7. rivers of oil—used in sacrifices (Leviticus 2:1; Leviticus 2:15). Will God be appeased by my offering so much oil that it shall flow in myriads of torrents? my first-born— (Leviticus 2:15- :). As the king of Moab did. fruit of my body—my children, as an atonement (Leviticus 2:15- :). The Jews offered human sacrifices in the valley of Hinnom (Jeremiah 19:5; Jeremiah 32:35; Ezekiel 23:27). read more
8. He—Jehovah. hath showed thee—long ago, so that thou needest not ask the question as if thou hadst never heard (Micah 6:6; compare Deuteronomy 10:12; Deuteronomy 30:11-14). what is good—"the good things to come" under Messiah, of which "the law had the shadow." The Mosaic sacrifices were but suggestive foreshadowings of His better sacrifice (Hebrews 9:23; Hebrews 10:1). To have this "good" first "showed," or revealed by the Spirit, is the only basis for the superstructure of the moral... read more
A. The Lord’s indictment against His people 6:1-5 read more
Yahweh charged the Israelites to remember that Balak, king of Moab, wanted God to curse His people, but Balaam revealed that God would never do that (Numbers 22-24). God’s intentions for His people had consistently been good. The events of their crossing the Jordan River and entering the Promised Land showed the same thing. Shittim was the Israelites’ last camping place before they crossed the Jordan, and Gilgal was where they camped first after crossing (Joshua 3:1; Joshua 4:18-19). God had... read more
The prophet, for His people, asked himself what offering He should bring to the exalted Lord in heaven that would be appropriate in view of Yahweh’s mercies to the Israelites throughout their history. Would burnt offerings of year-old calves be suitable, since they were the very best offerings and expressed the worshipper’s total personal dedication to Yahweh (cf. Leviticus 9:2-3; Leviticus 22:27)? read more
B. Micah’s response for the Israelites 6:6-8In this pericope Micah responded to God’s goodness, just reviewed, as the Israelites should have responded. His was the reasonable response in view of Yahweh’s loyal love for His people (cf. Romans 12:1-2). read more
Or would the Lord take pleasure if he offered Him thousands of rams and an extravagant amount of oil, like Solomon and other kings had done (cf. Leviticus 2:1-16; 1 Kings 3:4; 1 Kings 8:63; 2 Chronicles 30:24; 2 Chronicles 35:7)? Neither the quality of a sacrifice nor its quantity was the important issue. Perhaps making the ultimate sacrifice and offering his firstborn son to atone for his sins would please the Lord. Micah, of course, did not believe that these sacrifices by themselves would... read more
No, these sacrifices were not what the Lord wanted. He had already told the Israelites what would be good (beneficial) for them when they sinned (cf. Deuteronomy 10:12; Deuteronomy 10:18; 1 Samuel 12:24; Hosea 12:6). He wanted each of His people ("O man") to change his or her behavior. The address "O man" emphasizes the difference between God and man, particularly man’s subordination under God. It also connects Micah’s hearers, the people, not just the leaders, with the vain worshippers... read more
God’s Arraignment of His people1-8. Micah’s message to the discouraged believers. They have lost heart because of the apparent contradiction between the promises of their prophets and the hard facts of their history. They have lost faith in God’s grace, and are trying to propitiate His favour by such sacrifices as the heathen offered to their gods. Micah appeals to nature, to history, and to the reasonable service God requires. He calls on the hills to witness what God has done (Micah 6:1-2).... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Micah 6:6
6. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord?—The people, convicted by the previous appeal of Jehovah to them, ask as if they knew not (compare :-) what Jehovah requires of them to appease Him, adding that they are ready to offer an immense heap of sacrifices, and those the most costly, even to the fruit of their own body. burnt offerings— ( :-). calves of a year old—which used to be offered for a priest (Leviticus 9:2; Leviticus 9:3). read more