Any sincere person who is mindful of God and His will is concerned about what God requires of him. The prophet Micah both asked and answered the question, "What doth Jehovah require of thee?" In Micah 6:8 the prophet said, "He hath showed thee O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

"Do Justly" - God is an infinitely just Being. "Righteousness and justice are the foundation" of His throne (Ps. 89:14). Being all-wise, He can and will treat each man perfectly justly. Since everything is laid open before His eyes (Heb. 4:13), He can perfectly render to every man according to his works (Rom. 2:6). He will even bring the hidden things (Ecc. 12:13, 14) and the thoughts and intents of the heart into this perfect reckoning.

In this regard, as in every other, we should be like God. Not only are we to be holy as He is holy (I Pet. 1: 16), but we also should be just as He is just. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10: 34), and neither should we be respecters of persons (Jas. 4:2-4). We should do all things without prejudice, and thus should do nothing by partiality (I Tim. 5: 21). This is to "do justly", and justice God demands of us.

"Love Kindness" -- God requires that His children also "love kindness." Uncouthness and belligerence do not become the children of God. Christians are to be "loving as brethren" G Pet. 3:8), and one of the qualities of biblical love is kindness (I Cor. 13:4). Bitterness, wrath, anger, malice, and railings are to be put away. We are to be kind one to another (Eph. 4:28). So much is kindness to become a part of the Christian's character that he can be said to have "put on ... kindness" (Col. 3:12).

"Walk Humbly" -- Pride and arrogance are the very opposite of what God demands. "Meekness" and "lowliness" also are to be 44put on." (Col. 3:12). In walking worthily of his calling, the disciple must walk with "all lowliness and meekness," (Eph. 4:3)

One must humble himself in the sight of God in order for God to exalt him in due time (I Pet. 5:5, 6). Man must learn not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think (Rom. 12:4), for pride is of the world (I Jno. 2:15-17). When man exalts his wisdom and arrays it against that wisdom which is from above (Jas. 3:17), this sin which he commits is called "presumptuousness" or highhandedness in the Bible (Num. 15:30). And presumptuous sinners God will destroy (Num. 16). The way of man is not in himself (Jer. 10: 23). Man must humble himself under the mighty hand of God and walk humbly in His sight.

This doth God require of thee!

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XV: 49, p. 3
October 21, 1971