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"Lately My people have risen up as an enemy"

Text: Micah 2:8

MY PEOPLE

This was an affectionate term that God used to describe the children of Israel. This was His way of acknowledging them (Exodus 3:7).

FORSAKING THE LORD

The children of Israel had forsaken their Covenant God over the years. The Lord sent many prophets to attempt to bring them back to Himself. But the house of Jacob kept resisting the word of the Lord preached to them by the prophets.

“Lately My people have risen up as an enemy-
You pull off the robe with the garment
From those who trust you, as they pass by,
Like men returned from war.”
Micah 2:8

1. “Lately My people have risen up as an enemy”

a) God still affectionately addressed them as “My people”.

b) But they had risen up as if they were enemies.

i) Enemies of God

ii) Enemies of righteousness

iii) Enemies of that which is good

2. The wicked deeds of these “enemies”

a) “You pull off the robe with the garment”

i) This describes a robbery.

ii) The wicked were robbing people.

iii) They took what they liked… including garments!

b) “From those who trust you, as they pass by”

i) This was like Jacob who robbed Esau of his birthright and his blessing as the first-born.

ii) Trust was supposed to exist in the land.

iii) But brother was robbing brother.

iv) The people robbed their friends and neighbours who trusted them.

v) Passers-by were not safe from the wicked deeds of the evil perpetrators.

c) “Like men returned from war”

i) These were often rude and nasty.

ii) They bullied others who were weaker.

iii) They took whatever they wished knowing that the weak had no power to resist.