Sermon Tone Analysis

Denouncing the Abuse of Power (3:1-4)

Denouncing the Misuse of Gift (3: 5-8)

Announcing the Rebuke (3: 9-12)

Announcing the hope of Restoration (4:1-7)

Prayer

Please turn with me in your Bibles to Micah chapter 3 today.

We will be looking at all of chapter 3 and the first 7 verses of chapter 4.

As we begin, I do want to thank you, again, for your prayers last week.

Being off island was not the plan for last weekend, but, as many of you know, my cousin passed away unexpectedly and I had been given the honor of preaching his funeral.

While that was a tremendous privilege, I am very glad to get back into the study of Micah this week.

Before we turn our attention over to chapter 3, I have a few things to share, by way of review and introduction for today.

First, we need to know that rejection leads to rebellion.

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Rejection leads to Rebellion

In the opening message to our Study on Micah, we learned that Micah of Moresheth was calling out the people, and specifically the religious leaders of his day, for their rejection of God’s covenant in chapter 1, and subsequently their rejection of God’s commands in chapter 2.

Here in chapter 3, we are seeing that they are still rejecting, but this time they are rejecting God’s counsel.

They knew, better than anyone might I add, what God had promised them, what He had commanded them to do, and how God had counseled them to behave in this world.

In saying that Rejection leads to Rebellion, I am essentially saying that (**CHANGE SLIDE**) All rebellion begins with a rejection of some sort of command.

If you think about it, it’s not really rebellion if there isn’t a command that’s ultimately being disobeyed.

Think back to Genesis 3. In the Garden, if God hadn’t told Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, then it wouldn’t have been rebellion when Eve ate, and gave the fruit to him to likewise eat.

Whether we like to admit it or not, rejecting a command will lead to rebellion.

So, again, I submit to you that rebellion happens when a command is being rejected.

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Commands are rejected because the truth behind the command is not trusted.

Think of it this way:

How often are people swept out to sea during big swells here in Hawai’i?

How many times have you gone to the beach over the years, saw the flags out, enjoyed watching the big waves, returned home only to find out that the Coast Guard is searching for someone who was pulled out because they were either in the water and disappeared, or they were too close to the shore and a rogue wave snatched them up?

The truth of the danger that exists in the power of the waves is rejected, either intentionally or out of ignorance, and that rejection leads one to disregard the truth and as a result rebel.

Which, as an aside, usually ends in disaster for someone.

Second, we need to know that rebellion leads to Rebuke.

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Rebellion leads to Rebuke

Rejection of God’s truth leads us to rebel against Him.

In our first part of our study through Micah together, we determined that the people of Israel, in both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, were in rebellion against God.

That rebellion continues in our passages for today.

We will see that God knows of their rejection and rebellion.

Like we said the last time we were in Micah - God is not going to be mocked.

He always knows exactly what is happening.

The result of their rejection leading them to rebel, is that God will bring a rebuke against His people to cleanse His house.

In our time together, we will see that Micah denounced the leaders abusing their power and misusing their gifts.

We will also see that Micah Announces the Rebuke as God essentially issues the leaders a verdict and sentence.

And, just as we discussed last time, we will see, again, that God does not leave them with only a word of judgement, as Micah announces the promise of restoration.

But first, we see that Micah is Denouncing the Abuse of Power.

Let’s look together at the first 4 verses of Micah 3.

1. Denouncing the Abuse of Power - Micah 3:1-4

The Abuse of Power is Rebellion

The religious leaders of the day were in a position of authority.

There is a reason for their authority: They were responsible for ministering to and caring for the people.

Instead of caring for the people, they rebelled by taking advantage of them.

We all have people in our lives who we have the power to influence.

How are you handling that influence?

Are you helping people to grow, or are you Lording yourself over them and grinding them to dust?

Think long and hard before you dismiss those questions.

The leaders abused their power and instead of building the people up, they cut them down.

Micah uses very graphic language to describe this.

He uses cannibalistic terms, but Micah is not the first to discuss things in this way.

The psalmist says:

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We see similar verbiage in Proverbs:

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Also, Isaiah, who remember was prophesying around the same time as his ministry overlapped Micah’s:

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The Abuse of Power is Rebellion

Israel and Judah’s leaders rebelled by abusing their power through denying justice, and refusing mercy.

By hating what’s good and loving what’s evil, in the context of the passage, we understand that Micah is calling them out for their denial of justice to the people.

Then, by using the graphic terms that are meant to shock us, he says you should have showed mercy, but you’re grinding the people into dust.

The Lord said to them you people are supposed to know Justice and love Mercy - Think back to Micah 6:8.

Remember, what does God require of us, but to seek Justice, love kindness (or mercy) and walk humbly with Him.

Skip ahead to verse 11 really quick:

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They denied Justice.

They refused Mercy.

In verse 11, when they boldly proclaim that God is with them and that nothing bad could happen to them, they show they’re not walking humbly either.

The leaders aren’t doing anything that God had called them to do.

Remember, Rebellion is born out of Rejection - and they had been rejecting the things of God for some time.

Application:

Our actions will always have a consequence.

It may begin with a subtle rejection but if we are not held accountable, it can quickly devolve into full blown rebellion.

There’s a song I would recommend that you listen to called “Slow Fade” by the band Casting Crowns.

The point of the song is that it’s never a leap right into destruction, but rather a slow fading away over time, that eventually you realize that you’re in over your head and not sure how you got there.

Small rejections over time develop into rebellion.

We must be careful.

As you examine your life, have there been small concessions over time?

Has there been a slight or noticeable drift in your walk?

If so, heed the words of scripture and repent.

We’ve been using some “R” words this morning.

If you notice a spirit of rejection and rebellion in your life, make sure to repent and experience a revival and rejuvenation in your walk.

Micah denounced the abuse of power.

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1. Denouncing the Abuse of Power - Micah 3:1-4

Unfortunately, the people of Micah’s day did not repent right away.

In fact, they continued down their path and while they were abusing their power on the one hand, they were misusing the gifts God gave them on the other.

2. Denouncing the Misuse of their gifts - Micah 3:5-8

Here we see that the prophets, who were blessed by God to have His word given through them, were misusing their gift of prophecy and speaking in order to take bribes, and further inflict harm on the people.

God was aware of the sin in their hearts then, and He’s aware of our sin now.

Look with me to verses 5-8 of Micah 3.

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2. Denouncing the Misuse of their gifts - Micah 3:5-8

The problem here is that they were gifted and tasked with the responsibility to teach God’s people to embrace God’s covenant, obey His commands, and heed His counsel.