Micah:6

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* Verse 1-5 - The people are called upon to declare why they were weary of God 's worship , and prone to idolatry . Sin causes the controversy between God and man . God reasons with us , to teach us to reason with ourselves . Let them remember God 's many favours to them and their fathers , and compare with them their unworthy , ungrateful conduct toward him . * Verse 6-8 - These verses seem to contain the substance of Balak 's consultation with Balaam how to obtain the favour of Israel 's God . Deep conviction of guilt and wrath will put men upon careful inquiries after peace and pardon , and then there begins to be some ground for hope of them . In order to God 's being pleased with us , our care must be for an interest in the atonement of Christ , and that the sin by which we displease him may be taken away . What will be a satisfaction to God 's justice ? In whose name must we come , as we have nothing to plead as our own ? In what righteousness shall we appear before him ? The proposals betray ignorance , though they show zeal . They offer that which is very rich and costly . Those who are fully convinced of sin , and of their misery and danger by reason of it , would give all the world , if they had it , for peace and pardon . Yet they do not offer aright . The sacrifices had value from their reference to Christ ; it was impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin . And all proposals of peace , except those according to the gospel , are absurd . They could not answer the demands of Divine justice , nor satisfy the wrong done to the honour of God by sin , nor would they serve at all in place of holiness of the heart and reformation of the life . Men will part with any thing rather than their sins ; but they part with nothing so as to be accepted of God , unless they do part with their sins . Moral duties are commanded because they are good for man . In keeping God 's commandments there is a great reward , as well as after keeping them . God has not only made it known , but made it plain . The good which God requires of us is , not the paying a price for the pardon of sin and acceptance with God , but love to himself ; and what is there unreasonable , or hard , in this ? Every thought within us must be brought down , to be brought into obedience to God , if we would walk comfortably with him . We must do this as penitent sinners , in dependence on the Redeemer and his atonement . Blessed be the Lord that he is ever ready to give his grace to the humble , waiting penitent . * Verse 9-16 - God , having showed how necessary it was that they should do justly , here shows how plain it was that they had done unjustly . This voice of the Lord says to all , Hear the rod when it is coming , before you see it , and feel it . Hear the rod when it is come , and you are sensible of the smart ; hear what counsels , what cautions it speaks . The voice of God is to be heard in the rod of God . Those who are dishonest in their dealings shall never be reckoned pure , whatever shows of devotion they may make . What is got by fraud and oppression , cannot be kept or enjoyed with satisfaction . What we hold closest we commonly lose soonest . Sin is a root of bitterness , soon planted , but not soon plucked up again . Their being the people of God in name and profession , while they kept themselves in his love , was an honour to them ; but now , being backsliders , their having been once the people of God turns to their reproach . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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