© Rev. Lance Carrithers, all rights reserved.  Permission required to copy any portion of this message by any means. Email for permission: lance@firstchurchdc.com

"On Trial"

Micah 6:1-8

            I love a good courtroom drama.  I cut my teeth watching Perry Mason.   Then,  there was Matlock.    Of course, LA Law, Ally McBeal and The Practice.  Today of course, we have Law and Order, and Boston Legal—not to mention the real-life courtroom dramas of People’s Court, Judge Judy and Court TV.

            But long before we were entertained by the courtroom dramas of our television sets, before 12 Angry Men was projected on the movie screen or seen onstage, there were the great courtroom dramas of….the Bible!

            Sure enough.  You just heard Dr. Godbey read us one--the 6^th chapter of Micah.  

            Let me set the stage:

            The case is God vs. the People of Israel. 

            The plaintiff’s attorney is Micah, prophet of God, who, will argue on behalf of the client.  But the client will take the stand to testify in person.  So we will hear directly from Holy God Almighty as well.

            The defense represents themselves:  The people will take the witness stand in response to the charges. 

            There will be a judge and jury.  In this case, the Mountains sit on the bench, and the foundations of the earth, the very ground itself will be jury.

            Finally, we will get a resolution to the case.  Not so much a verdict handed down from Judge and Jury, but rather a settlement offer.  One that should prove reasonable for the accused. 

            Now then…

            Hear the case.

            The first verse is the bailiff’s opening of the court proceedings.  We’ve seen it dozens of times on television.  “Hear ye, hear ye, the case of Smith verses Johnson in the honorable court of Judge Judy.”   Well…listen to the words from Micah: “Hear what the Lord says: rise and plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.”

            Hmm?

            Now then, Micah, representation for God steps before the court to make an opening statement.

             “Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord and you enduring foundations of the earth: for the Lord has a controversy with His people, and he will contend with Israel.”

            Ah…

            Micah calls his first witness.  Imagine Almighty God being sworn in by the bailiff.  “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you…ah…so help you you?
            God testifies.

             “O my people, what have I done to you?  In what have I wearied you?  Answer me!  For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.”

            Imagine the Jury listening to God’s testimony.  No doubt about the truthfulness of his statements.  This is one witness you can believe.   I can imagine the defendants, the people of God, looking and knowing that God’s testimony is convincing and convicting.  Indeed, they had forgotten how God had delivered them from Egypt, cared for them in the wilderness.

            God continues, “O my people, remember now what Kind Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.” 

            Devastating testimony.  Through the wilderness, and as they settled into the promised land, God had fought for the people, defeated enemy after enemy, the Moabits, the Shittimites, the Canaanites.    How could they mount a defense against such damaging testimony.

            In the end, they do not mount a defense.  They throw themselves on the mercy of the court, in essence pleading guilty and begin bargaining for a light sentence.

            The people come in contrition. “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?   Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?  Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?”

            Isn’t that how it is when people bargain with God?  Filled with shame, knowing one’s sinfulness and guilt, we often begin to make promises we have no possible way of keeping.   We want God to know we are serious in our repentance, but in our haste, we unthinkingly promise what we are not ready nor able to deliver.  Thousands of rams?  Ten thousands of rivers of oil?  If that’s not enough, listen to what they offer next.

             “Shall I give my firstborn child for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

            As if God could ever accept such a gift.   As if they could ever deliver such a gift.  Sacrificing children?  Not this God.

            There must be some whispering among the plaintiff, his attorney, Micah, and the judge.  A settlement will be offered.  It will be up to the people whether or not they will accept the settlement offer.

             “He has told you, O mortal, 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.”

            There.  There it is. 

            If the people accept the settlement, all will be forgiven.  God will withdraw His case.   If the people can accept the terms of this offer, they will not be bound by their own ludicrous offers of thousands of rams, rivers of oil, babies sacrificed on altars.  No—this seems much more doable.  Doesn’t it?

            Do justice.  Love kindness.  Walk humbly with your God.

            Well? 

            Well, will the people accept the settlement offer?

            Before we find out, let’s go to Court TV for an analysis of the settlement.   Our own legal correspondent, Claudia Pyle to help us break it down.

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COORESPONDENT (Claudia) :  “There are three points to the settlement offer to consider—

            First, we have “do justice.”  The people will have to be willing to accept responsibility—not allow people of power to injure, profit from, or otherwise oppress others who have less power or wealth.  God’s demands are rooted in God’s desire for every single person in creation to have the opportunity to thrive and prosper in this creation.   Do justice.   That’s a tall order.  Everywhere there is a wrong, the people of God are being asked to stand up for what is right.  Not just talk about justice, but to do it.  Just as God acted in justice on their behalf, they are being asked to act in justice on behalf of others.

            Secondly, there is “love kindness.”   At first this seems quite simple.   To extend the mercy of God wherever it is needed.   But for God’s people to truly love kindness, it will require generosity beyond measure.  Wherever there is need, the people are being asked to meet it.  Hungry children?  Feed them.  Kindness demands it.   Impoverished families?  Help them.  Kindness demands it.  Homeless strangers?  Take them in.  Kindness demands it.  Being willing to use any resources that are in excess of one’s own needs for the well being of others?  Gently.  With warmth and affection?  Kindness demands it.   This will truly be a difficult thing for the people to do.

            And finally, the people of God are being asked to “walk humbly with their God.”  God apparently has an agenda here.  The people are being asked to not behave as though they do not know God.  As though they are ashamed of God.  

            God is asking for relationship.  Perhaps nothing in our case today points out the sad deterioration of the relationship between God and God’s people than this request.  God must demand that those He has delivered, those he has cared for, those he has done so much for, will in turn, be in relationship with Him.  To simply be willing to draw near, spend time, and grow in friendship and love.  And to recognize that the one with whom you walk is the very God of life, the God of creation, the God of all wonder and might. 

            That’s the three points of the settlement, all that remains to be seen is if it is acceptable to the people.   Back to you, Lance.

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            To do justice.  To love kindness.  To walk humbly with God.  Will the people be able to do it, you think?  That's the offer that's on the table.    As our correspondent so aptly put it, we are left to find out if the people will accept or reject the offer.  Will they abide by the terms of the settlement? 

            Well…what do you think, will they?

(pause)

Will….you?