar and his encounter with God. Nebuchadnezzar had a vision of a great tree that provided shade and food for all living creatures. However, an angelic watcher appeared and commanded the tree to be cut down, leaving only a stump. This was a punishment for Nebuchadnezzar's pride and arrogance. The purpose of this punishment was to teach Nebuchadnezzar and all people that God is the ruler over all and can appoint even the lowliest of men to positions of power.
Looking for a City
By George Warnock2.6K1:08:30GEN 15:1MIC 6:8REV 21:2This sermon focuses on the journey of Abraham as he followed God's call to leave his homeland without knowing the destination, highlighting the importance of vision in walking with God. It emphasizes the need for believers to have a vision aligned with God's perspective, rooted in love and compassion, leading to a life of humility, righteousness, and mercy. The sermon encourages a deep spiritual understanding of God's promises, the inheritance in Christ, and the ultimate vision of dwelling in the city of the living God.
God's Demands
By Chuck Smith2.3K37:15Gods WayDEU 10:12PSA 25:4PSA 51:1PSA 51:5MIC 6:8In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the transformative power of God's spirit working within believers. He highlights that through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God enables believers to obey His ideal requirements and fulfill His purposes. The speaker then shares a story about an old violin that was initially undervalued but became valuable after being touched by a master's hand, drawing a parallel to how God can transform and restore broken lives. The sermon concludes with the reminder that it is important for individuals to examine the path they are on and consider where it will lead them, emphasizing the need to seek God's ways and follow His paths.
What Love Is This? - Part 5
By Dave Hunt2.0K09:49PSA 86:15MIC 6:8LUK 13:24ROM 11:321CO 13:41JN 2:6This sermon delves into the historical context of divisions within Christianity, focusing on the Council of Nicaea and the controversies surrounding believers who renounced Christ under persecution. It contrasts the views of Augustine and Adonitus on the purity of the church, highlighting the extreme measures taken by figures like John Calvin in Geneva. The core theological debate centers on the concept of God's love for all versus the Calvinist doctrine of predestination and limited atonement, questioning the nature of God's mercy and kindness.
New Beginnings - Crossing Jordan I
By George Warnock1.8K1:03:05BeginningsEXO 15:2PSA 95:11MIC 6:8MAT 6:33HEB 4:1In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not looking back and instead focusing on moving forward in faith. He highlights the faithfulness of Moses and how his obedience allowed Joshua to learn the ways of the Lord. The speaker then discusses the promised land that God has prepared for His people, a place where they don't have to build or labor but can enjoy the abundance that God has provided. The sermon also touches on the idea that sometimes God allows hardship and trouble to prepare His people, and the importance of walking in harmony and union with Him.
Hearers Not Doers
By Chuck Smith1.8K29:05JER 42:5EZK 33:31MIC 6:8MAT 7:24LUK 6:46ROM 2:17JAS 1:22This sermon emphasizes the importance of not only hearing the Word of God but also actively doing what it says. It warns against the deception of merely agreeing with God's commands without obeying them, using examples from Matthew, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah to illustrate the consequences of not being doers of the Word. The message stresses the need for genuine obedience to God's instructions to withstand the storms of life and avoid a false sense of security.
This Is Not a Game
By Jason Bellard1.6K03:36PSA 51:17MIC 6:8MAT 6:33MAT 28:19JHN 16:8GAL 5:22PHP 3:9JAS 1:27This sermon emphasizes that true religion, repentance, deliverance, salvation, holiness, conviction, righteousness, and the true church are not about outward displays or church activities, but about genuine heart transformation, humility, and a deep relationship with God. It challenges believers to prioritize sharing the gospel, pointing the lost to eternity, and making time for God above all else.
What God Requires - Walking Humbly Before God
By Zac Poonen1.5K58:57MIC 6:8MAT 11:29LUK 10:191CO 13:11GAL 1:10PHP 2:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of walking humbly with God, focusing on righteousness, mercy, and obedience to God's will. It highlights the need to seek God's approval rather than seeking honor from men, to rejoice in what God has done for us, and to be aware of subtle pride in our actions and words. The message encourages humility, obedience, and a deep reliance on God's grace to be a blessing to others.
Conduct Worthy of the Gospel
By Shane Idleman1.4K51:37GospelISA 1:18JER 29:11EZK 36:26DAN 10:12JOL 2:28AMO 5:24JON 2:9MIC 6:8NAM 1:7HAB 3:17ZEP 3:17HAG 2:9ZEC 4:6MAL 3:10The video tells the story of a boy who falls multiple times while running a race. Each time he falls, he feels embarrassed and wants to give up. However, his father's encouraging look motivates him to keep getting up and trying again. Despite the boy's setbacks, he eventually finds the determination to keep going and tries his best to catch up to the other runners. The video emphasizes the importance of perseverance and not giving up, even when faced with failure or difficult circumstances.
What God Requires - Mercy
By Zac Poonen1.4K1:04:01PRO 19:17MIC 6:8MAT 5:48LUK 6:36LUK 10:36GAL 6:10EPH 4:32COL 3:12JAS 2:13This sermon emphasizes the importance of being merciful and treating others with kindness and dignity, highlighting the need to show mercy and be fair to those around us. It delves into the concept of being perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, focusing on the aspect of mercy as an area where we can strive for perfection. The message encourages listeners to be generous, preserve the dignity of others, and cultivate a spirit of mercy and righteousness in their interactions with people.
(The Word for Today) Isaiah 35:10 - Part 1
By Chuck Smith1.3K25:59ExpositionalISA 35:3ISA 35:10MIC 6:8ROM 6:22In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the destructive nature of sin and its consequences on individuals and nations. He emphasizes that sin is a rebellion against God's law and that it ultimately leads to destruction and death. However, Pastor Chuck also highlights a new chapter, a new age, described in Isaiah chapter 35, where the wilderness and deserts will rejoice and blossom abundantly. This new chapter represents a time of restoration and salvation, where God will come to save those who are fearful and bring healing to the blind, deaf, and lame.
The Beginning of the End - Part 2
By Chuck Smith1.2K36:27DAN 12:1MIC 6:8MAT 24:15MAT 25:31HEB 10:31This sermon delves into the prophecies found in the book of Daniel, discussing the rise of the Antichrist, the abomination of desolation, the great tribulation, and the second coming of Jesus Christ to establish God's kingdom on earth. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the signs of the times and being prepared for the return of the Lord. The sermon also highlights the need to love God, follow His commandments, and be found worthy to escape the coming judgment and stand before the Son of Man.
God Requires Honesty and Compassion - Part 1
By Zac Poonen1.2K09:16PRO 11:17MIC 6:8MAT 5:7MAT 7:12LUK 6:36ROM 2:1PHP 2:3JAS 2:131JN 1:9This sermon focuses on the message from Micah 6, emphasizing the importance of treating others fairly, showing mercy, and walking humbly with God. It highlights the need to do justice by treating others as we want to be treated, love kindness by forgiving others, and walk humbly by acknowledging our mistakes without blaming others. The speaker urges honesty in acknowledging faults and emphasizes the significance of kindness towards others, reflecting Jesus' example of compassion even in the face of mistreatment.
True Christianity - Part 2
By Joshua Daniel1.2K25:50EXO 3:52CH 7:1PSA 51:17ISA 57:15MIC 6:8MAT 23:12JAS 4:101PE 5:6This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking the true heart cry for God rather than being satisfied with superficial forms of religion. It calls for humility, repentance, and seeking God's face to experience His healing and forgiveness. The message highlights the need for genuine devotion, acknowledging past wrongdoings, and humbling ourselves before God to make our Christianity relevant in today's world.
God Requires Honesty and Compassion - Part 7
By Zac Poonen1.1K05:09MIC 6:8MAT 7:1MAT 23:12LUK 6:31EPH 4:32COL 3:12JAS 4:101PE 5:5This sermon emphasizes the importance of humility, acknowledging our sins, and treating others with kindness and respect. It warns against elevating ourselves above others or looking down on anyone, stressing the need to have a good attitude towards all people and to avoid jealousy and pride. The speaker highlights the significance of seeing our own faults before judging others, seeking forgiveness, and walking in humility and compassion as Jesus did.
The Education of a Prophet: Jonah
By John Piper87416:59JON 4:6JON 4:9MIC 6:8MAT 7:23LUK 18:131PE 2:23In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Jonah and how God teaches him a lesson about mercy. God appoints a fish, a plant, a worm, and a hot wind to teach Jonah about mercy and justice. The preacher emphasizes that God's mercy knows no boundaries and that we, as God's people, should also show mercy and do justice. The preacher also shares personal experiences of witnessing racism in a Baptist church and highlights the contradiction between racism and the teachings of Jesus.
Humility
By John Musser86752:32HumilityEXO 6:6ISA 57:15MIC 6:8JHN 8:322CO 12:7In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power of desire and how it can energize and motivate individuals. He gives examples of a tired man who suddenly becomes energized when invited to go fishing, and a young boy who finds the energy to mow the lawn when promised a swimming trip afterwards. The preacher then introduces the concept of humility and its connection to receiving grace from God. He references James 4:6 and Micah's teachings to highlight the importance of humility in experiencing the power of God and living according to His ways.
Up Means Down
By Jim Cymbala67023:16Christian LifePRO 16:18MIC 6:8MAT 11:28MAT 23:12LUK 18:11JAS 4:81PE 5:5In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of a spiritual law of gravity, comparing it to the physical law of gravity. He uses the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector from Luke 18 to illustrate his point. The speaker emphasizes the importance of humility and warns against pride, which he believes is the cause of agitation and unrest in our lives. He encourages listeners to take on the yoke of Jesus and find rest in him, rather than seeking self-exaltation.
Sin a Thief of God's Glory
By Richard Owen Roberts6011:01:171SA 15:221SA 16:72CH 7:14PSA 51:10MIC 6:8MAT 21:13MRK 12:30JAS 4:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking God's work in our hearts, asking for a clean heart and a right spirit. It delves into the significance of loving God above all else and the need to focus on personal love for God. The sermon also explores the consequences of sin as a hindrance to God's glory and the importance of seeking God's will and worshiping Him in humility.
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
He hath showed thee, O Man, what is good - All the modes of expiation which ye have proposed are, in the sight of God, unavailable; they cannot do away the evil, nor purify from the guilt of sin. He himself has shown thee what is good; that which is profitable to thee, and pleasing to himself. And what is that? Answer, Thou art: - I. To do justly; to give to all their due. 1. To God his due; thy heart, thy body, soul, and spirit; thy Wisdom, understanding, judgment. "To love him with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength, and thy neighbor as thyself." This is God's due and right from every man. 2. Thou art to give thy neighbor his due to do to him as thou wouldst that he should do to thee, never working ill to him. 3. Thou art to give to thyself thy due; not to deprive thy soul of what God has provided for it; to keep thy body in temperance, sobriety, and chastity; avoiding all excesses, both in action and passion. II. Thou art to love mercy; not only to do what justice requires, but also what mercy, kindness, benevolence, and charity require. III. But how art thou to do this? Thou art to walk humbly with thy God; הצנע 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 canst 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. No. He shows that in this way all men should walk; that this is the duty of Every rational being; but 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. The manner of raising attention, says Bp. Newcome, on Mic 6:1, Mic 6:2, by calling on man to urge his plea in the face of all nature, and on the inanimate creation to hear the expostulation of Jehovah with his people, is truly awakening and magnificent. The wards of Jehovah follow in Mic 6:3-5. And God's mercies having been set before the people, one of them is introduced in a beautiful dramatic form; asking what his duty is towards so gracious a God, Mic 6:6, Mic 6:7. The answer follows in the words of the prophet, Mic 6:8. Some think we have a sort of dialogue between Balak and Balaam, represented to us in the prophetical way. The king of Moab speaks, Mic 6:6. Balaam replies by another question in the two first hemistichs of Mic 6:7. The king of Moab rejoins in the remaining part of the verse; and Balaam replies, Mic 6:8. Bps. Butler and Lowth favor this. I cannot agree.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
The prophet therefore proceeds in Mic 6:8 to overthrow these outward means of reconciliation with God, and reminds the people of the moral demands of the law. Mic 6:8. "They have told thee, O man, what is good, and what Jehovah requires of thee, simply to do right, and love good, and walk humbly with thy God." הגּיד, impersonal, "one has told," or they have told thee, namely Moses in the law. The opinion that Jehovah should be supplied as the subject is a very improbable one, for the simple reason that Jehovah is expressly mentioned in the second dependent clause. The use of כּי אם, nisi, as in the similar connection of thought in Deu 10:12, may be accounted for from the retrospective allusion to the gifts mentioned by the people: not outward sacrifices of any kind, but only the fulfilment of three following duties: namely, above all things, doing righteousness and exercising love. These two embrace all the commandments of the second table, of whose fulfilment Israel thought so little, that it was addicted to the very opposite, - namely, injustice, oppression, and want of affection (vid., Mic 2:1-2, Mic 2:8; Mic 3:2-3, Mic 3:9 ff., Mic 6:10 ff.). There is also a third: humble walk with God, i.e., in fellowship with God, as Israel, being a holy priestly nation, ought to walk. Without these moral virtues, sacrificial worship was a spiritless opus operatum, in which God had no pleasure (see at Sa1 15:22 and Hos 6:6).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
He--Jehovah. hath showed thee--long ago, so that thou needest not ask the question as if thou hadst never heard (Mic 6:6; compare Deu 10:12; Deu 30:11-14). what is good--"the good things to come" under Messiah, of which "the law had the shadow." The Mosaic sacrifices were but suggestive foreshadowings of His better sacrifice (Heb 9:23; Heb 10:1). To have this "good" first "showed," or revealed by the Spirit, is the only basis for the superstructure of the moral requirements which follow. Thus the way was prepared for the Gospel. The banishment of the Jews from Palestine is designed to preclude the possibility of their looking to the Mosaic rites for redemption, and shuts them up to Messiah. justly . . . mercy--preferred by God to sacrifices. For the latter being positive ordinances, are only means designed with a view to the former, which being moral duties are the ends, and of everlasting obligation (Sa1 15:22; Hos 6:6; Hos 12:6; Amo 5:22, Amo 5:24). Two duties towards man are specified--justice, or strict equity; and mercy, or a kindly abatement of what we might justly demand, and a hearty desire to do good to others. to walk humbly with thy God--passive and active obedience towards God. The three moral duties here are summed up by our Lord (Mat 23:23), "judgment, mercy, and faith" (in Luk 11:42, "the love of God). Compare Jam 1:27. To walk with God implies constant prayer and watchfulness, familiar yet "humble" converse with God (Gen 5:24; Gen 17:1).
John Gill Bible Commentary
He hath showed me, O man, what is good,.... This is not the answer of the prophet to the body of the people, or to any and every one of the people of Israel; but of Balaam to Balak, a single man, that consulted with him, and put questions to him; particularly what he should do to please the Lord, and what righteousness he required of him, that would be acceptable to him; and though he was a king, he was but a man, and he would have him know it that he was no more, and as such addresses him; and especially when he is informing him of his duty to God; which lay not in such things as he had proposed, but in doing that which was good, and avoiding that which was evil, in a moral sense: and this the Lord had shown him by the light of nature; which is no other than the work of the law of God written in the hearts of the Heathens, by which they are directed to do the good commanded in the law, and to shun the evil forbidden by it; see Rom 2:14; and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly; or "judgment" (e); to exercise public judgment and justice, as a king, among his subjects; to do private and personal justice between man and man; to hurt no man's person, property, and character; to give to everyone their due, and do as he would desire to be done by; which as it is agreeable to the law of God, so to the light of nature, and what is shown, required, and taught by it: and to love mercy; not only to show mercy to miserable objects, to persons in distress; to relieve the poor and indigent; to clothe the naked, and feed the hungry; but to delight in such exercises; and which a king especially should do, whose throne is established by mercy, and who is able, and should be munificent; and some Heathen princes, by their liberality, have gained the name of benefactors, "Euergetes", as one of the Ptolemies did; see Luk 22:25; such advice Daniel gave to Nebuchadnezzar, a Heathen prince, as agreeable to the light of nature; see Dan 4:27; and to walk humbly with thy God? his Creator and Benefactor, from whom he had his being, and all the blessings of life, and was dependent upon him; and therefore, as a creature, should behave with humility towards his Creator, acknowledging his distance from him, and the obligations he lay under to him; and even though a king, yet his God and Creator was above him, King of kings, and Lord of lords, to whom he owed his crown, sceptre, and kingdom, and was accountable to him for all his administrations: and this "walking humbly" is opposed to "walking in pride", which kings are apt to do; but God can humble them, and bring them low, as Heathen kings have been obliged to own; see Dan 2:21. (e) "judicium", V. L. Munster; "jus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
6:8 Good means what is right in God’s eyes; God is the source of all goodness (Gen 1; Exod 33:19; 34:6-7; Deut 12:28). • what is right (Hebrew mishpat, often translated “justice”): God’s order in the world requires treatment of others in fair, non-manipulative, non-oppressive ways. • mercy (Hebrew khesed): This passionate, undeserved loyalty is the defining quality in God’s holy character (see Ps 136). Those who know God will act in the same way toward others (see Gen 21:22-24; Josh 2:12-14; Matt 5:43-48). • walk humbly: Humility must characterize God’s people. They must not live in a spirit of arrogance or special privilege. They must be humble and reverently fear God. Mishpat and khesed are incompatible with human arrogance. God desires us to be in an ongoing intimate relationship with him (a “walk”; cp. Deut 28:9; Josh 22:5) that transforms the way we relate to other people.