Sharper Iron — Majoring in the Minors - Micah 6:1-16: Justice, Steadfast Love, and Humility

The LORD brings an indictment against His people. He reminds them that He has done nothing to weary them, but He has always brought them redemption throughout His dealings with them. Micah leads the people in remembering that the response the LORD desires is not merely an outward show, but rather a sincere and humble faith in the LORD who is merciful and just. Despite Micah’s faithful preaching, the people respond with continued deceit toward each other. Therefore, the LORD proclaims that they will not reap the fruit they desire.

Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, Assistant Vice President of Admissions at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Micah 6:1-16.

To learn more about Concordia Theological Seminary, visit ctsfw.edu.

“Majoring in the Minors” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Micah, and Nahum. Although the books of these prophets are shorter, the Word of God they preached was important in the years leading up to the coming of the Christ, and that Word remains important for the Church today. Just as we still need to listen to their call to repentance over our idolatry, so we still need to heed their call to trust in the Savior, Jesus.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Together in faith, LCEF helps to start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships. Visit lcef.org.

Micah 6:1-16

The Indictment of the Lord

6 Hear what the Lord says:
Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
    and let the hills hear your voice.
²Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord,
    and you enduring foundations of the earth,
for the Lord has an indictment against his people,
    and he will contend with Israel.

³“O my people, what have I done to you?
    How have I wearied you? Answer me!
⁴For I brought you up from the land of Egypt
    and redeemed you from the house of slavery,
and I sent before you Moses,
    Aaron, and Miriam.
⁵O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,
    and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
    that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

What Does the Lord Require?

⁶“With what shall I come before the Lord,
    and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
⁷Will the Lord be pleased with^[a] thousands of rams,
    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
⁸He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,^[b]
    and to walk humbly with your God?

Destruction of the Wicked

⁹The voice of the Lord cries to the city—
    and it is sound wisdom to fear your name:
“Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it!^[c]
¹⁰    Can I forget any longer the treasures^[d] of wickedness in the house of the wicked,
    and the scant measure that is accursed?
¹¹Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales
    and with a bag of deceitful weights?
¹²Your^[e] rich men are full of violence;
    your inhabitants speak lies,
    and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
¹³Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow,
    making you desolate because of your sins.
¹⁴You shall eat, but not be satisfied,
    and there shall be hunger within you;
you shall put away, but not preserve,
    and what you preserve I will give to the sword.
¹⁵You shall sow, but not reap;
    you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;
    you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.
¹⁶For you have kept the statutes of Omri,^[f]
    and all the works of the house of Ahab;
    and you have walked in their counsels,
that I may make you a desolation, and your^[g] inhabitants a hissing;
    so you shall bear the scorn of my people.”

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Footnotes

Micah 6:7 Or Will the Lord accept
Micah 6:8 Or steadfast love
Micah 6:9 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
Micah 6:10 Or Are there still treasures
Micah 6:12 Hebrew whose
Micah 6:16 Hebrew For the statutes of Omri are kept
Micah 6:16 Hebrew its

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).