19. Staying on Higher Ground: Spiritual Anarchy

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Hymns: RHC 254 Break Down the Bread of Life 256 The Bible Stands 258 Lord, Thy Word Abideth

Judges 17

1 And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2 And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son. 3 And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. 4 Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah. 5 And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 7 And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. 8 And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed. 9 And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place. 10 And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in. 11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons. 12 And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. 13Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

Spiritual Anarchy

  • In the Home (v1-6)
  • From the Home (v7-13)

INTRODUCTION

This scene opens with a young Levite leaving his home at Bethlehem in Judah, seeking a better situation for himself. In due course, he comes to Micah’s house (v7-8). The Levites are to be serving in the work of the Tabernacle and in the teaching of the Word of God. Instead, the entire system has broken down so that the Levities and priests were no longer the dispensers of God’s Word and His holy will for the people of God. 

We see the scene of a family making their own concoction of worship, making idols that pleased them and doing that which was right in their own sight.

6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

These were the days when they have drifted so far away spiritual speaking since the days of Moses and Joshua when God’s Word is the indispensable guide to every aspect of life. 

Joshua 1:6-9 (KJV) Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Biblical Concerns when God’s people fail do not know God’s Word.

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

In the wilderness, the tabernacle system of sacrifice and worship was set up but with the dividing of the inheritance, there seemed to be drifting apart in their faith.

The in-route of idolatry in the unequal yoke, marriages outside God’s covenant family and compromise in the faith.

Recall our family day topic in 2019: How to Study the Bible?

This leads us to the questions:

Self-Reflection Qn 1:

  • How much time per day do you spend on personal Bible Study? You may include your quiet time as well. May I ask a more probing question, how much devotion do you spend on personal Bible Study?

Self-Reflection Qn 2:

  • Do you think it is helping your spiritual growth?

Self-Reflection Qn 3:

  • Why study the Bible?
  • Do you think you are living as Israel did during the time of Judges and during the time of the divided Kingdom?

We need to recognize the times that we are living in – the Last days!

2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Self-Reflection Qn: 4

How can we make a difference in these last days of wantonness in the world around us?

How do we live godly lives? 

It begins with knowing the ways of godliness and departing from evil.

Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

How do we do that? It is by studying God’s only revelation to us – the Bible.

  • In the Home (v1-6)

1 And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2 And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son. 3 And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. 4 Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah. 5 And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

The opening scene unfolds in the hill country of Ephraim (v1). In a certain home, there was a man Micah and his mother who set up an idol shrine (v2–5). Eleven hundred pieces of silver are stolen from Micah’s mother. She pronounces a curse on the thief, not knowing it is her son. Micah hears his mother’s curse and tells her that he took the money but will return it to her. On hearing this, his mother (greatly relieved) blesses him in the name of the Lord. 

Micah returns the money as he said he would, whereupon his mother dedicates it to the Lord to be made into an idol for him. She then takes two hundred of the eleven hundred silver pieces and gives them to the silversmith, who uses them to make the idol, and gives the finished product to Micah, who has a shrine in or near his house.

A thief owns up to his wrongdoing. Stolen money is returned. A mother and son are reconciled. A curse is turned into a blessing. A gift is given and received. The plans of both mother and son succeed. But at the same time, everything is absurdly irregular. A woman consecrates money to the Lord and has an idol made with it! [Christopher Ash]

Micah and his mother quarrelling. The son robs the mother. The old woman had hoarded, with long scraping and saving, a great sum of money, 1100 pieces of silver. It is likely she intended, when she died, to leave it to her son: in the meantime, it did her good to look upon it, and to count it over. The young man had a family of children grown up, for he had one of age to be a priest (v5). He knows where to find his mother’s cash, thinks he has more need of it than she has, cannot stay till she dies, and so takes it away privately for his own use. Though it is a fault in parents to withhold from their children that which is met, and lead them into the temptation to wish them in their graves, yet even this will by no means excuse the wickedness of those children that steal from their parents, and think all their own that they can get from them, though by the most indirect methods. 

The mother curses the son, or whoever has taken her money. It should seem she suspected her son; for, when she cursed, she spoke in his cars so loud, and with so much passion and vehemence, as made both his ears tingle. See what mischief the love of money makes, how it destroys the duty and comfort of every relation. It was the love of money that made Micah so undutiful to his mother as to rob her, and made her so unkind and void of natural affection to her son as to curse him if he had it and concealed it. Outward losses drive good people to their prayers, but bad people to their curses. This woman’s silver was her god before it was made thither into a graven or a molten image, else the loss of it would not have put her into such a passion as caused her quite to forget and break through all the laws of decency and piety. It is a very foolish thing for those that are provoked to throw their curses about as a madman that casteth fire-brands, arrows, and death, since they know not but they may light upon those that are most dear to them.

Micah and his mother reconciled. The son was so terrified with his mother’s curses that he restored the money. Though he had so little grace as to take it, he had so much left as not to dare to keep it when his mother had sent a curse after it. He cannot believe his mother’s money will do him any good without his mother’s blessing, nor dares he deny the theft when he is charged with it, nor retain the money when it is demanded by the right owner. It is best not to do evil, but it is next best, when it is done, to undo it again by repentance, confession, and restitution. Let children be afraid of having the prayers of their parents against them; for, though the curse causeless shall not come, yet that which is justly deserved may be justly feared, even though it was passionately and indecently uttered. 2. The mother was so pleased with her son’s repentance that she recalled her curses, and turned them into prayers for her son’s welfare: Blessed be thou of the Lord, my son. When those that have been guilty of a fault appear to be free and ingenuous in owning it they ought to be commended for their repentance, rather than still be condemned and upbraided for their fault. [Matthew Henry]

  • From the Home

7 And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. 8 And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed. 9 And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place. 10 And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in. 11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons. 12 And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. 13 Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

This scene opens with a young Levite leaving his home at Bethlehem in Judah, seeking a better situation for himself. In due course he comes to Micah’s house (v7-8). This is apparently not a prearranged visit, since it is as he journeyed (v8) that he comes there, most likely seeking accommodation for the night. But when Micah finds out that his visitor is a Levite (v. 9), his interest is aroused, and he loses no time in making the young man an offer he can’t refuse: 

10 And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So, the Levite went in.

The Levite can’t believe his good luck and accepts the offer at once (v. 11). Micah ordains him forthwith, and he moves in and takes up his duties (v. 12). It is all very businesslike. Everything seems straightforward and above board. The interests of the parties happily coincide, and they have arrived at an arrangement that suits them both—a win-win-situation. It’s a commonsense arrangement. Things appear to have taken a turn for the better at Micah’s shrine. A closer look, though, shows that everything is just as irregular here as in the preceding scene: it just has an appearance of normality. [Christopher Ash]

This was a religion of convenience, how it suited him, the family dictates, not God’s Word, not the law of God, but what is good for themselves. Is there true religion, sad to observe, that there isn’t.

CONCLUSION

Truly, there is a need to go back to God’s Word and abide by His Word. Amen.