What Does the L-rd Require of You?
- Pat Adamson
In Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Moshe tells the people of Israel what the L-rd requires of them. He says,
“So now, Isra'el, all that ADONAI your G-d asks from you is to fear ADONAI your G-d, follow all His ways, love Him and serve ADONAI your G-d with all your heart and all your being; to obey, for your own good, the mitzvot and regulations of ADONAI which I am giving you today.”
Also speaking of what G-d “requires,” the prophet Micah says something apparently quite different:
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the L-RD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your G-d?” (Micah 6:8 NASB)
What does God require of us? Do these passages contradict each other? Let’s take another look at the passage in Micah: “He has told you, O man, what is good . . .” (NASB).
The CJB is less gender-specific. It reads, “Human being, you have already been told what is good . . .” So this appeal, although directed specifically toward Israel, in a broader application, it is intended for all people from the nations that make up His family. In other words, we have been told something. What have we been told? Seemingly, the answer is given “. . . to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your G-d” (NASB).
Hey, simple enough, right? I know many sincere, well-meaning people who quote this verse but haven’t a clue what it is we’ve been told. “To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with G-d.” What exactly are we to understand from these words?
“To do justice” – or, as the CJB puts it, “to act justly” means to act with integrity toward others. The best Scriptural definition of justice I was able to find comes, not surprisingly, from the mouth of the Messiah Himself. Yeshua said, “I can’t do a thing on My own. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is right; because I don’t seek My own desire, but the desire of the One who sent Me” (John 5:30).
Yeshua’s form of justice was based on His relationship with the Father – it was based on the ways of HaShem. Indeed, Yeshua Himself is the Living Way of HaShem and thus, He lived out the Torah as the example of wisdom, justice and righteousness for all people. This attitude of justice is also reflected in the writings of Sha’ul. In his epistle to the Colossians, he wrote, “Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly. Remember that you too have a Master in heaven” (Col. 4:1). Well, the Master in Heaven – OUR Master in Heaven, has clearly instructed that we are to understand justice through the lens of Torah which fits the Deuteronomy 10:12-13 motif to a tee.
“To love kindness” – The Hebrew word used here is “chesed” which means “grace, kindness, mercy.” The Complete Jewish Bible uses the word “grace.” Just as G-d has been gracious to us, so we should also extend grace (undeserved favor) to others.
The Scriptures tell us that Israel is a stubborn and obstinate people. Even as believers in Yeshua, oftentimes we are also stubborn. And if we really understood how kind/gracious HaShem has been to us, we would probably unravel from the inside out – we would be undone by His loving kindness toward us!
One example of unmerited favor (grace) appears in Deuteronomy 9:5. Moshe tells his people, “It is not because of your righteousness, or because your heart is so upright, that you go in to take possession of their land; but to punish the wickedness of these nations that ADONAI your G-d is driving them out ahead of you, and also to confirm the word which ADONAI swore to your ancestors, Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya'akov.”
G-d’s grace toward His people runs consistently throughout the Scriptures.
Sha’ul (Paul) reflects this same understanding. He writes, “For to Moshe He says, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will pity whom I pity.' Thus it doesn't depend on human desires or efforts, but on G-d, who has mercy” (Romans 9:15-16). G-d is gracious to His people. In the gospel narratives Yeshua exampled “chesed” many times, with many different people. As we imitate Him, and walk in His grace, we are called to extend grace, mercy, and kindness to others. This also fits the Deuteronomy 10:12 theme very well.
“And to walk humbly with your G-d.” – The idea of humility is diametrically opposed to the concept of pride (Deuteronomy 8:14). The Scriptures are quite clear that G-d “is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5). Proverbs 22:4 says, “The reward of humility and the fear of the L-rd are riches, honor and life.”
Perfect humility was perfectly exampled by Yeshua. He was endowed with salvation (Zech 9:9) and came to us humbly as a carpenter from Nazareth. Even as His humility is our example for self-sacrifice toward others, His humility was carried to the extreme as He surrendered to the execution stake (Phil 2:8).
In conclusion, Micah 6:8 and Deuteronomy 10:12-13, although worded differently, in essence are reflecting the same theme: to know G-d is to follow His ways. To be Torah-centered in one’s life means to do justice, to love grace, and to walk humbly with your G-d.
