"HE HAS SHOWN YOU, O MAN, WHAT IS GOOD; AND WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU BUT TO DO JUSTLY, TO LOVE MERCY (goodness, faithfulness, kindness; lovingkindness; unfailing love, tenderness), AND TO WALK HUMBLY (near the ground; not high or lofty; not pretentious or magnificent; unpretending; unassuming; not proud or arrogant) WITH YOUR GOD?" (MICAH 6:8)
I love this passage! Here we find, in a nutshell, all that God requires of us as we serve Him.
The Hebrew word for “justly” means: justice, ordinance, judgment; proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan. The Webster’s 1828 dictionary definition of “justly” clarifies the means by which we are to judge: in conformity to law, justice or propriety; by right. The offender is justly condemned. The hero is justly rewarded, applauded or honored. 1. According to truth and facts. His character is justly described. 2. Honestly; fairly; with integrity; as, to do justly. Mic.6. 3. Properly; accurately; exactly.
Therefore, judgment must be rooted in truth, must be honest, fair and done with integrity. In other words, we are called to righteous judgment.
Righteous judgment: murder, stealing, abusing children, adultery…is abhorrent behavior.
Unrighteous judgment: perfect example found in John 8—the woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees were quick to judge the woman and demanded Jesus do so, as well. Why is this an example of unrighteous judgment? Isn’t adultery wrong? The bottom line: hypocrisy permeated the Pharisee’s judgment; they passed judgment on a woman who was apparently involved in sinful acts similar to their own! Jesus invited those without sin to cast the first stone, he stooped to write in the sand and when he arose, the woman’s accusers were gone.
Matt. 7:2 says, “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Jesus meted out the same judgment to the Pharisees that they had used to judge the woman. The measure with which the Pharisees had used to judge the woman was measured back to them…and they scattered!
Extending mercy to those around us requires humility, a heart surrendered to God, and recognition that we are no better than our fellow man. It is only by the grace of God that any one of us is able to walk in a way that pleases Him.
I pray that during this New Year, we respond to God with humble hearts and that we respond to others as Jesus responded to the woman caught in adultery. He responded with mercy and “did justly.” When He released her, Jesus spoke to her as recorded in John 8:10-11, “…’Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’” Jesus judged righteously, within the context of His mercy.
The Lord calls us to judge righteously, to love mercy (kindness; lovingkindness; unfailing love, tenderness), and to walk humbly (unpretentious: not proud or arrogant) WITH GOD. This is the way of the Lord. This is how we love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength; it is a life of surrender to Him and His ways, for His glory.
