5 Indicators of National Moral Decline

5 Indicators of National Moral Decline June 27, 2017

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5 Indicators of National Moral Decline

26 June 2017 Year A

Micah 7:1-7

National moral decline happens when God is neglected. Micah lists five different kinds of relationships that are affected by a nation’s refusal to follow God.

1. Prophets – Godly influence wanes (Micah 7:1-2)

“How sad for me! For I am like one who— when the summer fruit has been gathered after the gleaning of the grape harvest — finds no grape cluster to eat, no early fig, which I crave. Godly people have vanished from the land; there is no one upright among the people…” (Micah 7:1–2, HCSB)

The first indicator of national moral decline is that Godly influence wanes.

A crop should produce an early harvest and a later harvest. Micah sees that the early harvest is lacking. Micah compares the decline in harvest production to the moral decline of a nation that stops following God.

When people no longer listen to the Word of God, national morality will decline into secularism. This secularist worldview promotes the self and downplays the community.

2. People – Violent relationships increase (Micah 7:2)

“…All of them wait in ambush to shed blood; they hunt each other with a net.” (Micah 7:2, HCSB)

The second indicator of national moral decline is that violent relationships increase. People hunt one another down. They abuse and hurt one another. Crime increases as Godly influence decreases.

3. Politicians – Increase of government corruption (Micah 7:3-4)

“Both hands are good at accomplishing evil: the official and the judge demand a bribe; when the powerful man communicates his evil desire, they plot it together. The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is worse than a hedge of thorns. The day of your watchmen, the day of your punishment, is coming; at this time their panic is here.” (Micah 7:3–4, HCSB)

The third indicator of national moral decline is an increase in government corruption. As Godly influence decreases, and crime increases, so will government corruption. Officials will be paid to look the other way. Laws will be loosened in favor of the rich, corrupt, and powerful.

4. Partners – Friends are untrustworthy (Micah 7:5)

“Do not rely on a friend; don’t trust in a close companion. Seal your mouth from the woman who lies in your arms.” (Micah 7:5, HCSB)

A national decline increases, it will affect the country from the national scene to the local scene.

The fourth indicator of national moral decline is that friends become less trustworthy. Relationships may be romantic, but they never deepen. People stay surface-level. They mistrust one another. The corruption of national morality bleeds locally to the level of the friendship.

5. Progeny – Children oppose their parents (Micah 7:6)

“Surely a son considers his father a fool, a daughter opposes her mother, and a daughter-in-law is against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own household.” (Micah 7:6, HCSB)

The fifth indicator of national moral decline is when children oppose their parents. Sons oppose their fathers. Daughters oppose their mothers. Younger people show less respect for their elders. Internal family fights increase as the moral center of the family as well as the nation falls apart.

The only way to stop this decline and turn this around is for people to “look to the Lord” (Micah 7:7).

“But I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.” (Micah 7:7, HCSB)

Even though a nation may decline, if a person looks to the Lord, God will help them.

Photo by Michael Browning on Unsplash


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