Sermon – Part One: What Have I Done Wrong?
Scripture: Micah 6: 1-3
Listen to what the Lord is saying to his people: “Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaint. 2 “And now, O mountains, listen to the Lord’s complaint! For he has a case against his people Israel! He will prosecute them to the full. 3 O my people, what have I done that makes you turn away from me? Tell me why your patience is exhausted! Answer me!
Why do we turn from God?
God is holding court in Micah 6: 1-16. He is both judge and prosecutor. In verse 1 God tells the people to stand and “state your case.” The people have been living in sin by building altars to pagan gods. These altars were built on high mountains for sacrifices to false gods.
We put up barriers in our dealings with one another and we put up altars to false gods with our lifestyles. We place what we think is important before God, like money, cars, homes and social standing, just to name a few.
The mountains are the witnesses in Micah’s time, and God calls them to testify to how the people built these altars to false gods on the mountains He made. In our time, the mountains are our streets and highways.
God called to the mountains in Micah’s time to confirm the people’s guilt. God asks our streets and highways to confirm our guilt today. The streets testify to the killing of babies, children, men and women when all they did was be in the way of a bullet, knife, or other weapon wielded by another. People are being held up for money, jewelry, or just because of the color of their skin, or the way they walk, talk, or dress.
The people of Micah’s time could not answer the charges brought against them. How can we answer God today?
God has not done anything wrong.
God, both then and now, has been exceedingly patient. He lovingly guides us and gives us every opportunity to return to Him. We are in the courtroom today, and God asks, “What have I done to you that you act this way?”
Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:
Read Other Commentary From the Book of Micah:
Plead Your Case Before the Mountains
Return next week to read part two of the sermon, What Have I Done Wrong?