Enemies of God

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? 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 my splendor forever. Arise and go, for this is no place to rest, because of uncleanness that destroys with a grievous destruction. 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!
Micah 2:1–11
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Enemies of God
The enemies of God are all around us and even inside us. Our sinful nature resides in our heart. Thus, the attack, led by the devil comes from all sides. Our defense must even be in our heart. God mounts this attack by preaching His holy Word to us. He declares His Word and the Holy Spirit takes that Word and plants it deep in our heart. Our help comes from outside of us, but it saves us from within and without. Woe to the enemies of God. God has devised destruction for those who devise wickedness and work evil. His holy Word, rightly divided, shows the sin. It condemns the sinner, but then sends the rescue and the release. But the sinful heart does not want the Word preached. It does not want sin exposed and the lies known. The devil hates it when the truth is known. Even in the face of hostility and even in the midst of our worst enemies, God sends His Word preached. That Word, Jesus Christ, brings with Him the work of His death and resurrection. Into the ears, the Gospel heals and makes new, and it destroys our enemies, and by contrition and repentance, a new man rises and lives forever.