One of my favorite bits of Scripture comes from the Hebrew prophet Micah. Micah came from a small agricultural town near Jerusalem and spoke prophetically to the political and religious leaders of his day, urging them to listen to God.

These leaders practiced injustice towards the least, mistreatment of women and children, devious business practices, and exploitation of the poor. The rich lived in luxury while the poor struggled and scraped by in order to fund the luxurious lifestyles of those in power. (Sound familiar?)

Micah said:

"He has shown you, O mortal, 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)

In Micah chapter 6, the prophet fleshes out an imaginary dialogue between the people and God. The people are asking what God wants as a payment for their forgetfulness of God's goodness. Can they bring God their crops, their cattle or their land as offerings for their sins? What about their firstborn? How about all the olive oil they have ever collected?

God speaks through Micah like thunder: I don't want your stuff. I own it all anyway. This is what I want from you, this is what is good: to practice justice, to love mercy, to walk humbly with me.

This is what God still wants from us and from our leaders today: Justice, mercy, humility.

To be just means to not to be silent or complacent when the vulnerable are abused, mistreated, or in need. Instead, we are to act on their behalf.

To love mercy means that when we see need, pain, loss, discrimination, fear, or agony in our neighbors we should respond with mercy, just as God has shown us mercy.

To walk humbly is to follow in the humble way of Jesus, the one who thought of others before himself, who cared most tenderly for the weak, who wrapped a towel around his waist and washed his disciples' feet and told them to do the same for others.

For those who claim to follow God, these are our clearest marching orders: Justice, mercy, humility.

When a pastor or preacher or priest or bishop preaches justice, mercy or humility to their congregation, no matter who is in the pews, they are preaching the very heartbeat of God.

When people push against this message, they are pushing against the very heartbeat of God.

God's word will always speak truth to power, especially when that power is neither just, nor merciful, nor humble.