Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy… The beginning of this chapter contains a most pathetical expostulation of God by the prophet with His people about their sins, and unworthy walking before Him. Convictions, made effectual upon the soul, draw out its inward principles, which are not otherwise discovered. Men think they must do something whereby to appease the God whom they have provoked. They fix on two general heads. They propose things which God Himself had appointed, such as sacrifices and burnt offerings. Or they propose things of their own finding out, which they suppose may have a further and better efficacy to the end aimed at than anything appointed of God Himself. They have a better opinion of their own ways and endeavours, for the pleasing of God and quieting their consciences, than of anything of God's institution. There is nothing so desperate, irksome, or wicked that convinced persons will not engage to do under their pressure on the account of the guilt of sin. The prophet discovers to such Persons their mistake. God prefers moral worship, in the way of obedience, to all sacrifice whatever. This moral obedience is referred to three heads — do justly; love mercy; walk humbly with God. The two first are comprehensive of our whole duty in respect of men. The third head regards the first table of the law. I. WHAT IT IS TO WALK WITH GOD. 1. Some things are required to it. (1) Peace and agreement. These have to be made, can only be made, through the blood of atonement. (2) Oneness of design. The aim of God, in general, is His own glory; in particular, it is "the praise of His glorious grace." To exalt this glorious grace, two things are considerable. That all which is to be looked for at the hand of God is upon the account of mere grace and mercy. The enjoyment of Himself in this way of mercy and grace is that great reward of him that walks with Him. That a man may walk with another, it is required that he have a living principle in him to enable him thereunto. 2. What it is to walk with God. It consisteth in the Performance of that obedience, for matter and manner, which God, in His covenant of grace, requires at our hands. (1) That our obedience be walking with God, it is required that we be in covenant with Him, and that the obedience be required in the tenour of that covenant. Things required if it is to answer the tenour of the covenant. It must proceed from faith in God, by Christ the Mediator. The person must be perfect or upright therein. (2) That our obedience may be walking with God, it is required that it be a constant progressive motion towards a mark before us. Walking is a constant progress. (3) Walking with God is to walk always as under the eye of God. By a general apprehension of God's omniscience and presence. Two things will follow being under the eye and control of God. Reverential thoughts of Him. Self-abasement under a sense of the imperfection of all our services. 3. Our walking with God in our obedience argues complacency and delight therein; and that we are bound unto God in His ways with the cords of love. II. WHAT IT IS TO WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD. The original words are, "To humble thyself in walking." In our walking with God distinguish between the inward power of it and the outward privilege of it. What it is in reference whereunto we are to humble ourselves in walking with God. To the law of His grace, and to the law of His providence. We must humble ourselves to place our obedience on a new foot of account, and yet to pursue it with no less diligence than if it stood upon the old. We must address ourselves to the greatest duties, being fully persuaded that we have no strength for the least. We must see that in Christ is our supply. And we humble ourselves to be contented to have the sharpest afflictions accompanying the strictest obedience. Consider now what it is to humble ourselves to the law of His providence. There is much in God's providential administration beyond, and even apparently contradictory to, the reason of men. Four things require this humbling of ourselves. (1) Visible confusion. (2) Unspeakable variety. (3) Sudden alterations. (4) Deep distresses.We are to be humbled unto His sovereignty. His wisdom, His righteousness. How are we, by what means are we to humble ourselves to the law of God's grace and providence? (1) Let faith have its work. (2) Constant abiding reverence of God will help the soul in this universal resignation and humbling of itself.This reverence of God ariseth from the infinite excellency and majesty of God and His great name. The infinite, inconceivable distance we stand from Him. This glorious God is pleased of His own grace to condescend to concern Himself in us and our services. III. HUMBLE WALKING WITH GOD IS THE GREAT DUTY AND MOST VALUABLE CONCERNMENT OF BELIEVERS. Sundry ways whereby glory redounds to God by believers humbly walking with Him. 1. It gives Him the glory of the doctrine of grace. 2. It gives Him the glory of the power of His grace. 3. It gives Him the glory of the law of His grace, that He is a King obeyed. 4. It gives Him the glory of His justice. 5. The glory of His kingdom; first, in its order and beauty; and secondly, in multiplying His subjects.This humble walking must certainly be the great and incomparable concernment of all those whose chief end is the advancement of the glory of God. In humble walking with God, we shall find peace in every condition. We shall find comfort. This will make us useful in our generation. ( John Owen, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? |
    |