The LORD has a Controversy Micah 6:2

As the LORD God began to speak in chapter six of the prophesy of Micah, He called upon the “mountains” and the “hills” to “hear” a contention. In the second verse of this chapter, the LORD commands the “mountains” to “hear” again and He calls upon the “strong foundations of the earth” to hear His “controversy” with His people where we read:

Hear you, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and you strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

The verse begins, “Hear you, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and you strong foundations of the earth:” As Micah began this verse, He employed the words “Hear you” once again. This Hebrew word “shama” means “to listen, pay attention to, perceive and obey”, and Micah called upon “O mountains” or “mountain tracks” to pay attention to his words. He pointed to “the LORD's controversy” or “strife, dispute, quarrel or case at law” as to what they should listen, and called upon “you strong foundations of the earth” which refers to the “perpetual, constant, perennial, ever-flowing and permanent land, country or territory” as more of His audience. No doubt all of the LORD's creation was to be in attendance as the LORD spoke these words.

The verse continues, “for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.” After calling the “mountains” and the “strong foundations of the earth” to attend His “controversy”, Micah added the reason for this gathering, “for the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah” “has a controversy” or “strife, dispute, quarrel or case at law” “with his people” or “nation, kindred or compatriots”. Micah went on to say, “and he will plead” which means “prove, decide, judge, rebuke, reprove, correct, be right, reason together and chide” “with Israel”. Though He is God of all the universe, still the LORD called together His creation to witness His dealings with the people of Israel.

When we think through these words of Micah, we may be amazed that the LORD would even bother to have this session with His people. He's God Almighty, and still He will bring His “controversy” down to man. If we take the time to ponder this idea - that an Almighty Creator God, who gave us life and sustains it for us, would take the time to bring His dispute down to people who would have no existence if it were not for Him, our thoughts may be spent to even try to reconcile it. We have a merciful, gracious and loving Savior in Jesus Christ, and just as the LORD called upon His creation to witness His “controversy”, He called upon the world to witness His death and resurrection that every person may be in an eternal relationship with Him. O how marvelous the wondrous works of God, and O how He humbled Himself on behalf of all mankind!

Next time the LORD asks the people what He has done to them, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.