Our plead:
With what shall I come before God Almighty? … Shall I present Him with thousands of sacrifices? … Shall I offer Him my first born for my transgressions, the fruit of my belly for the sin of my soul? (Italics are mine).
God’s answer:
He has told you humanity what is good., and what He is seeking from you:
Only that you practice justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.
It is wisdom to fear His Name – pay attention to His discipline and to the One who appointed it.
The situation we are in:
… Can I be pure with wicked balances? … For the rich of city are full of violence and its inhabitants speak lies …
The pious have perished from the land and there is none upright among mankind. All of them lie in wait for blood. A man hunts his brother with net. Both hands are diligent at doing evil. The official and the judge ask for a bribe. The distinguish man utters a desire for his soul. … Then the confusion will occur. Do not trust in a friend. Do not trust in a close companion … For the son treats father with contempt; daughter rises up against mother …
Our right attitude:
But I – I will watch for God. I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I have fallen – I will arise. Though I sit in darkness, The LORD my Good is my light. I will bear His indignation because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my cause, and executes judgment for me.
God’s promise after repentance:
He will bring me out to the light, and I will behold His righteousness. Then the enemy will see it, and shame will cover her – she who said to me: “Where is The LORD, your God?” My eyes will gaze at her – now she will be trampled like mud in streets. … Nations will see and be put to shame despite all their might …
God will not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us. He will subdue our iniquities, and will cast our sins into the depths of the sea and will extend truth and mercy to us (original: to Jacob and Abraham).
The above is from the Book of the prophet Micah, chapter 6 and 7. He lived in a rural area southeast of Jerusalem in 750BC- 650- BC in a time of paganism and idolatry, like w do. He spoke vehemently about the need to return to God and worship only Him.
And God maintained His promised: He throws your sins into the sea if you sincerely accept Jesus Christ His Son as your Savior and walk with Him. And if you do so, when you sin in good faith and repent and ask for forgiveness, He will remember your sin no more.
For The LORD is our Judge, our Lawgiver, and our King. He will care for us and save us (Isaiah 33:22). In Jesus’ Name, Amen.