§ 1 The text
NASB
Micah 6:8, NASBHe has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
“Prudence and strategy (our own 'better plan') can override the plain command to do justice now.”
§ 2 The argument
God 'has told' us what is required: do justice, love kindness, walk humbly. Abolitionists stress the third clause — 'walk humbly with your God' — as the refutation of incrementalist strategy: to prefer one's own clever, cautious plan over God's clear command to do justice is precisely the pride the verse forbids.
§ 3 Context & notes
Read as a three-part command with 'do justice' as the imperative, mercy as its manner, and humility as submission to God's method over human strategy. The speaker returns to it as the hinge between abolition and incrementalism: humility means adopting what God says even when the world calls it foolish.
§ 4 Themes
do justice love mercy walk humbly humility vs strategy God's method
§ 5 Discussion questions
- 'Walk humbly with your God' — is preferring our own strategy over God's clear command an act of humility or pride?
- The verse says God 'has told' us. Is our real problem not knowing what to do, or not wanting to do it?