What does the Lord require? Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly.
Micah's summary of the whole Old Testament in one sentence.
The episode in a glance.
- 01Israel was making elaborate sacrifices and missing the point.
- 02Act justly — treat people rightly, especially the powerless.
- 03Love mercy — go beyond justice into kindness.
- 04Walk humbly with God — keep him at the center.
Read along.
'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?'
Israel was tying themselves in knots with religious performance. More sacrifices. Bigger offerings. Micah cuts through it.
Do justice. Treat people rightly, especially the ones with no power to fight back. The widow. The immigrant. The poor.
Love kindness — the Hebrew is hesed, that loyal merciful love. Don't just stop short of harming people. Go further. Show them mercy.
And walk humbly with your God. Don't perform for him. Walk with him. Quiet. Daily. Without spectacle.
If you wanted the whole Old Testament summarized for the road, here it is. Justice. Mercy. Humility. With God at the center.