“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, NKJV)

The LORD’s people had been stubborn and rebellious. Despite the mercy God had shown them, they cheated one another, spoke lies, and worshiped other gods. The northern kingdom of Israel had led the way in idolatry, so God used the Assyrians to destroy their capital of Samaria and scatter the people among the nations. But Judah had not been much better, and so God used the Assyrians as a scourge to wreak havoc in the land. The Assyrians conquered 46 cities of Judah and came up to the walls of Jerusalem during the days of Hezekiah. But then God sent an angel who destroyed 185,000 Assyrian troops in a single night! God used all these things to purge evil from the land and to purify His people.

Now as the people of Judah endured this chastening of the LORD, Micah asked them a simple question: “What does the LORD require of you?” It is a question that every God-fearing person asks himself or perhaps even asks God: “What would you have me do?” Micah answers his own question, and Micah 6:8 has become a favorite verse to many believers. In fact, a song has been written from it.

If we would please God, then we must first do justly—that is we must aim to do the right thing always. We must show no favoritism in our judgment of others.

Second, we must love mercy—that is we must be merciful to others just as God has been merciful to us. This means we get inside the skin of someone else, we feel what he feels, and then we follow up with kindness. This is what Jesus did when He saw us miserable and helpless in our sins. He got inside our skin by becoming a man; He was merciful, gracious, and gentle toward us; and then He laid down His life to save us.

Third, we must walk humbly with our God—that is we realize that He is our Lord and Master. We willingly accept whatever He permits in our lives. We do not feel entitled, but we die daily to self. We are teachable and keep His commandments.

If, by God’s grace, we will do these three things, then we will endure every trial and emerge with faith as pure as gold (1 Peter 1:6-7).