June 30, 2015
Judges 18
And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh. Judges 18:31
LET IT GLOW
If your friends jumped over a cliff, would you do likewise? If they jumped into a pond, would you follow them? How many times did we ask our children that after they made a wrong choice? If America makes the wrong choices of laws, which disobey God's laws, which will we follow? One of Israel's tribes, the Danites, followed their brothers, making a wrong choice. How sad.
I thought the Danites were going to rescue the young Levite from Micah's house of idol worship where he was paid to be his priest. Let's back up. Five men of the tribe of Dan, the weakest tribe only numbering 65,000 men, went to spy out the northern land, so they could conquer more land for their tribe. Actually, they should have conquered the allotted land years earlier, which was their inheritance, their Promised Land. But no, they continued to allow the Amorites and Philistines to remain in it. (Samson failed to achieve his purpose.) Wanting a more secure land, the spies entered into the land of Ephraim, heading north, coming to Micah's house.
Having failed to conquer their territory due to laziness and cowardice (1:34, Joshua 19:40-48), the Danites were still looking for a place to settle. Unlike the two previous spy missions, this mission lacked the Lord's authorization. (D. Jeremiah)
Here is where they discovered and asked the young Levite 3 w questions-who, what, why?
Admitting to being hired as Micah's priest, the spies as him if their journey will be successful. Guys, are you sure you are asking the right person? After all, he is now a priest in idol worship, not Israel's and their God's worship. To me, the priest's encouragement did not mean much-God in peace. Your journey has the LORD's approval. (verse 6)
Do we seek advice and counsel from the right person? Why do we not go to the Savior, for He knows all things?
LET IT GROW
The spies went northward about a hundred miles from home, seeing a new settlement. Thy wandered into a settlement with fertile soil, populated with Phoenician people, an area named Laish.
These people were: careless, quiet, and secure (at peace and ease), and had no treaties with neighbors to protect them. It seemed an ideal place for the battle-weary Danites to conquer. The spies returned home, informing others of their find. As a result, 600 men were sent to take the city as warriors. Along their way, the men who were the 5 previous spies stopped at Micah's gate, took the carved image, ephod, and other gods, inviting the Levite priest to go along with them. Later on down the road, Micah comes and argues with Danites, but returns home since he was outnumbered.
The Danites were successful in conquering the city of Laish. However, they made the mistake of setting up for themselves the idols to worship. Remember, they had no king nor judge to direct them in their spiritual journey. What a sad story.
What can we learn from this?
- When you have a religion that you can make, someone else can take.
- With the Ark of God being far away, they justified their idolatry by their distance from the rest of Israel.
- Disobedience (as the Levitical priest was) distances one from God.
- Church leaders should be motivated to serve God and His people rather than by dishonest gain (1 Tim. 3:8).
- The tribe of Dan turned to idol worship rather than worship of God.
- True worship was available in Shiloh while false worship continued in Dan during this period.
- In those days, every man did what was right in their own eyes. (17:6)
LET IT GO
Choose to obey God and His Word rather than disobey or turn away.
Don't let sin distance myself from my loving God.
Even though others may be doing what they deem right in their own eyes, I shall obey God.
Stand up for Jesus for He is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE. (John 14:6)
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