Living God’s story

Lieut-Colonel Jayne Roberts challenges us to live out God’s justice, mercy and humility as she considers Micah 6:6–8, a key passage for the Defenders of Justice being commissioned at Together 2024.

Key text

• Micah 6:6–8

Earlier this year, my husband and I moved back to Cardiff after a gap of many years. I am gradually getting my bearings again in a place that I thought I knew well, greatly assisted by various apps on my phone. I can plan my journeys on public transport to the city and then see how long it will take me to walk from one location to the next. Previously, I would have relied on a street map and guesswork!

These days, I also enjoy the what3words app, which labels every location on the planet with a unique combination of three words. It’s interesting to see which three random words are assigned to places of note. For example, Cardiff Castle is labelled ‘curvy.donor.keys’, while the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama’s label is ‘gold.song.young’. The app can also lead emergency services to a precise three-metre square location and is a powerful tool in remote settings.

Pause and reflect

• How do you navigate an unfamiliar location?

In our study passage, we discover what three words the prophet Micah uses to instruct people in living faithfully in response to God’s grace – ‘act.love.walk’. Micah declares: ‘He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’ (v8).

Note that each action – act, love and walk – is followed by another word that tells us how to perform it: act justly, love mercy, walk humbly. The behaviour God requires of his people shows the hallmarks of justice, mercy and humility.

Micah was a prophet in Judah during the 8th century BC. This was a time of social injustice, political turmoil and religious hypocrisy. The book of Micah addresses the leaders and people of Judah, calling them to account for their sins and urging them to return to a covenant relationship with God. Micah 6 begins with a courtroom scene, where God presents his case against Israel. Verses 6 to 8 are a response to this divine indictment, highlighting what God truly desires from his people. Here is a living narrative that continues to speak into our lives today. It invites us into God’s story and helps shape ours.

The passage begins with rhetorical questions about offerings that were considered the highest form of worship. The speaker challenges people to consider whether the Lord is pleased with extravagant sacrifices such as burnt offerings of thousands of rams or rivers of oil. Then, verse 8 shifts from questioning to clarity, offering a concise summary of God’s requirements.

It’s interesting that the prophet specifically says ‘your God’. This challenges us to reflect on our own personal practices.

Let’s consider whether our daily pattern of life includes God’s three actionable principles.

Justice in the Bible is a multifaceted concept that includes fairness, equity and the protection of the vulnerable. Acting justly means more than just avoiding wrongdoing; it involves actively pursuing what is right and fair in our relationships and societal structures. This calls us to engage in social justice, stand against oppression and ensure that our actions contribute to the wellbeing of others.

Mercy – chesed in Hebrew – signifies steadfast love, kindness and compassion. Loving mercy means embodying a spirit of forgiveness, grace and compassion in our interactions. It requires us to show kindness not just to those who are easy to love, but to everyone, especially people who are marginalised or in need. This reflects God’s own merciful character and reminds us that love and compassion should be at the heart of our actions.

Humility before God involves recognising our dependence on him and submitting to his will. It is about living a life that acknowledges God’s sovereignty and seeks his guidance. Walking humbly with God means cultivating a relationship with him marked by trust, obedience and reverence. It calls us to align our lives with God’s purposes and to live in a way that honours him.

Pause and reflect

• How are our lives rooted in genuine relationship and ethical living?
• How do we express our devotion to God as we live out our story in our community and family settings?
• To what extent is God’s story part of our story?

In our study passage, the prophet invites us to integrate God’s story into our own by embodying justice, mercy and humility. Consider these three practical steps.

First, think about your actions and attitudes. Are you promoting justice in your community and personal relationships? Are you known for your kindness and mercy? Do you live with a sense of humility before God?

Second, engage in action. Look for opportunities to advocate for justice. This might involve supporting policies that promote fairness, volunteering to support marginalised people, or simply standing up against injustice in your daily life.

Third, cultivate compassion. Make a conscious effort to show mercy and kindness. This can be through small acts, such as helping a neighbour, or more significant commitments, such as supporting someone in need.

Our study passage presents a powerful reminder that God’s desires for us are not rooted in ritualistic observance, but in living out his principles of justice, mercy and humility. As we strive to integrate these values into our lives, we participate in God’s ongoing story of redemption and grace. In doing so, our story becomes a reflection of God’s story, bringing light and hope to the world around us.

Let us commit to this transformative journey, allowing God’s story to shape and define our own.