I recall the days sharing an apartment with a few other single men. None of us knew cooking so we had a lady sending us lunch-boxes every day. We noticed that over the weeks this kind lady has customized our lunch boxes to suit each individual’s likes and dislikes—each of us had our favorites dishes more often while the dishes that we detested have disappeared from the menu.
We were amused. How did this woman know what each of us like though she hasn’t even met most of us even once? We quizzed the man who brought the lunch for us every day. He told us the secret. She would check all the lunch boxes that we returned and made a note of what remains in them. Whatever, a person did not eat she considered it as a dislike and whatever was eaten, she considered as his favorite. Thus, over the weeks she knew what each of us like and what we detested. Now you know why we adored her!
Knowing God’s will and pleasing him by doing what he likes is even more noble. That is what we are called for.
Micah, a prophet of the eighth century BC proclaimed, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, ESV).
Prophet Micah summarizes what God likes and what God hates in Israel’s social life. He highlights three things. He expects his people to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly.
The book of Deuteronomy, all the prophetic voices in the Old Testament and Jesus constantly reminded the people that God desires righteousness, and justice. He demands that they show mercy to each other especially those who are vulnerable in their society. Another prophet of the same period cried out! “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24, ESV).”
Probably Micah stands out in the company of the prophets by specifying that living a life that God delights is to “walk humbly with your God.”
Walking humbly means to lead a modest life. In fact, one of the meanings of the word used for ‘humble’ in Hebrew is ‘modest.’ Modest life is not to live extravagantly but one that limits to what is essential. At the same time, the expression “with God” means that God determines this life-style. The standard of our life-style is decided by our close walk with God.
A life lived in comparison with the standards of others, sometimes even leading to competition to beat each other leads not only to excesses. In a similar vein, life-style that focuses on the self to the total neglect of the needs around us leads to all that is ungodly. The immodest life-style leads to corruption, exploitation and causes pain for others. The wealthy in Israel oppressed and exploited the poor to satisfy their cravings for luxury. Prophet Amos condemns those who lived in palaces decorated with ivory, and drunk to their fill and loved rave parties.
“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’ (Amos 4:1, ESV)
“Cows of Bashan” is a metaphor that Amos used to describe the obese wealthy women.
Amos condemned the rich further:
“Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Therefore, they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away” (Amos 6:4-7, ESV).
Their extravagant life-style was at the expense of the poor and needy whom them conveniently ignored. They created a society where injustice and inequality prevailed over love and mercy. However, a life pleasing God is modest, is content with what one has than grabbing what others have to live haughtily as Isaiah portrayed such lives.
“The LORD said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet, (Isaiah 3:16, ESV).”
The pride in what one wear, eat and spend is not the mark of a life pleasing God.
(Photo courtesy: Rudolf Kirchner)