Micah 6

The mission of Israel was to be a living receptacle for the revelation of God to a fallen world. God built them up from nothing into a mighty nation, but their very existence was by trust in God, sufficient trust to obey Moses’ Law even when it didn’t make sense to them on a human level. By living the Law, they released God’s mighty blessings for miracles incomprehensible. By the time of Micah, they had already compromised on far too many issues, and no longer possessed a glimmer of vision for the wonders of serving Jehovah.
So with Micah standing as witness and prosecutor, and the mountains (as a proxy for Creation itself, with its ancient memories) sitting as jury, the Lord presses His case against Israel. Of course, Israel has no defense, so the Lord proceeds with His arguments. How much does it take to prove His generosity? How many miracles must He offer them before He can justify His demand they worship and serve Him according to the Covenant? Had any other nation experienced so much as the Exodus, the deliverance from Moab’s attempt to curse, the dry crossing of the Jordan to Gilgal, they would have never dreamed of cheating on such a God.
Let’s assume an honest seeker, even from one of those other nations. Such a one would ask how much it costs to make a fit offering to Jehovah. Should he do all the grandstanding done by kings and nobles in Judah? Would it be as the filthy religion of Molech, even then reintroduced in Judah? Hardly. God owns all the resources in the world, but the one thing the Law says we can actually give Him is our commitment to walk in His justice, to be steadfast in loving the rather tame and sensible requirements of obeying God’s commands. You are the one who benefits from all this. Is anyone paying attention to this simple message? God never ceases calling out to His people.
But He won’t wink at your corrupt practices. He’s keeping a very full and detailed account of your unjust gain, and all the ways you cheat your neighbors. Nor can He ignore the reflexive violence of the wealthy ruling class, who can hardly be described as “noble.” Those who ignore His commands to any degree will face His wrath. It won’t matter how much you have, because you won’t enjoy it. Even if you manage to hang onto all your worldly gains by predation, God will send someone to rob you. They won’t leave so much as the herbs in your window boxes. Ever try extracting oil from olives by stomping like grapes? It does no good to the olives nor your feet, and produces no significant oil. How about squishing grapes between your fingers? So is the depth of your commitment to God’s ideals. Instead, you ape the Northern Kingdom in the worst of their idolatries.
The utter destruction of God’s wrath will leave Jerusalem a stinking ruin people will avoid.