WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE?

"Shall I come before the Lord with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgressions, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:6-8)
   
      When Israel crossed into their promised land, they believed that they were God's chosen people. God had freed them from slavery and led them to a new land. And just as God had been with them in the wilderness, he continued to bless them in the land of milk and honey. He raised up one warrior after another to save them from their enemies, and when the people clamored for a king, God gave them David and Solomon Things were going well. God kept his part of the covenant, but the people had forsaken their part... which always rested on obedience. God acted first... but the people were called to be a "holy nation" and a "kingdom of priests," Out of grace alone, God saved them... but in return, they were expected to live as HIs people... which meant that they would be committed to justice (mishpat), righteousness (sedeqah), and worship. They were expected to attend high holy days and to faithfully bring their offerings to God.... but they were also required to treat their neighbors fairly... and to take care of those who were vulnerable in their midst (orphans, widows, and strangers).
      Mishpat (justice) and sedeqah (righteousness) were always part of the deal, but the people ignored these mandates over time, deciding instead to live for themselves and to show up at the temple when they had to. Their worship became shallow and dishonest, and they lost God's blessings. Assyria decimated the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 721 BC and Babylon destroyed the Southern Kingdom of Judah (including Jerusalem) in 586 BC. Men, women, and children were slaughtered, leading citizens were murdered and/or taken into captivity, and the people of God became increasingly anxious. Where was their God? How could God's chosen people be taken into slavery again? How did the nation's greatness slip away- especially with God on their side? This is the question that the prophets tried to answer... and it is a question that we must answer today... if we believe that God has chosen us to be His people.
      In the 6th chapter of Amos, we encounter three voices. God speaks first and his voice is filled with frustration and pain. How have I burdened you, he asks. Remember what I have done for you, he pleads. Then, a confused (or insincere) worshiper speaks up. What in the world to you want from us, God? How can you ever be pleased? Do you want burnt offerings and calves a year-old? If so-you should be pleased because we've been offering grain and meat since the days of Abel. O God, it is impossible for us to give you enough. You are never satisfied. Do you want thousands of rams and rivers of olive oil? What will it take to make you happy, God? Lord, we've always thought that you hated child sacrifice, but the way things are going, we are beginning to wonder. Do you want our firstborn sons? What will it take to please you, God. And then we hear the definite answer. He has shown you, people, what is good, and this is what the God requires of you: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
      Many years ago, Soren Kierkegaard, said that we are "artful dodgers" who pretend that we don't understand God's word. We buy commentaries and go to seminaries. We learn Hebrew and Greek and pretend to ponder what it all means, when in fact, it has been clear all along. Our disobedience is not a matter of ignorance, but a lack of will. We simply don't want to do what God is asking us to do... which is to 1) act justly (get your hand off of the scale, always speak the truth in love, and stand up for what is right), 2) love mercy (where love is an action word. Bring the homeless into your home, give the naked one of your suits, and go out of your way to visit the sick, and 3) walk humbly with your God (who is carrying a cross up Calvary's Hill). Do these things and keep worshiping... and God will be pleased! He doesn't want a thousand rams... and you can keep the extra olive oil for yourself. Amen.