“This is what the LORD requires of you…”

JudahJudah ProphetsProphets IsraelIsrael

931 BC931 BC RehoboamRehoboam JeroboamJeroboam

AbijahAbijah NadabNadab

900 BC900 BC Asa*Asa* BaashaBaasha

850 BC850 BC Jehoshaphat*Jehoshaphat* ElijahElijah Zimri, Omri, Ahab, Zimri, Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, JoramAhaziah, Joram

800 BC800 BC Jehoram*, Ahaziah, Jehoram*, Ahaziah, Queen Athaliah, Queen Athaliah, Joash*Joash*

ElishaElisha

JonahJonah

AmosAmos

Jehoahaz, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jehoash, Jeroboam IIJeroboam II

750 BC750 BC Amaziah, Uzziah, AhazAmaziah, Uzziah, Ahaz HoseaHosea

MicahMicah

IsaiahIsaiah

Zechariah, Zechariah, Shallum, Shallum, Menahem, Menahem, PekahiahPekahiah

722 BC722 BC Hezekiah*Hezekiah* IsaiahIsaiah Pekah, HosheaPekah, Hoshea

“When Hezekiah was king of Judah, the prophet Micah of Moresheth told all the people that the LORD Almighty had said, 'Zion will be plowed like a field; Jerusalem will become a pile of ruins, and the Temple hill will become a forest.' King Hezekiah and the people of Judah did not put Micah to death. Instead, Hezekiah honored the LORD and tried to win his favor. And the LORD changed his mind about the disaster that he said he would bring on them.”(Jeremiah 26:18-19 )

“To show my sorrow, I will walk around barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and wail like an ostrich.” (Micah 1:8)

“All its precious idols will be smashed to pieces, everything given to its temple prostitutes will be destroyed by fire, and all its images will become a desolate heap. Samaria acquired these things for its fertility rites, and now her enemies will carry them off for temple prostitutes elsewhere…. Samaria’s wounds cannot be healed” (Micah 1:7,9)

“Listen to me, you rulers of Israel, you that hate justice and turn right into wrong. You are building God's city, Jerusalem, on a foundation of murder and injustice. The city's rulers govern for bribes, the priests interpret the Law for pay, the prophets give their revelations for money---and they all claim that the LORD is with them. ‘No harm will come to us,’ they say. ‘The LORD is with us.’”(Micah 3:9-11)

“Doom to those who plot evil, who go to bed dreaming up crimes! As soon at it's morning, they're off, full of energy, doing what they've planned. They covet fields and grab them, find homes and take them. They bully the neighbor and his family, see people only for what they can get out of them.” (Micah 2:1-2 MSG)

“The people preach at me and say, ‘Don't preach at us. Don't preach about all that. God is not going to disgrace us. Do you think the people of Israel are under a curse? Has the LORD lost his patience? Would he really do such things? Doesn't he speak kindly to those who do right?’ The LORD replies, ‘You attack my people like enemies. Men return from battle, thinking they are safe at home, but there you are, waiting to steal the coats off their backs. You drive the women of my people out of the homes they love, and you have robbed their children of my blessings forever. Get up and go; there is no safety here any more. Your sins have doomed this place to destruction. ‘These people want the kind of prophet who goes around full of lies and deceit and says, ‘I prophesy that wine and liquor will flow for you.’” (Micah 2:6-11)

“What shall I bring to the LORD, the God of heaven, when I come to worship him? Shall I bring the best calves to burn as offerings to him? Will the LORD be pleased if I bring him thousands of sheep or endless streams of olive oil? Shall I offer him my first-born child to pay for my sins? (Micah 6:6-8)

“When the king of Moab realized that he was losing the battle, he took seven hundred swordsmen with him and tried to force his way through the enemy lines and escape to the king of Syria, but he failed. So he took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country” (2 Kings 3:26,27).

“They have built altars to Baal in Hinnom Valley, to sacrifice their sons and daughters to the god Molech. I did not command them to do this, and it did not even enter my mind that they would do such a thing and make the people of Judah sin.” (Jeremiah 32:25)

“What shall I bring to the LORD, the God of heaven, when I come to worship him? Shall I bring the best calves to burn as offerings to him? Will the LORD be pleased if I bring him thousands of sheep or endless streams of olive oil? Shall I offer him my first-born child to pay for my sins?

No, the LORD has told us what is good. This is what he requires of you:

This is what he requires of you:“Accept the sacrifice of Jesus for

your sins“Accept that Jesus paid the price

for your salvation

“What shall I bring to the LORD, the God of heaven, when I come to worship him? Shall I bring the best calves to burn as offerings to him? Will the LORD be pleased if I bring him thousands of sheep or endless streams of olive oil? Shall I offer him my first-born child to pay for my sins?

No, the LORD has told us what is good. This is what he requires of you:

This is what he requires of you:Get the doctrines right

State of the dead Day of worship Inspiration of Scripture Atonement

“What shall I bring to the LORD, the God of heaven, when I come to worship him? Shall I bring the best calves to burn as offerings to him? Will the LORD be pleased if I bring him thousands of sheep or endless streams of olive oil? Shall I offer him my first-born child to pay for my sins?

No, the LORD has told us what is good, and this is what he requires of you:

to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)

to do what is right To do justice

to love mercy to love kindness to be compassionate and loyal in your

love, to show constant love

and to walk humbly with your God. To live in humble fellowship with God

(Micah 6:8)

“What I want from you is plain and clear:

I want your constant love, not your animal sacrifices. I would rather have my people know me than burn offerings to me. (Hosea 6:6)

“What is more pleasing to the Lord: to bring him offerings and sacrifices or to offer obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is much better than offering him the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22)

“Do what is right and fair (do righteousness and justice); that pleases the LORD more than sacrifice.” (Proverbs 21:3)

“You do not want sacrifices and offerings; you did not ask for animals burned whole on the altar or for sacrifices to take away sins. Instead, you have given me ears to hear you, and so I answered, ‘Here I am; your instructions for me are in the book of the Law. How I love to do your will, my God! I keep your teaching in my heart.’” (Psalms 40:6-8)

“I do not reprimand you because of your sacrifices and the burnt offerings which you always bring me. But yet I do not need blood…Do I eat flesh and drink blood? Here is what I want: Let the giving of thanks be your sacrifice to God, and give the Almighty all that you promised.” (Psalms 50:8-14)

“You do not want sacrifices, or I would bring it to you; The sacrifice that you desire is a humble spirit, O God; you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.” (Psalms 51:16-17)

“I will praise God with a song; I will proclaim his greatness by giving him thanks. This will please the LORD more than offering him cattle, more than sacrificing a full-grown bull.” (Psalms 69:30,31) 

“The LORD says, ‘I hate your religious festivals; I cannot stand them! When you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept it; I will not accept all this blood you bring me as offerings. Stop your noisy songs; I do not want to listen to your music any longer. Instead, let justice flow like a stream, and righteousness like a river that never goes dry.’” (Amos 5:21-25)

“Do you think I want all these sacrifices you keep offering to me? I have had more than enough of the sheep you burn as sacrifices and of the fat of your fine animals. I am tired of the blood of bulls and sheep and goats. Who asked you to bring me all this when you come to worship me? Who asked you to do all this tramping around in my Temple? It's useless to bring your offerings. I am disgusted with the smell of the incense you burn. I cannot stand your New Moon Festivals, your Sabbaths, and your religious gatherings; they are all corrupted by your sins.

I hate your New Moon Festivals and holy days; they are a burden that I am tired of bearing. When you lift your hands in prayer, I will not look at you. No matter how much you pray, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with blood. Wash yourselves clean. Stop all this evil that I see you doing. Yes, stop doing evil and learn to do right. See that justice is done---help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights, and defend widows." (Isaiah 1:11-17)

GOD DOES NOT WANT US TO:

GOD DOES WANT US TO:

Appease him with blood/sacrifice

Emphasize sacrifice and rituals to pay for sins

Unthinking Sabbaths, religious ceremonies and festivals

Noisy songs and prayers (for the wrong reasons)

…show constant love to him and others (mercy)

…know him …live in humble

fellowship with him …have a humble spirit

and a repentant heart …give him thanks …see that justice is done …stop doing evil and

doing what is right

The atonement: “[God] appeased his holy wrath against us…” – John Piper

“Saved by the blood…” “The price was paid. I am going to

heaven.”

…show constant love to him and others (mercy)…know him…live in humble fellowship with him

“I hate your religious festivals…” “Stop your noisy songs and

prayers…” “I cannot stand your Sabbaths and

your religious festivals…”

…see that justice is done…show mercy, constant love, and kindness to others…stop doing evil and doing what is right

“We are God’s chosen people… We are the descendants of Abraham… We keep the law… We sacrifice… We go to church… We sing songs… We pay tithe… We read our Bible’s… We keep the Sabbath…”

Matthew 9:10-13: "Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice’ (I’m after mercy, not religion)."

"At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!"

…But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." (Matthew 12:1-8)

“I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual” (MSG)

“It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices” (GNB)

“mercy” – compassion for others

We are living in an age where “religion” makes little difference in our actual lives

Attitudes that the younger generation (16-29) in this country have toward Christians.

Of the 440 young people who were “outsiders” (i.e. – not church goers) they perceived Christians to be:

“hypocritical,” (85%); “insensitive to others,” (70%); “judgmental” (87%); “too involved in politics” (75%) and “anti-homosexual” (91%).

The reason why so many...Christians are so notoriously 'unChristian' is simple: for the majority...Christianity isn't about the teaching of Jesus...it isn't about behaving like Jesus. It's all about faith...The underlying message seems to be: you can behave any way you want as long as you believe...and say you're sorry before you die...There ought to be a term that would designate those who actually follow the teachings of Jesus, since the word 'Christian' has been largely divorced from those teachings, and so polluted...that it has come to connote their polar opposite: intolerance, vindictive hatred, and bigotry.

- Philip Slater

GOD DOES NOT WANT US TO:

GOD DOES WANT US TO:

Seek to appease him with blood/sacrifice

Unthinking sacrifice and rituals to pay for sins

Unthinking Sabbaths, religious ceremonies and festivals

Noisy songs and prayers (to impress him and make ourselves feel better)

…show constant love to him and others (mercy)

…know him …live in humble

fellowship with him …have a humble spirit

and a repentant heart …give him thanks …see that justice is done …stop doing evil and

doing what is right

“Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice. If you listen to the word, but do not put it into practice you are like people who look in a mirror and see themselves as they are. They take a good look at themselves and then go away and at once forget what they look like. But if you look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, and keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice---you will be blessed by God in what you do. Do any of you think you are religious? If you do not control your tongue, your religion is worthless and you deceive yourself. What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world.” (James 1:22-27)

“How was our ancestor Abraham put right with God? It was through his actions, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. Can’t you see? His faith and his actions worked together; his faith was made perfect through his actions. And the scripture came true that said, ‘Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous.’ And so Abraham was called God's friend. You see, then, that it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by our faith alone.” (James 2:21-24)