We have learned that our Lord desires for us to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. These are difficult days. We forget that we are dealing with the devil. The devil comes disguised. Satan comes through deceptive means, but we need to be aware that there is supernatural power involved in the opposition that we face. There is a battle raging around us an inside us. We can have the victory only through our Lord.
In the eighth verse, God characterized these filthy dreamers by saying that they defile the flesh they despise dominion, and they speak evil of dignities. Just ahead, the Bible sys in verse 9, “Yet Michael the archangel, she contending with the devil he disputed about body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”
Many read this verse and think, “This is a proof text for not dealing with the devil.” In reality, it is more than this. In this verse, God is dealing with apostates who speak evil of dignities, who speak against those in authority. The Lord takes for example that even the archangel Michael did not bring trailing accusation against the devil but committed him to the Lord.
From this passage, we know clearly that we need strength and power from the Lord to deal with the devil; there is also a solemn warning in this verse that we should not bring accusations against those in authority. Notice again the verse 8 and 9, “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”
Notice that God uses the definite article here. He says, “Michael the archangel.” There is only one archangel.
In the twelve chapter of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, we find that Michael had the power to deal with the devil. The Bible says in Revelation 12:7, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.” There was a battle between Michael the archangel and Lucifer, and between the angels of Michael and the angels of Lucifer. The Bible says in Revelation 12:8, “And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.” Lucifer and his angels did not prevail against Michael.
You might say it was the archangel’s privilege and responsibility to rebuke the devil, but God says that Michael the archangel did not do this, but committed it to the Lord. This does not mean that we are not to tell people where they have erred, but it does mean that we should show them what God’s Word says.
The point is, there is a proper way to deal with those in authority, The warning is against tearing down those in authority. From this, the Lord leads us right into the sin of Core (Korah) and the criticism of Moses’ authority.
Some people believe that having a tongue and the ability to use it is a license to destroy people. None of us are careful enough concerning those we talk about and what we say. May God convict us to commit these things to Him. We should turn people over to the Lord and stop trying to be God and attempting to execute judgement on people, when even the angel would not do such a thing to the devil.
We notice first, the evil that surrounds us. Looking back at Jude 9, we make note that the Bible says, “Yet Michael the archangel, she contending with the devil he disputed about body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”
We are surrounded by evil. This should prepare us for a life of prayer and faith in God.
The Bible teaches that we are contending with the devil. There is a battle going on. This particular contention in the book of Jude had to do with Moses’ body. The devil must have had some sort of plan. It is purely speculative to think of what he was going to do with the body of Moses.
“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1 John 5:19