What the Lord Requires by James C. Howell

I recently received a small booklet entitled “What the Lord Requires” by James C. Howell.  I received it free from the publisher in order to read and post a review.

This was a very short and simple read.  It was theological yet practical in it’s look at who was the Prophet Micah and what is behind his statement to “Do Justice, love Mercy and Walk humbly with your God.”

The Author did a decent job of detailing the time and scope of the original message and then went into the thoughts behind the three things mentioned in the verse.

Here is what the publisher had to say:

Veteran pastor and scholar James C. Howell skillfully unpacks one of the most powerful verses in the Old Testament, Micah 6:8: "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" In a concise yet engaging manner, Howell illuminates the original context in which this verse was written, asking questions such as:

• Who was Micah?
• What was going on when he spoke?
• How did his listeners receive what he said—and how do we?
• Who is this God who requires?
• What might justice, kindness, and humility look like for us today?

Howell draws his readers into the original experience of the prophet's audience, and demonstrates how Micah's message can still guide us in our lives today.
A Leader's Guide is also included in this book, making it a wonderful resource for both group and individual use.
James C. Howell is Senior Pastor of Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is the author of a number of books including The Will of God: Answering the Hard Questions; The Beatitudes for Today; and 40 Treasured Bible Verses: A Devotional, all published by Westminster John Knox Press.

So in summary: If you want a detailed book on Justice, check out a different title.  If you want a brief look at an obscure prophet of the Bible, then you found the right book.