Jude: The Dispute (part 1)

Jude 8-11

This is going to be a two part passage. There is simply too much to cover in this one thought in a single devotion. Jude is going to tell us about a dispute. Remember, though he is writing to believers, he is talking about those outside the faith. These are the people compared to Egypt and Sodom and Gomorrah who are going to be judged, but it is not yet time in God's plan.

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Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.  Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”  But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

Jude 8-11

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To get an idea of what Jude means here by "dreamers", consider what Micah the prophet said: "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" (Micah 2:1-2 ESV) These people go to bed thinking about what kind of sin they can commit and then wake up in the morning to fulfill what they thought about the night before. Evil is always on their minds. "How can I get ahead in this world, regardless of who I have to hurt along the way?" or "How can I get even with that person? Maybe even one up them."

They do whatever they want. Their goal is only to do what makes them happy. They love the verse "Judge not that you be not judged" while not understanding it. When confronted with sin, they criticize morality and the person telling them. They speak evil of goodness (dignities). The Greek word translated "dignities" is "Doxa". We know this from the word "doxology". It can mean praise, honor, and glory, but it also means judgment between good and evil. That which makes God worthy of our doxology. He is holy and righteous. That is what we sing of when we praise Him. This is what they condemn.

The last part of this we will consider today is verse 9. Jude assumes that the reader is familiar with this fact, though it is not spoken of in the Bible. Hebrew tradition told of this account. After Moses died, God buried him. No one knew where his body was. Apparently Satan wanted the body of Moses, possibly so that people would worship his tomb as an idol. Michael, the archangel, fought with Satan. In their battle, Jude tells us that Michael did not trash talk. He did not even levy charges against Satan. Instead, he simply said, "The Lord rebuke you." Michael's words were that Satan would have to answer to the judge of all creation for his actions.

Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10 say that every knee of every person that has ever lived will bow at the very name of Jesus. Some will bow to Him because He is their Savior. Others will bow in fear before their Judge. The latter is true for those described by Jude. They may criticize righteousness now, but, unless they repent, they will be judged for their sins. As Christians, we rejoice in the fact that sin will be judged. We rejoice in the fact that we will be victorious through Christ. However, as long as we have breath in our lungs, we need to pray for these people. Many will not be saved, but some will. We continue to live a life that glorifies God. We continue to speak and live righteously so that our lives either convict and draw them to Jesus, or it angers and gives them further reason to criticize.

Father, we see this kind of behavior more and more. Many of us could name names of people who act like this. We pray for their salvation. We also thank You for the assurance we have in You of victory.