What does the Lord require of you?
The answer is surprisingly simple — and incredibly hard.
The episode in a glance.
- 01Micah answers the question Israel should have asked.
- 02'Do justice' — act fairly in every relationship.
- 03'Love kindness' — let mercy shape your default mode.
- 04'Walk humbly' — live before God with open hands.
Read along.
Micah 6:8 — '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?' This is the summary of the law before Jesus summarized it.
Israel had been asking the wrong question. 'What should we bring? Thousands of rams? Rivers of oil? Our firstborn?' They thought God wanted bigger offerings. Micah says: God already told you what he wants.
'Do justice.' Not just feel strongly about it. Do it. In your business, your relationships, your community. Act fairly. Defend the weak. Hold the powerful accountable. Justice is a verb.
'Love kindness.' The Hebrew word is hesed — loyal love, covenant faithfulness, mercy that shows up. And you're supposed to love it. Not tolerate it. Not perform it grudgingly. Love it. Let it become your favorite thing.
'Walk humbly with your God.' This is the relationship part. Walk means daily, ongoing, ordinary life. Humbly means you know who you are and who he is. With your God means he's not distant. He's beside you.
Three things. Do justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly with God. That's the whole requirement. Simple to say. Incredibly hard to live. But that's what God wants.