The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8
Now that is a familiar verse, isn’t it? Have you ever read the verses preceding it?
Before you do, call to mind what the old law required from God’s people. The weight of the law was heavy by our standards. So very heavy. I’m sure that’s what the Israelites told themselves when they turned from it. When they turned to idols and their own selfish desires.
And into their midst, God sent Micah. To remind them of their unfaithfulness. To remind them that a penalty would be paid for it. To remind them that they had left God and His law.
Knowing what those people had to be thinking as they heard his message, Micah reminds them of how they find the Lord’s laws to be so heavy. I’m sure they feared after hearing the heavy grievances the Lord brought against them. What payment would be required to satisfy God after so many years of living in defiance?
What can we bring to the Lord? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? – Micah 6:6-7
Pretty heavy, right?
But focus on the next words that God gave to Micah to deliver to His people.
“No, O people”
What? You require something heavier, Lord? More? More than yearling calves and thousands of rams? A heavier weight than ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Surely, God, our firstborn would suffice.
“No, O people”
The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Do you see how the Israelites had twisted so horribly the very character of their God? They understood His heart not one bit.
Do we?
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
Remember that we serve a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) His burden was never heavy. We made it so.
No, O people. His burden is light. Come to Him.
Let’s Go Deeper:
1. What kind of heavy load are you carrying?
2. How does the burden keep you from Christ?
3. Write here a verse that makes you want to lay that burden down.
3. What is one thing you can do, today, to help shoulder someone else’s burdens? It’s in that way that we fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
