Jump Start # 3715
Micah 6:7 “Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
The book of Micah can be viewed like a courtroom drama. The people of God are on trial. God is the prosecutor. The nation is in trouble. Idols, empty hearts and complaining lips have brought them to this contention with the Lord. They were weary of the Lord. And, as the sixth chapter opens, the Lord states, “Plead your case.” Defend yourself. “…the Lord has a case against His people” (6:2).
Knowing the righteousness of the Lord, the prophet recognizes the guilt of the nation. God is right. He ponders, “With what shall I come to the Lord” (6:6)? How do we make things right? As Peter’s audience asked in Acts 2, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Our verse presents three wild ideas. They are extreme and even impossible. Do we offer God thousands of rams? Do we offer ten thousand rivers of oil? Do we sacrifice our firstborn child?
What to do? Underlining these three suggestions in our verse today, is what is commonly known as “Balance Theology.” The good must outweigh the bad. There is no suggestion of repentance or change. There is no suggestion of tearing down the idols. There is no thought of renewing the heart. Instead, offer rams, rivers of oil, or a first born child. Amazing sacrifices. But, as long as wrong continues, what good is all of this?
Balance theology assumes evil is ok as long as there is more good than bad. Like the scales of justice, as long as the balance tips in favor of good, bad can be tolerated. Just make sure that there is more good than bad and everything will work out. It also assumes that evil can be overcome by goodness. The more good you do, that somehow eliminates the bad that you have done. And, worse of all, this gives license to continue doing evil. One doesn’t have to stop wrong, as long as one does more good.
Most don’t know this as balance theology, but most practically live this way. Party hard on Friday night, drinking and doing things that are not right, but be sure to get down to the church house on Sunday morning. Make a contribution to some charity, volunteer at some organization and all will be fine. One doesn’t have to stop the drinking. One doesn’t have to change their lifestyle. Just do more good than bad. One can cuss now and then, as long as they sing hymns in worship.
Rivers of oil will cover idols and hearts that are no longer interested in God. Just do more good than bad. Seems logical. Seems like advice someone would pass along to us. The problem is, balance theology is just not biblical. It’s not from God. The Lord is interested in YOU. A broken and contrite heart God will not reject. Sins are not wiped away by goodness. Multiple good people needed the saving grace of God in the N.T.
The prophet reminds the nation what God really wants. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (6:8).
Notice:
First, it wasn’t just go and do something nice and God will overlook all the wrong that you are doing. The Lord was requiring a heart change in the people. Three words: justice; kindness; and, humbleness. Not rivers of oil. Not a child sacrificed. Don’t stay in your lane of wrong. Exit off. God was interested in character. God is always interested in heart.
Second, justice, kindness and humbleness are demonstrated towards others. We are kind, not to ourselves but to others. We are humble, not to ourselves, but towards others. Treat others the right way. This happens when you are lead by your heart, which has embraced God.
Third, these three qualities of the heart, justice, kindness and humbleness are demonstrated by actions. The passage places qualifiers before each of these words. Do justice. Do it. Do what is right. Do what is fair. Love kindness. Show kindness. Kindness in your words. Kindness in your actions. Walk humbly. Walk is more than just a step. It’s a direction and a path one takes.
When people are not good, they need to become good. Here, God defines what is good. Good is not offering thousands of animals. Good is not bringing thousands of rivers of oil to the Lord. Good is not offering your child to the Lord. Good is justice done. Good is kindness loved. Good is humility walked.
This is what God was looking for. This is what God was wanting.
And, for us, taking the Lord’s Supper doesn’t cleanse our souls. Just sitting in a pew on a Sunday doesn’t amend the wrongs we may have done. God has told us what is good. God has shown us what He wants.
It’s time to put the balance scales up and start opening our hearts to the kind of people that the Lord wants us to be. God has told us what is good. That’s what we need to follow. That’s what we need to become.
Roger