John Calvin Commentary Micah 6:3

"O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me." — Micah 6:3 (ASV)

Here God, in the first place, offers to give a reason if He was accused of anything. It indeed seems unbecoming of God's character that He should be so ready, as if guilty, to clear Himself. However, this is said by way of concession, for the Prophet could not otherwise express that nothing deserving blame could be found in God. It is a personification by which a character, not His own, is ascribed to God.

Therefore, it ought not to appear inconsistent that the Lord stands forth here, prepared to hear any accusation the people might have, so that He might give an answer: My people! what have I done? By using this kind expression, "my people," He doubles their wickedness.

For God here descends from His own elevation and not only addresses His people in a paternal manner but also stands, as it were, on the opposite side, prepared, if the people had anything to say, to answer it, so that they might mutually discuss the question, as is usually done by friends. Now, the more kindly and indulgently the Lord deals with His people, the more their sin is enhanced, as I have said.

He says first, What have I done to thee?—that is, what do you have to accuse Me of? He adds, In what have I caused trouble to thee? or, in what have I been troublesome to you? Testify, He says, against me. This testifying was to be made to the mountains and hills, as though He said, “I am ready to plead My cause before heaven and earth—in a word, before all My creatures.”

Some render the passage, “Answer me”; and ענה, one, is also to answer, but the context requires the former meaning. For God conceded so much liberty to the Jews that they might bring forward against Him any fault they had to allege. Testify, He says, against me; that is, there are witnesses present; make public now your case by stating particulars, I am ready for the defense. We therefore see the truth of what I have stated before—that a character not His own is ascribed to God, but this is done by way of concession. He afterwards adds—