Micah 6:6-8 With which shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings… The question of an awakened soul. "Wherewith shall I come before the Lord?" An unawakened man never puts that question. He does not like to think of God, or the claims of God. I. THE PIERCING QUESTION OF EVERY AWAKENED SOUL. 1. An awakened soul feels that his chief happiness is in coming before God. This was unfallen Adam's happiness. This is the joy of holy angels. This is the true happiness of a believer. 2. An awakened soul feels difficulties in the way. Two great difficulties. The nature of the sinner. When God really awakens a soul, He shows him the vileness and hatefulness of himself. He directs the eye within. The nature of God. "The High God." When God really awakens a soul, He generally reveals to him something of His own holiness and majesty. See the cases of Isaiah and Job. The anxiety of the awakened soul leads to the question, "Wherewith?" It is the question of one who has been made to feel that "one thing is needful." Anything he has he would give up to get peace with God. II. THE ANSWER OF PEACE TO THE AWAKENED SOUL. "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good." Nothing that man can bring with him will justify him before God. There is nothing a man would not do — nothing he would not suffer — if he might only cover himself before God. Tears, prayers, duties, reformations, devotions — the heart will do anything to be righteous before God. But all this righteousness is filthy rags. For — 1. The heart remains an awful depth of corruption. 2. Supposing the righteousness were perfect, it cannot cover the past. Old sins, and the sins of youth still remain uncovered. Christ is the good way. The good way to the Father — (1) Because He is so suitable. (2) Because He is so free. (3) Because He is so God-glorifying.All other ways of salvation are man-glorifying; but this way. is God-glorifying. III. GOD'S REQUIREMENT OF THE JUSTIFIED. 1. God requires His redeemed ones to be holy. (1) He requires you to "do justly"; to be just in your dealings between man and man. (2) To "love mercy." This is the brightest feature in the character of Christ. If you are in Christ, drink deep of His Spirit. (3) To "walk humbly with your God." 2. Remember that this is God's end in justifying you. He loved the Church, and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it. If you are not made holy, Christ died for you in vain. 3. Whatever He requires, He gives grace to perform. Christ is not only good as our way to the Father, but He is our fountain of living waters. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Look as much to Him for sanctification as for justification. (R. M. M'Cheyne.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? |
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