Scripture

But you, O Bethlehem Ephratha,

are only a small village among all the people of Judah.

Yet, a ruler of Israel will come from you,

one whose origins are in the distant past.

Observation

The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem, and they will strike down Israel’s leader. But a king will come out of Bethlehem whose origins are from the past.

The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies, but they will return from exile. This king will lead his flock with the Lord’s strength, and his people will live peacefully in the land. He will be the source of peace.

Application

When the wise men asked Herod where the Messiah was to be born, it was this passage that his advisers quoted.

While Jerusalem, the centre of power, was under siege, the Lord was pointing to a small inconsequential place, from where an important king would emerge.

Bethlehem was the home of King David. It was the pace to which Joseph and Mary were forced to travel to have their baby.

Bethlehem became the birth place for this king, Jesus whose origin was in eternity past.

Today Bethlehem is famous all over the world as the place where the King of Kings was born.

God’s ways are truly amazing.

For those of us who are inconsequential in the way the world sees things, we know that God sees us. That is all that matters.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you choose the lowly to confound the high born, the poor to overcome the elites. Please help me to always be submitted to you and to follow your ways. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+6.1-8

Scripture

What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.

Observation

The Lord calls the mountains and the hills to bear witness to the argument that He has with His people. The Lord asks His people what has He done to burden them? In fact He has intervened to save them on many occasions.

Micah then asks what can people bring to the Lord. Will He be pleased with offerings or rivers of oil or even human sacrifices? No. The Lord has shown what it good- to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.

Application

God is not interested in our sacrifices, no matter how costly. He doesn’t care about what I give up for Him or what I do for Him. He is more concerned with a heart that is surrendered to Him in such a way that religion transforms relationship.

In particular there are three things mentioned here:

1. Do justice. God’s people are to be fair in all their dealings. We need to ensure that we do not rip others off, that we build others up, that we are honest and that we give more than we take.

Doing justice also means standing up for the poor and oppressed, for everyone whom the governing powers trample over.

2. Love kindness. The word translated as kindness is the Hebrew word hesed which means God’s covenant loving-kindness. We are to treat people with the same kind of love that God has shown us.

We are to love hesed so that doing deeds which lift others up is to become the grand passion in life.

3. To walk humbly with our God. We are to be obedient to God in everything. We mustn’t allow this walk with God to become a source of pride or self-righteousness, but to relate to God and to other people in humility.

This means listening rather than talking, welcoming and valuing both God and others. It also means listening to God’s perspective on our life, listening to His directions for us and obeying Him gladly.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for this simple expression of what it means to honour you. Please help me to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you my God. Amen.

Reflection on Micah 6:1-8

Religion! Religion!
What a burden this is!
Pray now. Face that way.
Cut your hair. Grow a beard.
Kill your child.
Give up this, Fast from that.

“Relax!” says my God.
“You don’t have to impress me.
I’m the one who saved you
Freely, unasked
Before you knew it
All I want is you
Your life reflecting me
Justice, mercy, humility
Let’s walk together.”