Our Scripture meditation is based on Micah 6:6–8, the end of the Old Testament Lesson for next week, the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. For a meditation on the Epistle Lesson, click HERE.
[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? [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?” [8] He has told you, O man, 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?
If you were fearing this Scripture meditation would promote moral platitudes, go ahead and exhale. There is more to this passage than a call for godly living.
Today too often this passage is used as permission to abandon the institutional church with its vestments and sacraments in favor of living a simple spiritual faith. However, the prophet Micah was not calling for the rejection of the sacrificial system. Instead, he was pointing out the hypocrisy of worshipping God with sacrifices, then not living according to God’s law.
It is ironic that a passage from Micah is being misinterpreted. After all, Micah was the prophet who told us the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). The Messiah who would fulfill the law. The Messiah who would replace the offerings of calves and rams with His own body and blood.
We still understand this passage as a warning against hypocrisy. Only today it is for Christians to respond to God’s gift of grace in Christ by living justly, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God.
Until next week, the Lord bless and guide.
Kevin Wilson 360 