1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the LORD God of Israel. 2 For the king and his leaders and all the assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to keep the Passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep it at the regular time, because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people gathered together at Jerusalem. 4 And the matter pleased the king and all the assembly. 5 So they resolved to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem, since they had not done it for a long time in the prescribed manner.
6 Then the runners went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the king and his leaders, and spoke according to the command of the king: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; then He will return to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And do not be like your fathers and your brethren, who trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, so that He gave them up to desolation, as you see. 8 Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you. 9 For if you return to the LORD, your brethren and your children will be treated with compassion by those who lead them captive, so that they may come back to this land; for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.”
10 So the runners passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; but they laughed at them and mocked them. 11 Nevertheless some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the LORD.—2 Chronicles 30:1-12
As I read this section of Scripture this morning…Micah 6:8 came to mind.
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
The prior verses read this way:
Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or 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?—Micah 6:6-7
Although the people’s question in verses 6-7 was rhetorical, and is basically accusing God of being impossible to please, Micah answers it anyway. His reply is so very practical. I love practical and Micah’s practicality here is truly awe-inspiring because he manages to reduce the six hundred thirteen commandments of the law to three…
Now, I can’t keep 613 rules in my head, but I can remember these three…
To do justly
To love mercy
To walk humbly with my God
Thank you, Micah!
For better or for worse, I decided to delve deeper into the practical…here is what I found.
Justice - fairness, equity
As I read through the verses that enjoin justice this one in particular spoke to my heart.
30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.—John 5:30
How did Jesus Himself do justly? He looked to His Father in Heaven…He did not seek His own will, but His Father’s who sent Him.
Oh Father! Help me look to you. To seek you in all my judgments and decisions.
For You are my Rock. Your work is perfect. All Your ways are justice. You are a God of truth and without injustice. Righteous and upright are You.
3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!—Revelation 15:3
Mercy - A form of love especially directed toward the needy or unworthy. Steadfast love, lovingkindness
God loves even those that the world deems unloveable. If we are honest, that definition of mercy encompasses us all.
Father…Your steadfast love is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear You. The earth is full of Your mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Your mercy, O Lord, is what made my very salvation possible.
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.—Titus 3:5-7
May I go and do likewise…
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.—Luke 6:35-36
Humility - gentleness, affliction, lowliness of mind
Now 2 Chronicles 30. verses 11 and 12 are what got my mind thinking on Micah 6:8 in the first place. The message was spurned by most but nevertheless some chose to humble themselves before the Lord and seek His forgiveness. Perhaps God would turn from His fierce anger and show compassion.
9 For if you return to the LORD, your brethren and your children will be treated with compassion by those who lead them captive, so that they may come back to this land; for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.”
Father…A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor. You dwell in the high and holy place with him who has a contrite and humble spirit. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbled himself will be exalted. Let this mind be in me which was also in Christ Jesus.
Unity comes through humility.
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.—Philippians 2:1-4
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.—Romans 12:3
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;—Romans 12:10
Beloved…pay particular attention to the fact that the Lord not only tells us what He requires…Micah 6:8 says He has SHOWN us. May we make His footsteps our pathway.
10 Mercy and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth,
And righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yes, the LORD will give what is good;
And our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before Him,
And shall make His footsteps our pathway.—Psalm 85:10-13
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews 12:1-2
