Albert Barnes Commentary Micah 6:5

"O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him; [remember] from Shittim unto Gilgal, that ye may know the righteous acts of Jehovah." — Micah 6:5 (ASV)

Remember now - The word translated "now" is a very tender one, like our "do now remember" or "please remember," imploring rather than commanding. Dionysius says: "I might command, but I speak tenderly, so that I may lead you to acknowledge the truth." What Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him. God not only raised up Moses, Aaron, and Miriam from among their brothers, but He also turned the curse of the foreign Balaam into a blessing. This was not because of their righteousness (for even then they were rebellious), but contrary to what they deserved, out of His own truth and righteousness. It is not that the curse of Balaam could have hurt them in itself; but, in proportion to his reputation, it would have greatly emboldened their enemies, and its reversal must have struck great panic into them and others.

After human might failed against Sihon and Og, Balak sought superhuman aid. God showed them, through their own diviner, that He was against them. Even after they had seduced Israel through Balaam’s devilish counsel, Midian seems to have been struck by God with panic and did not strike a blow (Numbers 31:49).

From Shittim to Gilgal - These words are separated by the Hebrew accent from what came before. It is then probably said with concise energy, meaning, "Remember also from Shittim to Gilgal"—that is, all the great works of God from Shittim (the last encampment of Israel outside the promised land, where they sinned so greatly with Baal-peor) to Gilgal (the first encampment in the promised land, which they entered by a miracle, where the Ark rested amidst the victories God gave them, where the Covenant was renewed, and the reproach of Egypt was rolled away (Joshua 5:9)). Remember all, from your own deep sin and rebellion to the deep mercy of God.

So that you may know the righteousness - (or, righteous acts) of the Lord—His faithfulness in performing His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God speaks of His promises, not as what they were in themselves (mere mercy), but as what they became through that gracious and free promise: righteousness, because He had bound Himself to fulfill what He had, out of mere grace, promised. So in the New Testament He says, God is not unrighteous that He should forget your works and labor which proceedeth of love (Hebrews 6:10); and, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (1 John 1:9).

Micah speaks, using a rare idiom, of the "righteousnesses" of the Lord, each act of mercy being a separate outflow of His Righteousness. The very names of the places suggest the righteous acts of God and the unrighteous acts of Israel.

“But we too, who desire with unveiled face to behold the glory of the Lord and truly have Abraham as our father, let us, when we have sinned, hear God pleading against us and rebuking us for the multitude of His benefits. For we too once served Pharaoh and the people of Egypt, laboring in works of mud and clay. And He redeemed us—He who gave Himself as a Redemption for all—so that we, the redeemed of the Lord, whom He redeemed out of the hand of the enemy and gathered from the lands, might say, His mercy endureth forever (Psalms 107:1–3).

He also sent before us Moses (the spiritual Law) and Aaron the High Priest (not bearing the symbolic Ephod and Urim, but having on His forehead the seal of holiness which God the Father sealed), and Miriam (the foreshadowing of prophets). Let us also remember what he, who wanted to devour us, plotted against us—the true Balak, Satan. He laid snares for us through Balaam (the destroyer of the people), fearing that we would cover his land and occupy it, thereby withdrawing the earthly-minded from his empire.”