Micah

“And what does the Lord require of you?” (6:8).  The prophet Micah spoke God’s words of warning to all Israel (both Samaria and Judah), because of idolatry, greed, and violence (ch 1-2).   The people thought that ritual sacrifice - “thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil” (6:7) – would cover their sin.  But God said that He required a total change in heart, “to walk humbly with your God” (6:8). 

Neither Israel nor any other people could “fix” their sin.  But Micah said there was reason to hope: salvation was coming through a child who would be born in Bethlehem: “And this One will be our peace” (5:5).