June 9, 2010
"Everyone did what seemed right." (Judges 17:6) Micah steals money from his mom. He returns it when he finds out she is putting a curse on whoever took it. Micah's mom "gives the silver to the LORD" and THEN makes an idol out of the silver for her son to have. Offer to the LORD... and then make an idol. The two don't go together! But, it "seemed" right. Because they first offered it to the LORD they felt it was then "holy" and they were "permitted" to do with it as they pleased. It doesn't work that way!
Micah set up an altar in his home and chose one of his sons to be his priest. God appointed only the Levites to be priests and here Micah was deciding to appoint his son a priest. Later, a Levite walks by and Micah offers him the role of priest—for money. Judges 17:10-12 - "Live with me be my father and my priest. I will give you (money)... Now I know the LORD will be good to me because I have a Levite as my priest." See the problem? I... I... me... me... my. Micah was doing things his way. After all, the silver was given to the LORD before the idol was made, and Levites are supposed to be priests, aren't they? The Levite had left the area where God had put him to find a place of his "own" to live. Obviously he was living outside of God's will. And who does he find? Micah—who is living outside of God's will. Isn't that amazing how that works?
The people of Dan go to find a place of their own. They come across Micah and recognize that he has a Levite living with him as a priest. So, they ask the Levite to ask God if their journey will be successful. He obliges them and tells them what they want to hear, "Go in peace. The LORD is pleased with your journey." The people of Dan find where they want to live, return for the rest of the tribe, and as they pass by Micah's house they take Micah's idols. The Levite asks, "What are you doing?" They ask the Levite/priest to come with them. Judges 18:19-20 - " 'Come with us and be our father and priest. Is it better for you to be a priest for one man's house or for a tribe and family group in Israel?' This made the priest happy." He had no loyalty towards Micah. He was out to best serve #1, himself, which is what took him to Micah's in the first place.
Micah finds out what happened and pursues them. The people of Dan stop and said to Micah, "What's the matter with you?" Micah responds, "You took my gods that I made and my priest. What do I have left? How can you ask me, 'What's the matter?' "
Incredible. People who lie, cheat, and steal, and people who do "what seems right" are shocked when someone has the audacity to use the same tactics on them. They are also the first to accuse others of using underhanded methods even if the other person is innocent.
The core of the problem was "everyone did what seemed right" in their eyes! They did not inquire of God what He wanted them to do. They took God's prior instructions and distorted them to fit what they wanted to do. It does not work that way. You cannot live the double standard. Doing what appears to honor God (here is the silver LORD) on one hand, and then do whatever you want on the other (make an idol).
Next Entry: Judges 19:1 – 21:25
"Everyone did what seemed right." (Judges 17:6) Micah steals money from his mom. He returns it when he finds out she is putting a curse on whoever took it. Micah's mom "gives the silver to the LORD" and THEN makes an idol out of the silver for her son to have. Offer to the LORD... and then make an idol. The two don't go together! But, it "seemed" right. Because they first offered it to the LORD they felt it was then "holy" and they were "permitted" to do with it as they pleased. It doesn't work that way!
Micah set up an altar in his home and chose one of his sons to be his priest. God appointed only the Levites to be priests and here Micah was deciding to appoint his son a priest. Later, a Levite walks by and Micah offers him the role of priest—for money. Judges 17:10-12 - "Live with me be my father and my priest. I will give you (money)... Now I know the LORD will be good to me because I have a Levite as my priest." See the problem? I... I... me... me... my. Micah was doing things his way. After all, the silver was given to the LORD before the idol was made, and Levites are supposed to be priests, aren't they? The Levite had left the area where God had put him to find a place of his "own" to live. Obviously he was living outside of God's will. And who does he find? Micah—who is living outside of God's will. Isn't that amazing how that works?
The people of Dan go to find a place of their own. They come across Micah and recognize that he has a Levite living with him as a priest. So, they ask the Levite to ask God if their journey will be successful. He obliges them and tells them what they want to hear, "Go in peace. The LORD is pleased with your journey." The people of Dan find where they want to live, return for the rest of the tribe, and as they pass by Micah's house they take Micah's idols. The Levite asks, "What are you doing?" They ask the Levite/priest to come with them. Judges 18:19-20 - " 'Come with us and be our father and priest. Is it better for you to be a priest for one man's house or for a tribe and family group in Israel?' This made the priest happy." He had no loyalty towards Micah. He was out to best serve #1, himself, which is what took him to Micah's in the first place.
Micah finds out what happened and pursues them. The people of Dan stop and said to Micah, "What's the matter with you?" Micah responds, "You took my gods that I made and my priest. What do I have left? How can you ask me, 'What's the matter?' "
Incredible. People who lie, cheat, and steal, and people who do "what seems right" are shocked when someone has the audacity to use the same tactics on them. They are also the first to accuse others of using underhanded methods even if the other person is innocent.
The core of the problem was "everyone did what seemed right" in their eyes! They did not inquire of God what He wanted them to do. They took God's prior instructions and distorted them to fit what they wanted to do. It does not work that way. You cannot live the double standard. Doing what appears to honor God (here is the silver LORD) on one hand, and then do whatever you want on the other (make an idol).
Next Entry: Judges 19:1 – 21:25
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