THOUGHTS, July 19, 2022,  Micah 6, especially 6:8

I have surprised myself.  Not only do I enjoy reading clean mystery stories, but find myself watching shows that feature serious crimes committed that end up in a courtroom.  This is life, "Justice for all."  Without it there is an abyss of chaos. 

Once I was called to testify in a murder trial because a woman in our church heard it happen next door.  My husband had immunity as a pastor, but I had no immunity as a pastor's wife.  So I sat on the stand, and the defense was trying to entrap me, twist my words to throw out her evidence.  It was one of the most terrifying things I have done in my life, supporting justice with the prisoner staring me down.  

Our associate pastor recently preached well on this passage inspiring me to dig a little deeper.  All rise, the judge has entered the courtroom.

"Arise, contend thou..." The God of the universe invites us to contend with Him.  "He had done everything that was necessary to make them wise, and holy, and happy; they had uniformly disobeyed, and were ever ungrateful."*  It is an interesting, but unpopular position: "It was not consistent with either the justice or mercy of God to permit them to go on without reprehension and punishment.  He now calls them into judgment."* This is His case.

All He has to do is point His creation.  "Their ingratitude and rebellion are sufficient to make the mountains, the hills, and the strong foundations of the earth to hear, atremble, and give judgement against them."* 

"O my people, what have I done unto thee?"  What a question!  I at times have contended with God.  As a young person, I was astounded and affronted at the unjust things around me.  It was a turning point in my life.  Who did I blame?  God.  Now I sometimes wrestle with God's known judgments asking Him, what have I done to Thee?  I don't like this, or I don't like that.  How do I dare come before the judge in a courtroom!  

"They are called to show why God should not pronounce sentence upon them.  This condescension is truly astonishing!  God appears to humble Himself to His creatures.  You have acted basely, treacherously, and ungratefully to me...What cause have I given you for such conduct?  I have required a religious service from you; but have I wearied you by a fatiguing round of difficult duties?  If I have, now testify against me; and you shall be first heard, and your plea received, if be reasonable and good.  They are silent."*

Can you see the prosecutor pacing back and forth before the judge?  What can the defense say?  There is history.  "I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt where you were slaves, and grievously oppressed; from all this I redeemed you."*  He reminds them that He sent Moses as leader and lawgiver; Aaron as priest transacting offerings, sacrifices, and atonements; Miriam, to whom I gave the spirit of prophecy, that she might tell you things to come.  

He continues to remind them of Balaam (and his talking donkey) to speak blessings instead of cursing for which the enemy sent him to do." In other words, count your blessings, not cursing against the God of the universe that you may know the righteousness, "The just, equitable, and merciful dealing of the Most High."*  Isn't this the point at which our accusations against God evaporate leaving your mouth so dry you cannot speak?  Sitting on the stand, look back and count your blessings.

"This is the sum of the address; and here the case of the plaintiff terminates, the prisoners being called to show why the sentence of the law should not be pronounced.  I make no apology for any forensic terms, as the passages before us refer to a case brought into a court to be judged, and the terms in the original are all such as are proper for a court of justice; and the thing itself is called the 'Lord's controversy, Yehovah, Jehovah's suit at law.' And hence it is said, He will plead, litigate with Israel."*

"Wherewith shall I come before the Lord--Now the people, as defendants appear; but instead of vindicating themselves, or attempting to dispute what has been alleged against them, they seem at once to plead guilty; and now anxiously inquire how they shall appease the wrath of the Judge, how they shall make atonement for the sins already committed."  I believe they throw in a little sarcasm.  But indeed, what can they do?  They must throw themselves upon the mercy of the judge.  Not many do; instead they try to justify their excuses for their deeds by making it seem impossible to have acted in any other way.  You see it is really God's fault.  What He requires is too difficult.  Have we been caught up in this argument ourselves?

"Bow myself before the high God--They wish to pray, and to make supplication to their judge; but how shall they come before Him?  They have no right to come into His presence.  Some offering must be brought; but of what kind, or what value?  Their sin is unprecedented, and usual methods will not avail.  They...make rational, some absurd and impossible, and some even sinful."*

"Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings?" "This is reasonable, and according to the law, but this will be insufficient."*  Too little, too late.  "Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams?"  "With ten thousands of rivers of oil?"  This is absurd and impossible; but could even these be procured, could they all make atonement for such guilt, and ingratitude, and rebellion?"* " Shall I give my first born for my transgression?"  This was sinful and wicked."  They were surrounded by pagans who practiced such and was copied by corrupt Israelites.  "The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" (Somehow it puts me in mind of the evil of abortion, some who justify it by ridding their sin.)  However unbelievably, this is exactly what God did when He gave His only Son to die upon the cross only to be resurrected breaking the power of sin and death so that we might be saved.  Yet they found no satisfaction on the stand.  They were despairing with no help in sight as they were called into account.

All of the above could not do away with evil, nor purify the guilt of sin.  But the judge, the God of the universe of His people gives a simple, but profound sentence.  "He hath shown thee, O man, what is good." What is pleasing to Him?

"To do justly; to give all their due.  1. To God His due..."To love Him with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength, and thy neighbor as thyself."  2.  "Thou art to give thy neighbour his due; to do to him as thou wouldst that he should do to thee, never working ill to him."  3.  "Thou art to love mercy; not only to do what justice requires, but also what mercy, kindness, benevolence, and charity require."  Isn't this what the Judge is proposing for their possible sentence, if only they would take it.  4.  "Walk humbly with thy God...This implies to acknowledge thy iniquity, and submit to be saved by His free mercy, as thou hast already found that no kind of offering or sacrifice can avail.  Without this humiliation of soul there never was, there never can be, any walking with God; for without His mercy no soul can be saved; and He must be thy God before thou canst walk with him...Salvation is the mere mercy of God alone; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."*

The gavel has been sounded.  All we have to do is read the rest of the chapter to find the people have gone too deep and seem unable or unwilling to swim back to the boat, the ark of salvation.  Just think of our society today.  They have rejected the offer of salvation and instead cling to their sin as if it were so special, that it is worth dying for.  Woe are they. Instead, what could be better than having our sin done away with allowing us to walk humbly in close fellowship with God?

*Clarke's Commentary