Rebellion
Sermon Notes
Micah 2:1-13
Woe to those who devise wickedness
and work evil on their beds!
When the morning dawns, they perform it,
because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and seize them,
and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house,
a man and his inheritance.
Therefore thus says the LORD:
behold, against this family I am devising disaster,
from which you cannot remove your necks, and you shall not walk haughtily,
for it will be a time of disaster.
In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you
and moan bitterly,
and say, “We are utterly ruined;
he changes the portion of my people; how he removes it from me!
To an apostate he allots our fields.”
Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot
in the assembly of the LORD.
“Do not preach”—thus they preach— “one should not preach of such things; disgrace will not overtake us.”
Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Has the LORD grown impatient? Are these his deeds?
Do not my words do good
to him who walks uprightly?
my splendor forever.
10 Arise and go,
for this is no place to rest,
because of uncleanness that destroyswith a grievous destruction.
11 If a man should go about and utter wind and lies,
saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”
he would be the preacher for this people!
12 I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob;
I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together
like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture,
a noisy multitude of men.
13 He who opens the breach goes up before them;
they break through and pass the gate,
going out by it.
Their king passes on before them,the LORD at their head. 1
REBELLION.
Rebellion is always directed at authority figures.
Signs are often placed in places to ensure people behave, or at least to keep them safe. Driving east from Nashville toward Chattanooga, you’ll
But lately my people have risen up as an enemy;
you strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly
with no thought of war.
The women of my people you drive out
from their delightful houses;
from their young children you take away
pass Monteagle Mountain on the interstate. This hill has a number of runaway truck ramps, and the grade is gradual, but noticeable. It also has signs near where they cut the interstate through that state “watch for falling rock.” Why? Because it’s happened – huge rocks have broken off and landed on the road.
You will see signs in neighborhoods that state “Children at play.” They’re there for one reason – to get you to slow down in case a child were to run into the road chasing a ball or riding a skateboard.
Then, there are signs that just beg for rebellion, right? Signs like “Keep off the grass” or “No smoking” or like one I saw on a trash can in a room at UNF “This can is not to be used to prop open doors.” Made me want to prop open a door. I didn’t even need to prop open a door, but that sign drew some rebellious thoughts out of me.
Here in Orange Park a homeowner had a sign made that stating that it is a Florida law that owners of dogs must pick up after their dogs if they happen to leave a gift in a neighbor’s yard. Apparently, this guy was tired of stepping in the gifts from neighbor dogs.
Rebellion against God goes much deeper than these, yet rebellion is rebellion, right?
We live in a culture that rebels in epic proportions.
There are three phases within a culture that historically have led to moral collapse.
British theologian Theo Hobson stated it clearly:
1. What was condemned must now be celebrated.
2. What was celebrated must now be condemned.
3. Those who refuse to join the new celebration must now be
condemned.
Micah was sent by God to his people who had slid down the slope of religiosity without love to the point that their walk with God was not only hindered, but totally absent, save for a few semblances of historical religion.
Not much is different today as many view Christianity as historical oppression at worst and mythological self-care at best. Both are so far from biblical truth that we are now seeing Hobson’s phases of cultural decline lived out not just in the culture, but within some denominations and local churches.
Thus, the warnings of the long-dead prophet ring true today.
Rebellion leads to replacement theology...even within the hearts and minds of those who would not consider themselves rebellious to God.
It leads to good citizenship ribbons with no depth of faith.
It leads to the replacement of biblical love – agape love – a love for God that is centered on the Shema (to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength) and love for others with simple responsibility or duty.
DUTY is the result of a philosophy or theology of OUGHT TO.”
When left to our own devices, the selfishness of the heart allows that which should be motivated by love to be replaced with responsibility.
Why do you do what you do for the Lord? Because you love him so deeply you cannot fathom not living and serving him? Or...because someone – a pastor, a teacher, a parent, a grandparent, a coach, or someone else, has told you that if you love him, you will do certain things. That’s not totally wrong, but over time the love can fade but the duty remain. Suddenly, your motivation for serving the Lord is no longer love, but obligation.
The covenant with God came with a duty, a responsibility. That means that these things that the people of God should do are not wrong. They’re not sinful. In fact, they are right and good.
But duty or responsibility alone will not strengthen or fuel your love and will not lead to deeper loyalty and obedience to him. Eventually...it will wane and weaken. And then...it’s just an expected obligation with no heart.
Here’s what had happened to people in Micah’s day – they were tired. Tired of serving. Tired of church. Tired of religion. Tired of always trying to do right. Tired of the journeys to the city and the temple for sacrifices. Tired of sacrifices. Tired of the work of being faithful.
Why? Because being obedient to God became a pain for them. An overwhelming, rules-based, do stuff, pain.
And through this, their works rooted in selfishness, sinfulness, and spiritual prostitution revealed that they were simply going through the motions and were not loyal nor obedient to God. Not only were they not promise keepers, they were covenant breakers.
And God would judge them accordingly.
CHOICES MATTER
The people of God made choices. They did not simply slide into sin. They could not just blame their parents, their upbringing, their circumstances, their heritage, their background, their lack of opportunities, or anything else. They had chosen to abandon the truth for a lie.
The duty of religion exposed their choices of abandonment. 5
Pastor Bill Curtis of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Darlington, South Carolina states it so well in his commentary on Micah.
These people chose:
- Deceit over truth
- Coveting over contentedness
- Stealing over earning
- Lying over honesty
God would no longer simply seemingly let it pass. His patience is wearing thin.
7 Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Has the LORD grown impatient? Are these his deeds?
Do not my words do good
to him who walks uprightly?
God’s words are gifts of life and hope.
God’s people were ignoring his word, or worse – blatantly rejecting it.
The problem is never with God’s Word.
Is your love for God duty or devotion? Is your walk defined by simple responsibility or loving relationship?
Most of us who are Christians come to him out of fear or desire to not go to hell, but is our continued walk fueled by love? It must be...or we will drift toward legalism and empty religion.
INVITATION – for lost to be found, for saved to repent, for the church to stand firm.
Endnotes
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mic 2:1–13). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
