By Rev. Gilbert Burgess
6 What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? 7 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? 8 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.
With all that is going on in the world, particularly within our nation, many of us are asking the questions why does it appear, things are going from bad to worse? Why are so many people wrestling with uncertainties of a brighter tomorrow, for some of us just trying to make the ends-meet, with the cost of living rising, while others are afraid to come out of their homes for fear of persecution, and others ponder silently, why this seemingly needless war, at the cost of so many innocent lives.
With the news reporting crimes in Chicago like “smash and grab” of Pokémon cards. In Mexico at tourist site a gunman opens fire. Husbands and wives taking the lives of the spouse they made vowels to love and cherish. A father in Shreveport Louisiana takes the lives of eight of his children, senseless mask shootings are attempting to become common in our society. Even threats from TikTok with conversations of harming our children at school, right here in New Canaan.
While across the nation, we’re witnessing a level of despair, and fear in the atmosphere covered with a blanket of hopelessness, how is it so that such a brilliant unique distinguished creatures breed so much peril on themselves, with so little compassion, should we deprive ourselves the basic essentials of life such as “Safety, Security, Protection and Shelter”. This inquiry brings into question heavy on the hearts of many, “Where Do We Go From Here”?
In Micah 6:6-8 during a time of severe social injustice, economic exploitation of the poor by the wealthy, and superficial religious observance under Assyrian threat.
The atmosphere here in the text depicts the setting of a court room scene, where God is the plaintiff and Israel is the defendant. It is here God brings a lawsuit against Israel, accusing them of breaking their binding agreement, God instructed the prophet Micah to initiate a legal case presenting an “indictment” to Israel the defendant before a jury of mountains and hills, representing the “enduring foundations of the earth,” they are seen as timeless, having witnessed the entire history of Israel’s relationship with God from the beginning.
God summoning the mountains and hills, elevates His dispute above a mere human disagreement, this move by God makes all of creation a witness to Israel’s violation of their covenant with God.
The mountains and hills, representing the unshakeable truth, of God and the strength of the mountains is their unwavering, enduring nature, which serves as a firm, unimpeachable witness in the Lord’s controversy with His people, in this Covenant Lawsuit.
The mountains and hills give testament that God has been faithful in providing and leading, whereas the people have been ungrateful and unfaithful, and in response to the charges, the people of Israel are wondering how to appease God by asking in versus 6-7 of the text; What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring Him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High 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?
And Micah the prophet speaks on behalf of God, reminding the people, of their covenant requirements with, No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and Micah said this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:6-8 stands as a reminder for us today the reality that if we would repent, humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways, Gods faithful mercies would plot out His displeasure of our unjust, corrupt sinful, behaviors, because we know God has a history of redeeming His people from their sins.
Israel was charged with Covenant Unfaithfulness by failing to act with justice and to love mercy, a failing to do what was right, and their feeling to walk humbly with God. and here now in the year 2026 standing in contempt of failing to do right, failing to love mercy and justice and to walk humbly with God.
God as He did then, still demands repentance of our sins with heart-felt obedience over inadequate ceremonial sacrifices and rituals.
And so the answer to the question, “Where Do We Go From Here”? Is we must first remember God’s faithfulness and the call for Israel’s repentance, to Gods displeasure with their unjust, corrupt behavior despite Gods history of redeeming them, we must learn from their mistakes, for God has done the same for us therefore we must not continue walking the darkness path of unjust, corrupt behaviors, but rather live our lives with sincere acts of devoted service and self denial aimed at honoring God, with spiritual sacrifices that demonstrate true religion, “doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God”.
In closing, I leave with you the mandate of Jesus who said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
Rev. Gilbert Burgess pastor Community Baptist Church New Canaan
