Click to read Judges 18
Synopsis
The Danites had enough land assigned to them. However, they failed to trust God to help them conquer their territory. As a result, the Amorites forced them into the hill country. Instead of fighting for what God had promised them, they went in search of other land where the resistance from the inhabitant was weak. They picked Laish whose people were peaceful and were not in God's judgment list (which was given to Joshua) as they were not the Canaanites nor were they idolaters. The people of Dan had no regard for God's instruction and went ahead to destroy the city and all the people of Laish.
On their way, they came across Micah's dwelling and discovered that there was an ephod, a Levite priest and idols. And they desired to have them for themselves, not as an act of worship but to serve their own purposes.
When Micah was robbed of his priest and idols, he was too weak to fight to recover them for himself. The Danites continued to worship the idols and used the priest to serve their selfish desires instead of worshipping God.
Major Verses
V4-6 - Once again, the priest proclaimed that he was "hired" by Micah to serve him. Though the Danites asked the priest to enquire God about their journey, it was not an act of reverence (like during Joshua's time). They were asking to satisfy their own desires. The priest, knowing that his purpose in life was to serve God in the Tabernacle in Shiloh and in designated cities, instead chose to serve Micah and then the Danites. Worst still, instead of teaching people to worship God, he led them to continue to worship the idols. He also claimed that God had spoken to him (by giving approval to the Danites), when God did not.
What I learn
We must guard guard our hearts against falsehood in our worship of God. We must guard against false teachers who lead us astray. To do so, we must know God's word intimately.
V14-21 - The whole record showed that the people did not have any desire to worship God. Instead, they were interested only in using God for selfish gains, hence their intention of taking the priest, ephod and idols from Micah. On the surface, they seemed to be religious. Underneath that, they were only acting for themselves. Even the priest was more interested to serve men so that his own livelihood was taken care of.
What I learn
When we go the church, cell group or attend church activities, let us be careful not to do so to feel good, to be accepted, to relieve guilt or gain friends or business contacts. Be careful that we are not following God for selfish gains rather than selfless service.
V24-26 - Micah proclaimed that he had nothing left because the Danites took away the gods he made and his priest. The Danites threatened him as he was weak.
What I learn
Like Micah, if we place our hope and focus on idols of our life and not on God, then when these idols are gone, there is nothing left for us. As such, we must not let the things of the world bind us to a position where they become the idols of our life. Instead, let us look to and trust our Abba Father completely.
V27-31 - The Danites took Laish and destroy all that were in it. They continued to use the priest Micah used and worshiped the idols Micah made.
What I learn
The successful conquest of Laish did not mean that their actions were right. We cannot use the results of our action to determine if we had done the right thing. Success does not indicate approval. So don't allow personal success to be a measuring rod of whether or not we are pleasing God. The only way to measure is by referring to God's words.
Summary
Our God demands our undivided worship. Any thing that comes in our way to worship Him is an idol that must be cast away. There may be a tendency in our life to allow "harmless" habits to have their own small corners. Be careful as these can grow to become dominating forces. To expose these habits, we can apply God's truth to shine on and expose them. Once we can see them, we can begin to uproot them.
Up Next ....
A bloody civil war brews and it will almost result in the annihilation of one of the tribes. Read it on 27th Aug.
Synopsis
The Danites had enough land assigned to them. However, they failed to trust God to help them conquer their territory. As a result, the Amorites forced them into the hill country. Instead of fighting for what God had promised them, they went in search of other land where the resistance from the inhabitant was weak. They picked Laish whose people were peaceful and were not in God's judgment list (which was given to Joshua) as they were not the Canaanites nor were they idolaters. The people of Dan had no regard for God's instruction and went ahead to destroy the city and all the people of Laish.
On their way, they came across Micah's dwelling and discovered that there was an ephod, a Levite priest and idols. And they desired to have them for themselves, not as an act of worship but to serve their own purposes.
When Micah was robbed of his priest and idols, he was too weak to fight to recover them for himself. The Danites continued to worship the idols and used the priest to serve their selfish desires instead of worshipping God.
Major Verses
V4-6 - Once again, the priest proclaimed that he was "hired" by Micah to serve him. Though the Danites asked the priest to enquire God about their journey, it was not an act of reverence (like during Joshua's time). They were asking to satisfy their own desires. The priest, knowing that his purpose in life was to serve God in the Tabernacle in Shiloh and in designated cities, instead chose to serve Micah and then the Danites. Worst still, instead of teaching people to worship God, he led them to continue to worship the idols. He also claimed that God had spoken to him (by giving approval to the Danites), when God did not.
What I learn
We must guard guard our hearts against falsehood in our worship of God. We must guard against false teachers who lead us astray. To do so, we must know God's word intimately.
V14-21 - The whole record showed that the people did not have any desire to worship God. Instead, they were interested only in using God for selfish gains, hence their intention of taking the priest, ephod and idols from Micah. On the surface, they seemed to be religious. Underneath that, they were only acting for themselves. Even the priest was more interested to serve men so that his own livelihood was taken care of.
What I learn
When we go the church, cell group or attend church activities, let us be careful not to do so to feel good, to be accepted, to relieve guilt or gain friends or business contacts. Be careful that we are not following God for selfish gains rather than selfless service.
V24-26 - Micah proclaimed that he had nothing left because the Danites took away the gods he made and his priest. The Danites threatened him as he was weak.
What I learn
Like Micah, if we place our hope and focus on idols of our life and not on God, then when these idols are gone, there is nothing left for us. As such, we must not let the things of the world bind us to a position where they become the idols of our life. Instead, let us look to and trust our Abba Father completely.
V27-31 - The Danites took Laish and destroy all that were in it. They continued to use the priest Micah used and worshiped the idols Micah made.
What I learn
The successful conquest of Laish did not mean that their actions were right. We cannot use the results of our action to determine if we had done the right thing. Success does not indicate approval. So don't allow personal success to be a measuring rod of whether or not we are pleasing God. The only way to measure is by referring to God's words.
Summary
Our God demands our undivided worship. Any thing that comes in our way to worship Him is an idol that must be cast away. There may be a tendency in our life to allow "harmless" habits to have their own small corners. Be careful as these can grow to become dominating forces. To expose these habits, we can apply God's truth to shine on and expose them. Once we can see them, we can begin to uproot them.
Up Next ....
A bloody civil war brews and it will almost result in the annihilation of one of the tribes. Read it on 27th Aug.
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