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Religious But Ungodly - Micah
Micah Religious but Ungodly
"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8). True religion is not just about sacrifice and offering but must be offered by those who seek God in all aspects of their lives. Micah had emphasized this in the preceding verses: “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” (vs. 6-7).
Micah could say that God has an indictment against His people (vs. 2) for they are religious but not godly. The priests teach for money and the prophets prophecy for money (3:11). They will say whatever will provide food for their mouths (3:5). Instead of preaching the Word of God that would do good to the people (2:7) they preach of "wine and strong drink". Instead of truth they "go about and utter wind and lies" (2:11). The people are greedy taking away the land and inheritance even of widows and young children (2:2,9). YET they are 'religious'.
For such wickedness and ungodliness God has destined judgment. He has prepared a 'rod' and He will strike them with a grievous blow (6:9, 13). God has prepared to make a desolation out of them. God destroyed Israel by bringing Assyria against them in 721 B.C. God later destroyed Judah by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.
In the midst of such darkness and gloom, Micah also holds for a glimmer of light and hope. There will be a remnant who is saved (5:7-14). God promises to again build HIS mountain and all nations will come to worship Him. In THIS mountain they will find peace when they walk in the name of the LORD (4:1-5).
God will raise up the Messiah who will save them and create a nation out of the remnant of the people (4:7). This Messiah will be born in Bethlehem of Judah (5:2, Matt. 2:6). Jesus is the CHRIST - the promised Messiah. He is the one who shepherds His flock in the strength of the LORD (5:4). In Christ the remnant will find peace (5:5; Eph. 2:14). His greatness will not be just in Judah but unto the ends of the earth (5:4).
What manner of people are these followers of Christ? What type of people make up this remnant? As in Micah's day there are yet some who are religious but not godly. There will always be some that love the pomp and circumstance of religion but will not conform their lives and character to God's desire. Micah yet pleads to our generation: "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8).
