WITH WHAT SHALL I COME BEFORE THE LORD MOST HIGH?

“WITH WHAT SHALL I COME BEFORE THE LORD MOST HIGH?” is a pointed question that prophet Micah asks in Micah 6:6. This question is posed to the nation of Israel. Such a situation arrived because of the sin and rebellion of the People of God, against YAHWEH. We see the anguish of YAHWEH in the words found in Micah 6:1-3. NKJV aptly titles it as, “GOD PLEADS WITH ISRAEL” – indicating the heart of God, and the sin and rebellion of His Chosen People.
– “​1 Hear now what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear your voice. 2 Hear, O you mountains, the LORD’s complaint, And you strong foundations of the earth; For the LORD has a complaint against His people, And He will contend with Israel. 3 “O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.” – Micah 6:1-3

Speaking in an admonishing tone, the prophet Micah argues brilliantly, and brings to our attention, the problem of man, and the purposes of God for us. 
– “6 With what shall I come before the LORD, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:6-8

Man’s standing before God is presented ever so truthfully here, in the first question posed by the prophet. We hold no standing in the presence of God Almighty. We cannot claim, “I am the child of Abraham’ and any such arguments, to work our way, through the problem of sin and rebellion. We hold no influence over the LORD. There is nothing that we can claim to our credit. This is our true standing, and our status.
– “6 With what shall I come before the LORD, And bow myself before the High God?…” – Micah 6:6

The second question that the prophet poses to the people of God, and us as Christians, is even more piercing, if one has a heart, in the first place. Many times we attempt bribing our way through our problems with God, thinking we can influence Him, if our offer is big, high and great. The wheelers and dealers’ attitude.
– “7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” – Micah 6:7

The options that Micah presents as a offering to YAHWEH, should be an eye opening to all who claim to God’s children. The sheer volume of rams and the oil is mindboggling. The amount it would cost, to buy such an offering itself should scare anyone, with common sense, to the very core. 

The prophet goes even further, and presents the ultimate offering – “the first born” – reminding the people about Abraham and Isaac. In this context, it is good for us to note that, the God of the Bible is not cruel and inhuman, to ask for human sacrifice, as do the gods of this world. This distinction is a must, sadly the Israelites offer their children as sacrifices, but to Molech and not YAHWEH – Leviticus 18:21, 20:2-5; Jeremiah 7:31, 19:5.

Micah speaks towards the end, the problem of sin, which is the root of all the ills, that are plaguing the children of God – sin. Micah personalises it, to bring out the true nature of our hearts, and its standing. He calls it, “MY SIN” – this is how one should be looking at sin. Not someone else’s fault or sin. Rather, it is “MY SIN” that which I have committed, and I, and I alone, is accountable for it.

After dismantling the pride, ego and self-righteousness that normally dwells in every human heart, the prophet Micah goes on to present the heart of God, and what YAHWEH, the God who rescued and redeemed His people, is desiring from them, and from us, even today.
– “8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8

This is what the LORD God Almighty is desiring from us. These things that God wants from us, should be seen in every single aspect of all that we will ever do – living as the Chosen Children of God.
1- TO DO JUSTLY
– “Act in a just, fair way towards others. Treat them as you would want to be treated.” – David Guzik

2- TO LOVE MERCY
– “Don’t just show mercy, but love to show it. Give others the same measure of mercy you want to receive from Me.” – David Guzik

3- TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD
– “Remember who I am – your God. If you keep that in mind, you will walk humbly before Me.” – David Guzik

If we claim ourselves to be the people who belong to God, then we are expected to DO the above things, as a mark of our status. Nothing else would ever satisfy God. “WITH WHAT SHALL I COME BEFORE THE LORD MOST HIGH?” – ABSOLUTELY NOTHING – but only with our whole-hearted obedience to God, and DOING all what He is asking of us. Where do we stand? Where do I stand? Where do you stand? May the LORD help us to be, His true children.