The third message

The third message of the Book of Micah (chapters 6-7) begins with today’s passage. Unlike the first five chapters, chapters 6-7 are written in dialog form. Therefore, understanding who is speaking is an important key. Verses 1-2 are the words spoken by the prophet Micah. (1) Micah summons the people of Israel (the Lord’s people), who are the defendants, into the Lord’s courtroom. (2) In that courtroom, the mountains serve as witnesses and judges. The background of this imagery is the understanding that the mountains are immovable and have witnessed everything that has taken place. A similar idea appears in the Book of Deuteronomy, the book of the covenant (Deut. 4:26): “I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that you will certainly perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to take possession of it. You will not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed.” (ref. also Deut. 30:19; 31:28; Isa. 1:2). (3) It is the Lord who brings the charge against Israel. It says, “Because the Lord has a case against His people; and He will dispute with Israel.”

The word of the Lord

Verses 3-5 are the words of the Lord bringing a charge against Israel. (1) The Lord addresses the rebellious people as “My people.” No matter how greatly the people of Israel have sinned, they are still the people loved by the Lord. The Lord rebukes and judges them because He loves them. (2) The Lord presses the people of Israel, asking what fault He has committed on His part. In response, the people of Israel are unable to answer anything. In verses 4-5, the Lord lists what He has done for the people of Israel up to that point. Total of four acts are mentioned. (1) The Lord redeemed the people of Israel from Egypt. This refers to the event of the Exodus. (2) Next, the Lord gave leaders to the people of Israel. Moses was a prophet, Aaron was the high priest, and Miriam was a prophetess who taught the people to praise the Lord with dancing and song. (3) Balak king of Moab and Balaam the son of Beor repeatedly tried to curse the people of Israel, but the Lord turned the curse into a blessing. (4) It says, “And what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you might know the righteous acts of the Lord.” Shittim was the last place where the people of Israel camped on the east side of the Jordan River. Gilgal was the first camp on the west side of the Jordan. The journey from Shittim to Gilgal was the crossing of the border into the Promised Land. That journey demonstrates how faithful the Lord is to His covenant. From the above, it is clear that there is no fault on the Lord’s part. The only path left for the people of Israel is to confess their own sin and repent. We too are often inclined to blame God for our suffering, but that is foolish. Only those who confess their own sin can experience reconciliation with God and the freedom of their souls.