Convert Your Thinking
He has told you, O man, what is good Micah 6:8
Good – What is good? Well, if you subscribe to the Greek view of life, you will come up with a list that looks like this:
- Exemplary effort
- High standards
- Self-discipline
- Fairness toward all
- Thoughtfulness and discretion
- Moderation and capacity
In other words, the classical education that leads to praiseworthy life among the people, coupled with demonstrated skills and notable success. For the Greeks, the final phase was the link of eros with kalon (the love of the Good). Such a life led to the highest experience – a glimpse of eternal beauty. The Greek ideals still dominate our view of education, justice and economics, even if we don’t live up to them. But they are miles away from God’s view.
Our culture is saturated with the idea that God and classic virtues go hand-in-hand. Not so! We need Micah to remind us that God is the only One Who can tell us what is good. And He does, in great detail.
The fundamental difference between the Greek view and the Hebrew view is this: Everything that is good in the Hebrew culture is determined by the will of God expressed in the Law. There is absolutely no room for any motivation that results from self-determination. Self-perfection is excluded from God’s point of view.
The Hebrew word, tov, is radically different than the Greek kalos. It is kalos that stands behind the Greek educational motto “kalos kagathos” – the combination of what is noble and useful with what is holy. This is an inward perspective, looking to the soul of Man to find the eternal. But the Hebrew tov looks first to the character of God Himself to determine what is good. The Hebrew view is simple: Man cannot be trusted to know what is good within himself. He must rely on the explicit command of God. Therefore, what is useful, suitable, noble and holy is all wrapped up in the same concept, tov. And that concept is defined and delineated by what God tells us to do. The good is finally what I do and what I say and what I think according to God’s Word.
Isn’t it interesting that Genesis 2:17 uses the word tov to describe the tree of good and evil? Good is doing what God commands. Evil is not doing what God commands. Simple. At least in principle. It is the execution of what God commands that becomes difficult, especially in a world that encourages you to “think for yourself.” Now you have a chance to re-educate yourself. The Word is there to tell you what is good – and all that is good. Still comes down to trust, doesn’t it?
