The International Bible Lesson (Uniform Sunday School Lessons Series [ISSL]) for Sunday, July 19, 2015, is from Micah 6:1-8. Please Note: Some churches will only study Micah 6:3-8. This posting and podcast includes both the International Bible Lesson Commentary and the International Bible Lesson. The International Bible Lesson Commentary is now available in five different Bible translations on the International Bible Lessons Commentary (http://www.ouosu.com/IBLC/) website: these versions are the English Standard Version (ESV), King James Version (KJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), New International Version (NIV), and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).  Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further follow the verse-by-verse International Bible Lesson Commentary. The Study Hints for Discussion and Thinking Further discusses each of the Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further to help with class preparation and in conducting class discussion: these hints are available on the  International Bible Lessons Commentary (http://www.ouosu.com/IBLC/) website along with the International Bible Lesson that you may want to read to your class as part of your Bible study using the easy printable lesson. To help your class review the lesson, links to an easy printable Word Search Puzzle, a Crossword Puzzle, and a True and False Test are also available below. To listen to this commentary a podcast is available by subscribing (http://ouosu.com/biblelessonforum/?page_id=6113) and by clicking on the audio links here on the International Bible Lesson Forum.
International Bible Lesson Commentary
Micah 6:1-8
(Micah 6:1) Listen to what the LORD says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say.

Micah wrote of a vision where the LORD and His people appeared together in court. The LORD, the Creator of all, called the court into session before the mountains and the hills, and the LORD called upon the mountains and the hills to hear the testimony of His people, Israel, as well as His own testimony about the relationship between them. The mountains and the hills were used as a metaphor and represented a law court or a jury, for they had “seen” the behavior of God and His people. They could affirm that everything God said was true and God was in the right. From reading the Bible and studying history, we would also judge God was in the right in the controversy between God and Israel.

(Micah 6:2) “Hear, you mountains, the LORD’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel.

God called the highest hills as well as the depths of the earth to consider what they had witnessed and what they would hear from God and His people. The LORD would not ignore the rebellion and transgressions of His people; after patiently calling them to repent through the preaching of His prophets, God would now contend with them and show that His coming punishment of His people was necessary and just. The LORD would bring charges against His people. As the Supreme Judge and King over all, He would show all creation and His people that He had done and would only do what is right, just, and merciful – for God is love.

(Micah 6:3) “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me.

The LORD asked His people to tell Him and “the court” (the symbolic mountains and the hills with ears to hear and eyes that had seen all that God had done) what He had done that would lead Israel to turn from Him and the good laws that He had given them to bless them. God wanted them to say how His requirements of them had so oppressed or failed them that they felt the need to turn to the idols of their neighbors and to practicing sins that these idols and their neighbors inspired them to commit.

(Micah 6:4) I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead yo