Religious Education

Dear Parents

This year our scripture focus comes from the prophet, Micah. Over the next few weeks the students will begin to explore what Micah meant when he said these words. The senior classes have already begun exploring their thoughts about this quote. They have also read a commentary that helps contextualise Micah's passage. After reading the commentary the students discuss any new insights they have gained from the commentary and reflect on their new understandings.

I have included the commentary below. I wonder what you think about this quote after reading the commentary. I wonder if you gain any new insights. It would be an interesting conversation to have with your children.

Micah 6:8

Micah 6:8 is a verse commonly used to help people to act in times of injustice: “live justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God.” 

Who is Micah?

Micah is a prophet from a small agricultural town south west of Jerusalem. Micah spoke to the "regular folk" in the "suburbs." Micah's message calls the people to listen to the word of God. Repeatedly Micah says “Listen, you leaders “Listen to what the Lord says,” and “Listen, you peoples,” stressing that now is the time to pay attention.

Much of Micah’s prophecy is judgment addressed to the capital cities of Judah and Israel, Jerusalem, and Samaria. Their leaders practised and tolerated false doctrine that has led to a false understanding of the character of God, and, as a result, injustice towards the lowly, mistreatment of women and children, unjust business practices, and exploitation of the poor, many of whom were rural dwellers, like Micah. The rich were living in luxury while the marginalised suffered to pay for extravagances for those in power. 

Even as it declares judgement, Micah’s prophecy offers hope of the coming Prince of Peace. Through Micah’s prophecy, God also promised the future kingdom where nations live in peace and security and where God’s people are fully restored, reconciled with each other and with God. 

Micah Asks God a Question

Micah genuinely wants to know what God requires. To make right with you God, should I bring offerings? Sacrifices? My first born? (Micah 6:7) God responds: “No, not your gifts, your words or even your most prized possession. I want you to do justice, love tenderly and walk humbly with me.”

For Us

God continues to speak to God’s people about what we are to do in the face of injustice, exploitation, racism and mistreatment of certain populations. The response of God to Micah is God’s response to us when we ask what is required of us.

Do justice. Justice is defined as the quality of being just. It is righteousness, equitableness, and moral rightness. To be just is a call to action—not to be silent or complacent when others, especially the most vulnerable, are abused, mistreated, in need, scorned or exploited. Mishpat is the Hebrew word used for rendering a just decision in court. In other words, holding our community to God's standard. Another Hebrew word sometimes translated as “just” is tsedaqah, which expresses the idea of honesty, justness, and community loyalty. To be biblically righteous is to be biblically just and vice versa. These two ideas cannot be separated.

As it relates to our commitment to justice, reconciliation, and diversity, this means examining how we treat the people of God. Those who have been excluded, those whose voices have not been heard, those who have been left behind or left out. Our actions of justice flow from our inward transformation to become more like Christ. We call ourselves again to justice in how we practise the way of Jesus personally, how we live together as a community and how we educate to make a difference in the world.

To love tenderly is showing mercy to others and a commitment of faithfulness to one another. Micah 7:18 says God delights to show a commitment of faithfulness. It’s who God is. Only because God has shown us great mercy (meaning love and compassion) can we do the same for others. As Saint Thomas Aquinas said, “Justice and mercy are so united that the one ought to be mingled with the other; justice without mercy is cruelty; mercy without justice is extravagance” We should practise justice mercifully. We should practise mercy justly. When we see need, pain, loss, discrimination, bias, fear, or wrongdoing we should respond with mercy, as God has shown us mercy.

Walk humbly. Jesus is the ultimate example of humility. The extravagant mercy and grace of God meets justice at the cross in the humility of Christ, who gave His very life for our salvation. We have the model in Jesus as well as the call and command to walk humbly with God. However, to do justice and love tenderly as God does is not within our own power. We humbly ask the Lord to help us, empower us, lead us, equip us. It will never be easy, especially on the road to reconciliation but it is the road God calls us to walk.

Therefore, Micah 6:8 is a call to listen to God, to do justice from hearts of mercy and compassion, marked by the humility of Christ. The Community Life Statement calls us to truth-centred attitudes and other-centred practices. It affirms graciousness, civility, respect, living out the Gospel values in our lives —all of which are manifestations of lives shaped by walking with humility before God.

We continue to strive to be a more reconciling community, to better understand how we could do better, to listen to each other and the Lord, and to be responsive in our thoughts, words, and actions. May God give us strength to do justice, love tenderly, and walk humbly with God.

Have a lovely week

Bernadette Reed