Our Proper Penance

What do you do when you've wronged someone?

Stereotypically, men who get themselves into trouble buy their wives flowers or, if they really messed up, a car. A wife may make her husband's favorite meal or buy him that fishing pole he's been eyeing. But what do we do when we really, really mess up?

The book of Micah begins like most of the minor prophets. He promises judgment on Israel and Judah because of their sins, focusing first on idolatry (1:5) then decrying their mistreatment of the poor and weak (2:2). The Lord promises to bring disaster upon them and make them an object of ridicule (2:3-4).

Then he promises to restore the remnant of Israel (2:12). One day Jerusalem will be exalted, and many nations will worship and learn there in a time of peace (4:1-4). A ruler will come from Bethlehem (5:2) who will lead them and defeat their enemies (5:4-6).

Then the Lord pleads his "case":

“My people, what have I done to you?
   How have I burdened you? Answer me.
I brought you up out of Egypt
   and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you,
   also Aaron and Miriam.
My people, remember
   what Balak king of Moab plotted
   and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
   that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.” (6:3-5)

He reminds them what he has done for them, how he has cared for and protected them.

Then the prophet asks, hypothetically, if Israel sees their wickedness and God's goodness and wants to repent, how do they make it right? How do they atone for their sins? What penance must they do?

With what shall I come before the LORD
   and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
   with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
   with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
   the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? (6:6-7)

Should they offer a year-old calf? They've sinned a lot; should they do a more costly penance — thousands of rams and rivers of oil? Maybe they should even sacrifice their firstborn to atone for their crimes.

This is how we tend to think. "I've sinned big. I've got to do something big to make up for it." In mythology we have stories like the labors of Hercules, the twelve impossible tasks he was assigned to do penance for his crime. We've heard tales of medieval priests having people crawl over broken glass or do some other kind of painful task to prove their repentance from their sins.

But what does God really want?

He has shown you, O man, what is good.
   And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
   and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)

What was their "penance"? To follow the Law. To treat their neighbors with kindness. To put away their idols.

Our Heavenly Father is not like some petty pagan godling. He's not a cruel king, a masochistic priest, a dysfunctional father, or a vengeful spouse who needs to see you squirm to forgive you.

His rules are for our good. And when we disobey, all he really wants us for us to change our behavior.

He has our atonement covered. We can never add anything to the work of Christ on the cross. When we sin, especially when we mess up bad, we tend to think we've got to do something to get back into his good graces. That's not our God.

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).


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