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… I. TO DO JUSTLY. To act, speak, and to strive to think, fairly, honestly, towards all men. Not to suffer feelings, interest, passions, or prejudices to influence us. (See for Scripture counsels and commands, Deuteronomy 16:19, 20; Psalm 82:3, 4; Exodus 23:3, 8; Leviticus 19:33, 34, 35, 36; Proverbs 20:14; Leviticus 19:11; Exodus 23:1.) Notice that we are bidden to do justly, but not commanded always to exact justice, or our strict rights from others. II. Love MERCY. The doing of strict justice is sometimes most painful, but the work of mercy is ever a labour of love. The Christian learns, more and more, how much he is indebted to mercy; and hence he loves mercy with thankful love, and the work of mercy is to him the work of gratitude. The Bible has beautiful precepts on this subject (Deuteronomy 22:1-4; Exodus 23:4, 5; Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:20, 21). The poor are especial objects of God's mercy (Deuteronomy 15:11; Deuteronomy 24:10-13). The merciful will not be too sharp in gathering for himself all he can, nor in insisting on every right which man's law gives him, if that right bear hardly on his neighbour (Deuteronomy 24:19-21; James 2:13). Mercy is to be shown in sympathy (Romans 12:15; Luke 23:34). III. WALK HUMBLY WITH THY GOD. The humblest thing a man can do is to accept Christ. The next is to depend simply and entirely on God the Holy Ghost for strength to do just, grace to love mercy, and to walk humbly. To walk humbly is to have a constant sense of our sinfulness — God's holiness; our weakness — God's all might; our folly and ignorance — God's wisdom, truth, and love. It is to acknowledge God in prosperity (Deuteronomy 8:12, etc.). It is to acknowledge God in adversity (1 Peter 5:6; Isaiah 57:15). (F. J. Scott, M. A.) 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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