A M 6:1,2-. Call to hear. Mountains.
N 6:-2. Controversy.
O 6:3-8. Expostulation.
M 6:9. Call to hear. City.
N 6:10-16. Controversy.
O 7:1-10. Lamentation.
632-603 B.C.
Micah 6)
1 Hear you now what the LORD says; Arise, contend you before the mountains (nations), and let the hills (little countries) hear your voice.
2 Hear you, O mountains, the LORD's controversy, and you strong foundations of the earth: (Ref. Deut. 32:1. The mountains don't have ears.)
for the LORD has a controversy with His People, and He will plead with Israel. (Through you.)
O P 3. Questions of Yahaveh.
Q 4,5. Yahaveh's Answer. What He had done.
P 6,7. Questions of Yahaveh.
Q 8. Yahaveh's Answer. What Israel should do.
3 O My People, what have I done to you? and wherein have I wearied you? answer against Me. (Don't blame your ignorance on God. You did it to yourself.)
4 For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt (Ref. Ex. 12:61; 14:30; 20:2. Deut. 4:20), and redeemed you (ref. Ex. 6:6; 13:13-16) out of the house of bondage (ref. Ex. 13:3,14; 20:2. Deut. 5:6; 6:12; 7:8); and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. (Ref. Ex. 15:20,21. Num. 12:4,9,15; 20:1; 26:59. Miriam not mentioned after Deut. 24:9, except 1 Chron. 6:3.)
5 O My People, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted (Balak not mention since Judg. 11:25. Ref. Num. 22:5; 23:7; 24:10,11;25:1; 31:16. Deut. 23:4,5), and what Balaam (not mentioned since Josh. 24:9,10, except in Neh. 13:2. Cp. 2 Pet. 15, and Jude 11. Rev. 2:14) the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal; that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD." (History of the past. You cannot doubt Him.)
6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? (How shall I serve You and what shall I bring You?) shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? (Ref. Lev. 9:3. The cream of the crop.)
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my rebellion (insubordination), my firstborn for the sin of my soul? (This actually happened in 2 Kings 16:3. See Jer. 31:29.)
8 He has shewed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love grace (or loving-kindness), and to walk humbly with your God? (This verse embodies the principles governing Yehovah's administration under the Law, but not under the Gospel. Now, He requires faith in the Substitute Whom He has provider for the sinner; And His righteousness must be imputed in grace. Cp. Rom. 3:23,24. Eph. 2:3-9. Titus 3:5-8, &c. He wants you to be fair, love Him, and have the knowledge of God. Don't con people. See Hos. 6:6. Deut. 10:12-14.)
9 The LORD'S voice cries to the city, and [such as would have] true stability (or safety]) will regard Your name (the Sept. reads: and He will save such as revere His name): hear you the staff (for support or chastisement.), and Who has appointed it.
N j 10-12. Incrimination. Fraud and Deceit.
k 13-15. Judgment. Desolation.
j 16-. Incrimination. Omri and Ahab.
k -16. Judgment. Desolation.
10 Are there yet the treasures of lawlessness in the house of the lawless, and the scant ephah that is abominable (abhorred)? (They rip you off.)
11 Shall I count her (i.e. the wicked city) pure with the wicked balances (Ref. Deut. 25:13-16), and with the bag of deceitful weights?
12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. (They don't care what they say or how they say it.)
13 Therefore also will I make you sick in smiting you (ref. Lev. 26:16), in making you desolate because of your sins.
14 You shall eat, but not be satisfied (ref. Lev. 26:26); and your dissatisfaction (or emptiness) shall remain in you; and you shall take hold, but shall not deliver; and that which you deliver will I give up to the sword. (You can store it up but you won't be able to save it.)
15 You shall sow, but you shall not reap (ref. Deut. 28:38-40); you shall tread the olives, but you shall not anoint you with oil; and sweet wine, but shall not drink wine. (They won't be around long enough for it to ferment.)
16 For the statutes (in a religious sense. Lev. 20:8. 2 Kings 17:34. Jer. 10:3) of Omri (cp. 1 Kings 16:31,32, as to the worship of Baal) are secretly kept (cp. Hos. 5:4), and all the works of the house of Ahab (cp. 1 Kings 16:30,&c.; 21:25,26. 2 Kings 21:3), and you walk in their counsels; (Traditions of men. "Easter", "Rapture".)
that I should make you a desolation (ref. Deut. 28:37), and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore you shall bear the reproach of My People.