Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy… Misconceptions of the truth are as dangerous as the reception of falsehood. This text is one by which proud, self-sufficient, and ungodly mortals are accustomed to lull their consciences to sleep, and their guilty fears to rest, saying, "Peace, peace, when there is no peace." They say, "that if a man do the best he can, God will require no more." I. WHAT IS IT TO DO JUSTLY? 1. Is it not to keep a just weight, and a just measure; to be true and just in all your dealings? 2. To do justly, there must be no extortion, no speculation, no forestalling, no monopoly, no oppression. 3. The just man hates every false way; he keeps far from a false matter; he raises no false report; he is no false accuser, takes no false oath, bears no false report. 4. If you do justly, it will be by your God as well as by your neighbour. If just towards God, you will have "respect unto all His commandments." You will justify all the gracious dispensations of heaven. Can you bless God for your creation so long as you make, not God, but self, the end of your creation? Can you say that you justly bless God for your preservation so long as you do not bless Him for your salvation? It is impossible that you can justly bless God for the inestimable gift of His dear Son while you refuse to hear Him. If you are just with God, you will be constant in your attendance in His house — the place where His honour dwelleth. II. WHAT IS IT TO LOVE MERCY? 1. If you love mercy, you will "break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor." 2. You will be merciful in all your intercourse with mankind. 3. If you love mercy, and show it to others, you will crave it for yourself. 4. If you love mercy, your walks will be walks of mercy, your visits will be visits of mercy, and your inquiries will be inquiries of mercy. III. WHAT IS IT TO WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD? 1. If you do, you will be of a teachable spirit. 2. You will have a mean opinion of yourself. 3. You will not be carried away with high-sounding words in sermons or in prayers: you will love the plain, homely, honest truth. 4. If you walk humbly with God, you will walk humbly before Him. 5. You will walk humbly with Him in secret; your humility will not be a mere show of humility. 6. If you walk with your God, you will walk much with His dear Son. 7. You will enjoy much of His presence, the lifting up of the light of His countenance. 8. You will neither hide the talents He has committed to your charge in a napkin, nor lock up His kindnesses in your bosom, but will make known His goodness to the sons of men. Thankfulness will ever dwell with humility. (John Clementson.) Parallel Verses KJV: He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? |
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