Biblical interpretation micah 6:1-8

SCHOOL INTERPRETING MICAH 6 8 A SCRIPTURE INTERPRETATION AND MEDITATION PAPER SUBMITTED TO DEPARTMENT BY FULL DATE The book of Micah is a prophetic book with the prophet himself as the author. Prophetic books contain the word of God himself, revealed through human media called the prophets. God usually uses prophets to tell the Israelites, his chosen people, of what He plans to do whether it is good or not. When His people are committing sins, He warns them of the consequences of their sins through His prophets but first reminding them of His covenant with their forefathers like what He did through the prophet Micah. God reminded the Israelites of how He delivered them from slavery in the land of Egypt and how He protected them in the desert from wild animals and their enemies. Sometimes, God may sound like He is a selfish authoritarian if not dictator, in prophetic books so that He appears to be someone one should be afraid of. However, as stated in verse 8 of the passage, God only requires His people to act justly1, acting towards Him in accordance to how He treated His people. Thus, in reading prophetic books, one should always bear in mind that whatever God is asking from the Israelites is for their own good. As a father looks after his children to keep away from bad friends, so is God to His people, wanting them to be good so that they will become successful in their lives. God, in Micah 6: 1-8, challenges the Israelites to see with him why they are not prospering in their endeavors with God showing them how He never has forsaken them, reminding them of how He saved them from the hands of the Egyptians, yet His people are sinning against him with their lies and deceit. Author: Micah of Moresheth2 Date: During the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah3 Audience: Samaria & Jerusalem4 1. The Holy Bible. 1984. Micah 6: 8. Colorado Springs, Colorado: International Bible Society. 2. The Holy Bible. 1984. Micah 1: 1. Colorado Springs, Colorado: International Bible Society. 3. The Holy Bible. 1984. Micah 1: 1. Colorado Springs, Colorado: International Bible Society. 4. The Holy Bible. 1984. Micah 1: 1. Colorado Springs, Colorado: International Bible Society. The book of Micah reveals a time when the Israelites are marrying the Samarians which God instructed their forefathers not to marry when they came out from the land of Egypt because they will just teach them to pray to idols which are not able to help them. Because of the intermarriage, the Israelites were then introduced to idol worship which angered the Lord, thus causing Him to punish His people. From idol worship sprang other sins like, lying, cheating and plotting evil against each other. Probably, what grieved God all the more was the fact that even the leaders He appointed and the prophets He was anointed were involved in such manners. He then called Micah to tell His reminders to His people and warning them of the impending destruction if they continue with what they are doing. However, God still offered acceptance and forgiveness if the Israelites repented of their sins, showing them His mercies. His words in the passage support how wonderful and merciful God is, abounding in love and always ready to forgive, loving His people despite their weaknesses. Nicole Nesse5 uses parallelism of the passage to a lawsuit where the prophet stands as the lawyer. The people are summoned to a hearing of a case lodged by the God who has accusations against them. After which, the people also present their case, asking God what they should do in response to His call. Eventually, a verdict was given in the last verse, accounting the people to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with their God6. Sins abound these days and are growing by the minute and it proves to be fatal to men to commit to these sins. Numerous people around the world are broken because of adultery, lies and deceit. Yet there is a time in every person’s life when these were not in his ‘ to do’ list which God is pleading each to remember of that innocence, to crave for it and return to that state of clean being. I myself have committed sins against God and I know that He is calling me to listen to the case He lodged against me. In response to this passage, I am renewing my commitment to God and accept His verdict for me to act justly, to love mercy and walk with him in humility. 5. A covenant Lawsuit. http://www. press. uchicago. edu/books/turabian/turabian_citationguide. html (accessed January 19, 2011). 6. The Holy Bible. 1984. Micah 6: 8. Colorado Springs, Colorado: International Bible Society.