Micah 6:5-7 - With what shall I come before the Lord?

6:5

Micah then refers back to the Balaam incident (Num 22-24). Balak paid Balaam with the intention of Balaam invoking a curse on Israel so that Israel would be defeated. Balaam, however, was unable to do so, and instead declared blessings over Israel. Israel was in the hands of God. Men still had their plans, but it is the Lord’s will that prevails. We too need to know that are in the hands of the Lord, especially as the world become increasingly anti-Christian.

6:6,7

Micah now asks a series of questions about what should he do in order to come before the Lord. This will lead up to verse 8, which is one of the best known verses from Micah. Micah lists a whole series of sacrifices, using the mandated sacrifices from the Law, but with an element of exaggeration. He finishes the list with ones which were never required in the Law, the firstborn (if we take it to be a human firstborn, rather than firstborn of the flock) and his own children. Micah is deeply aware that there is actually nothing he can offer. The sacrificial system of the Law is important, but two most important elements are: (i) it was pointing towards the one and only sacrifice of Christ; (ii) its inherent futility. As the writer of Hebrews stresses, the sacrifices could never truly take away sin, never make us truly acceptable to God. Micah realises this.