Michaeas 6:6

6 Wherewithal shall I reach the Lord, lay hold of my God most high? shall I reach him by whole-burnt-offerings, by calves of a year old?

Michaeas 6:6 Meaning and Commentary

Micah 6:6

Wherewith shall I come before the Lord
These are not the words of the people of Israel God had a controversy with, and now made sensible of their sin, and humbled for it; and willing to appease the Lord, and make it up with him at any rate; for there are such things proposed by them as do by no means suit with persons of such a character, nay, even suppose them to be hypocritical; and much less are they what were put into their mouths by the prophet to say, as some suggest; but they are the words of Balak king of Moab, which, and what follow, are questions he put to Balaam, who had told him that he could do nothing without the Lord, nor anything contrary to his word: now he asks what he must do to get the good will of this Lord; in what manner, and with what he must appear before him, serve and worship him, as the Targum; that so he might have an interest in him, and get him to speak a word to Balaam in his favour, and against Israel; see ( Numbers 22:8 Numbers 22:18 Numbers 22:38 ) ( Numbers 23:12 Numbers 23:15 Numbers 23:26 ) ; [and] bow myself before the high God?
the most high God, the God of gods, whose Shechinah or Majesty is in the high heavens, as the Targum: his meaning is, with what he should come, or bring with him, when he paid his homage and obeisance to him, by bowing his body or his knee before him; being willing to do it in the most acceptable manner he could: shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year
old?
such as he had been used to offer on the high places of Baal to that deity. Sacrifices of this kind prevailed among the Heathens, which they had received by tradition from the times of Adam and Noah; see ( Numbers 22:41 ) .

Michaeas 6:6 In-Context

4 For I brought tee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, and sent before thee Moses, and Aaron, and Mariam.

5 O my people, remember now, what counsel Balac king of Moab took against thee, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, from the reeds to Galgal; that the righteousness of the Lord might be known.

6 Wherewithal shall I reach the Lord, lay hold of my God most high? shall I reach him by whole-burnt-offerings, by calves of a year old?

7 Will the Lord accept thousands of rams, or ten thousands of fat goats? should I give my first-born for ungodliness, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 Has it been told thee, O man, what good? or what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justice, and love mercy, and be ready to walk with the Lord thy God?