“Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with His people, and He will plead with Israel” (Micah 6:2).

There are four references in the prophetic books of the Old Testament to the controversies of the Lord. Three of these speak of controversy with His own people, the other of controversy with the ungodly nations of the world.

The Hebrew word means a serious conflict that must be completed. God’s opponent in such a case must eventually either yield or be destroyed, for “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

The Lord first pleads with His adversary, as indicated in our text, speaking of His love and desire for reconciliation. “O my people, what have I done unto thee?” He cries (Micah 6:3). But if His pleadings are ignored, punishment is sure. “The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways” (Hosea 12:2). When God’s people turn away from Him, they fall into grievous sin and invite His certain wrath. “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. . . . Therefore shall the land mourn” (Hosea 4:1,3).

Now, if God has a controversy with His own people, what of other nations? God will seek reconciliation with His own backslidden people, but the God-despising nations of the world face utter destruction. “A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, He will plead with all flesh; He will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD. . . . And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other” (Jeremiah 25:31,33). HMM