Micah 6:9-12

Israel was a religious people. Like all religious people, even those of today, their focus was upon religion and things having to do with God. Because they were an unrighteous people, they failed to meet the requirement having to do with God and their relationship with him. They were not faithful in their worship, and they worshiped false gods. They built Temples to pagan religions. One wicked king even sacrificed his own son in pagan worship. They did not live to bring glory to God; instead, their lives brought shame to the name of God.

God has taken Israel to court, and the mountains were his witnesses. Micah has spoken in God’s defense, and has proved God kept the covenant. He has made clear there was no sacrifice great enough to wash away Israel’s sin. Micah is now going to list their sins in detail. Being religious, they expected sins against God to top the list; they did not. In God’s eyes, our relationship with Him is only one aspect of righteousness. Topping God’s list was Israel’s treatment of others.

He accused them of cheating others. The ephah was a container equal to 3/5 bushel use to measure dry goods. They would buy using an ephah that was too large, and would sell using an ephah that was too small. The merchants used dishonest scales and had false weights. The rich and powerful people took advantage and uses violence against the weak. They mistreated the poor and were harsh with their servants. They raised their children to be is unrighteous as they were. The people of the land did not love truth, and they were habitually deceptive in their relationships and lying was a common practice.

James 1:27 says “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” No matter how religious we are, we must treat others right, or we are not righteous.