Judges 17:7 says, And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. We are told of a young Levite from from the tribe of Judah, Matthew Henry says this was on his mother's side of the family. He evidently liked to wander around, which left him in need. We are not told that he followed God's direction in doing this. Veres eight adds, 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. After leaving Bethlehem in Judah, the young Levite eventually came to the house of Micah. Matthew Henry lists two or three reasons why he may have left, but none says it was by God's guidance. Whatever reason we as followers of Christ have for moving around the country today, or even from church to church, especially as preachers, we need to make sure that it is in accordance with God's will. Verse nine continues, 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. After Micah asked him where he came from, the young Levite said from Bethlehemjudah, and said that he was looking for a place to live. Again, nothing is said about either asking for God's guidance in the situation, even though both were by birth part of His chosen people, and one was a part of those set aside to be priests. Spiritually, it doesn't matter if we are born into a Christian family or not, because in order to be a part of God's family, we must be reborn through putting our faith in Jesus Christ. Also, if we are in the ministry, it must never be because we have chosen to be, nor because of who our parents may be, but it must be because God called us into the ministry. Verse ten states, 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. Micah made a proposition to the young Levite. He asked him to become his personal priest, and said he would pay him and provide for his needs if he did so. We should never attempt to buy the services of a preacher today, even if is simply because we believe that what we give to the church should give us a greater authority in the church. Certainly, a preacher should never be influenced in deciding where they will serve because of how much it pays. Verse eleven adds, And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons. The Levite was content to live with Micah, and became like a son to him. Still, neither had sought God's guidance in the situation, and if we a Christians today have not sought God's guidance, it really doesn't matter how content we may be in life nor how close we may become with others, because we must first seek God's will in every situation. Verse twelve declares, And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. By his own authority, and not by the authority of God, Micah consecrated the young Levite. We are not told that God anointed him though. If we are to be consecrated to to ministry today, it must be God that consecrates us, and not just a person or group of people. Then, we are never to be supported by only one person and then serve them exclusively. Since we are a part of the priesthood of believers, we should always look, not to others in the church, but to God to see what He has called us to do. Verse thirteen adds, Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest. Micah believed that God would have to do good to him because he had his own priest. We cannot force God's blessings on us, no matter how many religious symbols we may display around our home. Even wearing a cross does not force God to bless us, but only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ brings God's blessings to us, and they are not material, but spiritual.
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