To Obey Is Better
What Does the Lord Require?

What Does the Lord Require?
Micah 6:6–8

Introduction
Micah 6:6–8 asks and answers a timeless question: “What does the Lord require of you?” Today we hear God’s revealed will—justice, mercy, and humble fellowship with Him—and learn how worship and daily life align with His heart.

The Burning Question and Broken Assumptions
Micah paints a striking scene of worshipers proposing layer upon layer of sacrifice: yearling calves, thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil, even a firstborn child (Micah 6:6–7). Sacrifices belonged to Israel’s life with God (Leviticus 1). Yet the prophets exposed a deeper demand that governs every altar: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). Isaiah speaks for the Lord with solemn clarity. Offerings, feasts, and assemblies weary God when hands persist in iniquity; He calls for clean hearts and straight paths (Isaiah 1:11–17). Micah’s question turns hearers from performance toward the posture God desires.

He Has Shown You What Is Good
Micah’s answer rests on revelation: “He has shown you.” God’s people do not guess at His will; He declares it: “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Deuteronomy echoes the same cadence—fear the Lord, walk in His ways, love Him, and serve Him with all the heart and soul (Deuteronomy 10:12). Hosea’s voice joins the chorus: the Lord delights in steadfast love and knowledge of God (Hosea 6:6). These words set the foundation for worship that pleases Him.

Do Justly
Justice is personal integrity shaped by God’s standard. It speaks truth, keeps promises, and treats neighbors with equity. The Lord calls His people to learn good, seek justice, correct oppression, defend the fatherless, and plead for the widow (Isaiah 1:17). He commands true justice and compassion, without oppression or hidden malice (Zechariah 7:9–10). Wisdom adds that doing righteousness and justice honors God (Proverbs 21:3), and His law insists on honest measures and fair dealings (Leviticus 19:35–36). In Christ’s body this looks like truthful speech, holy self-control, honest labor that becomes generosity, and edifying words that give grace (Ephesians 4:25–29). It also refuses partiality toward rich or poor (James 2:1–9). Justice becomes a habit of the heart that touches every transaction and every relationship.

Love Mercy
Mercy is warm-hearted compassion that moves to help. It springs from God’s own character—the Lord, gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love (Exodus 34:6–7; Psalm 103:8–14). Pure and undefiled religion visits orphans and widows in their trouble and keeps a clean life before God (James 1:27). Mercy crosses the road like the Samaritan, sees need, and serves at personal cost (Luke 10:33–37). Mercy extends kindness even to adversaries, returning good for evil, and thus overcomes evil (Luke 6:35–36; Romans 12:20–21). Jesus blesses the merciful and promises they will receive mercy (Matthew 5:7). Loving mercy means welcoming opportunities to forgive, restore, and provide.

Walk Humbly with Your God
Humility bows before the Holy One and gladly submits to His will. The High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity dwells with the contrite and humble, reviving their hearts (Isaiah 57:15). James calls believers to draw near, cleanse hands, purify hearts, and bow low before the Lord who lifts up the lowly (James 4:8–10). This humble walk receives the implanted word with meekness (James 1:21), feeds on it to grow (1 Peter 2:2), and prays with confidence through our sympathetic High Priest, Jesus the Son of God (Hebrews 4:14–16). Humility then patterns everyday steps: walk in love as Christ loved us, walk as children of light, and walk carefully with wisdom (Ephesians 5:2, 8, 15).

The Lord’s Requirements in the Gospel
Jesus affirmed the “weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23). He taught that entrance into the kingdom belongs to the one who does the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21). The gospel forms a people whose worship and weekdays agree—hearts set on obedience, hands ready for compassion, and lives paced by humble fellowship with God.

What Does the Lord Require? Sermon Outline:

• Text & Aim — Micah 6:6–8

  • Aim: Present God’s revealed life—justice, mercy, humility—and urge practiced obedience in Christ.

• I. The Question Exposed — Micah 6:6–7; Leviticus 1; 1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 1:11–17

  • Escalating sacrifices; prophetic correction; worship evaluated by obedience.

• II. God’s Revealed Summons — Micah 6:8; Deuteronomy 10:12; Hosea 6:6

  • He has shown what is good; three requirements that anchor all devotion.

• III. Do Justly — Isaiah 1:17; Zechariah 7:9–10; Proverbs 21:3; Leviticus 19:35–36; Ephesians 4:25–29; James 2:1–9

  • Integrity, fairness, protection of the vulnerable, generosity, impartiality.

• IV. Love Mercy — Exodus 34:6–7; Psalm 103:8–14; James 1:27; Luke 10:33–37; Luke 6:35–36; Romans 12:20–21; Matthew 5:7

  • God’s character reflected in practical compassion, forgiveness, and restorative care.

• V. Walk Humbly with Your God — Isaiah 57:15; James 4:8–10; James 1:21; 1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 4:14–16; Ephesians 5:2, 8, 15

  • Contrition, nearness through word and prayer, a careful, loving, luminous walk.

• VI. The Gospel Confirmation — Matthew 23:23; Matthew 7:21

  • Jesus affirms the weightier matters and calls for the Father’s will in action.

• Invitation

  • Prayer for strength and renewal; obedience to the gospel of Christ.

Call to Action
Set your heart on what God has already shown to be good. This week choose one specific act of justice, one deliberate act of mercy, and one intentional step of humble obedience. Open the Scriptures daily, draw near to God in prayer, and order your walk by His will. If you need forgiveness or the prayers of the church, come. If you are ready to obey the gospel—believing in Jesus, repenting of sin, confessing His name, and being baptized for the remission of sins—respond in faith today.

Key Takeaways

• God reveals the life He accepts: do justly, love mercy, walk humbly (Micah 6:8).

• Obedience governs every act of worship (1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 1:11–17).

• Justice practices integrity and protects the vulnerable (Isaiah 1:17; Zechariah 7:9–10).

• Mercy acts with compassionate care and forgiveness (James 1:27; Luke 10:33–37; Matthew 5:7).

• Humility seeks nearness through word and prayer (James 4:8–10; James 1:21; Hebrews 4:14–16).

• Disciples walk in love, light, and wisdom (Ephesians 5:2, 8, 15).

• Jesus endorses the weightier matters and calls for the Father’s will (Matthew 23:23; Matthew 7:21).

Scripture Reference List

• Micah 6:6–8 — The question and God’s threefold requirement.

• Leviticus 1 — Burnt offerings within Israel’s worship.

• 1 Samuel 15:22 — God delights in obedience.

• Isaiah 1:11–17 — Ceremonies rejected when iniquity remains.

• Deuteronomy 10:12 — What the Lord requires: fear, walk, love, serve.

• Hosea 6:6 — Steadfast love and knowledge of God prized by the Lord.

• Zechariah 7:9–10 — True justice and compassion commanded.

• Proverbs 21:3 — Doing justice and righteousness pleases the Lord.

• Leviticus 19:35–36 — Honest measures and fair practice.

• Ephesians 4:25–29 — Truthful speech, self-control, honest labor, gracious words.

• James 2:1–9 — Warning against partiality.

• Exodus 34:6–7 — The Lord’s merciful, gracious character.

• Psalm 103:8–14 — Compassionate and forgiving God.

• James 1:27 — Pure religion: care for the afflicted and holy living.

• Luke 10:33–37 — The Samaritan’s merciful example.

• Luke 6:35–36 — Sons of the Most High show kindness.

• Romans 12:20–21 — Overcome evil with good.

• Matthew 5:7 — Blessing upon the merciful.

• Isaiah 57:15 — God dwells with the humble and contrite.

• James 4:8–10 — Draw near and humble yourselves.

• James 1:21 — Receive the implanted word with meekness.

• 1 Peter 2:2 — Long for the pure milk of the word and grow.

• Hebrews 4:14–16 — A sympathetic High Priest; confident prayer.

• Ephesians 5:2, 8, 15 — Walk in love, in light, and with wisdom.

• Matthew 23:23 — Justice, mercy, and faith affirmed by Jesus.

• Matthew 7:21 — Doing the Father’s will.

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO