"Human being, you have already been told what is tov (good),
what Adonai demands of you -
no more than to act justly, love grace and walk in purity with your G-d."
-Micah 6:8
As I read a commentary on the portion, I was challenged to study the verse a little deeper and by replacing the english words "justly", "grace" and "purity" with the original hebrew: "Mishpat", "Chesad" and "Halak Tsana" I found:
"Human being, you have already been told what is tov [good], what Adonai demands of you - no more than to act justly [Mishpat: in conformity to instruction, according to truth and facts], love grace/covenant loyalty [Chesad: be obedient out of kindness and love to the Father for the covenant of Torah] and walk in purity [Halak Tsana: live your life in modesty and humility] with your G-d."
We are told to "do justly" - how do we know what justice is? Instruction...Torah.
We are told to "love grace" - what is grace? G-d's covenant faithfulness. Torah.
We are told to "walk humbly" - what walk? Our walk of obedience. And what are we to be obedient to? Our blueprint...Torah.
So in other words? Let your halacha (walk) be in conformity to the instruction of covenant faithfulness (Torah), walk in modesty and humility and be obedient to it because of your love for our Heavenly Father, the other part, author and giver of the Torah covenant.
Fast forward a few Parsha's to Eikev // you follow. Moshe pleaded with the Father that He might see the promised Land, but HaShem said to Moshe: "...look with your eyes but you will not go across this Yarden. However, commission Y'hoshua, encourage him and strengthen him; for he will lead this people across and enable them to inherit the land that you will see." (Deuteronomy 3:27&28)
It is in this setting that Moshe humbly prepares and teaches the people before they enter the land...
"So now, Isra'el, all that Adonai your G-d asks from you is to fear Adonai your G-d, follow all his ways, love him and serve Adonai your G-d with all your heart and all your being." Deuteronomy 10:12
Sound familiar? You've already been told what is tov and what the L-rd requires....
"You are to love Adonai your G-d and always obey his commission, regulations, rulings and mitzvot." Deuteronomy 11:1
He's asking for obedience.
The covenant of Torah is a tree of Life. It is guidance, protection and blessing to those that take hold of it. This world is getting more and more bold and hostile in sin; news is flooded with reports of abortion, homosexuality, murdered and disappearing Dr.'s. Just like Sodom and Gomorrah, sin is rampant and let us not be so naive as to think that this will go unpunished. G-d abhors sin. He loves Life. He blesses obedience. Indeed, history repeats itself and "there is nothing new under the sun".
In this world evil surrounds us. But far greater than that, G-d's creation and life surrounds us too. Our Heavenly Father's Word is constant. His covenant is constant. He is constant. Our faithful covenant keeping G-d hasn't turned His eyes from us nor will He for a moment. He has plans for us that we may prosper, He fills creation with beauty and offers Life and blessing (note that "blessing" isn't always earthly material but rather divine riches as well...of Life and wisdom). He rules with justice and peace. He reigns with truth and love. He shows us the way to live and promises protection, strength, care...He gives us a covenant. And what is our part? To do justly, love grace and walk humbly.
Obedience.
"Human being, you have already been told what is tov (good), what Adonai demands of you - no more than to act justly, love grace and walk in purity with your G-d." -Micah 6:8
"See, I am setting before you a blessing and a curse - the blessing, if you listen to the mitzvot of Adonai your G-d that I am giving you today; and the curse, if you don't listen to the mitzvot of Adonai your G-d , but turn aside from the way I am ordering you today and follow other gods that you have not known." Deuteronomy 11:26-28
Rav Nahman bar Isaac demurred, saying that this might be taken as: Seek Me by observing the whole Torah and live. “The righteous shall live by his faith [steadfastness].” Habbakuk 2:4.
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