PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

The story begins in Ephraim where Micah steals 1,100 silver pieces from his mother, confesses, she praises him, then gives him back the silver, consecrates it to God, and together they make an idol. Then the son installs his non-Levite son as priest (Judges 17.1-5). It seemed like the right thing to do.

Understand, this isn’t a small child curiously taking something. This is a grown man, old enough to have a grown son, stealing from his senior citizen mother. She reacts by rewarding his bad behavior. It seemed like the right thing to do. That would be like a son stealing his parents’ car, selling it, confessing and giving his parents the money, wherein they praise his honesty and give it back to him to buy a car, but reminding him to make sure he drives the car to church. Can you say dysfunctional?

After a while, a young Levite from Bethlehem visits looking to “settle wherever he could find a place” (17.7-8); probably looking for opportunities for advancement in leadership. It seemed like the right thing to do. After a brief interview, Micah hires him to be his priest, saying, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become my priest” (17.13). In other words, “I’m closer to being right now than I was before, so bless me God.” Nowhere does the text say this Levite is from the line of priests, but it seemed like the right thing to do.

The story shifts to Dan who is looking for territory to seize. Five Danites discover the false priest and because it seemed right, said, “Please inquire of God so we will know if we will have a successful journey” (18.5). There is no record of this prayer being said, nor an answer from God, although the priest gives an answer: “Go in peace. The LORD is watching over the journey you are going on” (18.6). So this hired, illegitimate, idolatrous priest, gives unsaid advice from God. It seemed like the right thing to say.

The five Danites return to their people, and the tribe starts the journey to conquest. Passing again through Ephraim, they steal Micah’s ephod, household gods and his carved image overlaid with silver. They even persuade the priest to come with them: “Is it better for you to be a priest for the house of one person or for you to be a priest for a tribe and family in Israel?” (18.19). Pleased, the priest moves upward in a financial and prestigious opportunity (18.20). It seemed like the right thing to do.

Micah confronts the Danites, gets threatened, and leaves (18.25-26). That was the right thing to do. The man who robbed gets robbed didn’t think that was the right thing to do.

Prayer Challenge: Twice said in this story, “there was no king in Israel” (17.6; 18.1); and once “everyone did what was right in their own eyes” (17.6). Stay away from situations that lead to dysfunctional families, false worship, lies, greed, and hypocrisy. Pray we will be willing to be led by godly people, and to know what is right in God’s eyes.

Tags: Prayer, Praying through the Bible

This entry was posted by PHall on Monday, August 26th, 2013 at 12:51 pm and is filed under Judges. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.