Judges 19:1

Judges 19:1 says, And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.  During this time, when there was no king in Israel, a Levite took a woman from Bethlehemjudah as his concubine.  Matthew says she was considered a concubine because the priest couldn't afford to pay a dowry to marry her.  Verse two adds, And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.  We are told told the woman played the whore to the Levi, and returned to her father’s house.  Whether she was actually unfaithful and then returned to her father’s house or if she was just unfaithful by returning to her father’s house isn't totally clear, but either way, she betrayed her loyalty to her husband.  Any time we let anyone come between our spouse and us, we are really betraying them, because we are to forsake all others and hold only to them.  Verse three continues, And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father’s house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.  The Levite went after her, and spoke friendly to her.  He did not come berating her or condemning her, and he brought his servant and a couple of donkeys with him.  The woman then brought the Levite to her father’s house, and her father was glad to see him.  Even if someone has harmed or betrayed us, as followers of Christ we should reach out to them with the love of God under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse four states, And his father in law, the damsel’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.  The Levite stayed with the woman and her father for three days while her father provided for him.  They were now on good terms.  It is always better if we can be on good terms with our in-laws.  Verse five adds, And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel’s father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.  On the fourth day, when the Levite was ready to leave, his father-in-law started to tempt him to stay.  As Christians, if our children are called away from us to serve God elsewhere, we should never attempt to get them to stay.  Verse six continues, And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel’s father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.  His father-in-law then asked the Levite to stay another night and let his heart be merry. Though tempted by something that we might enjoy, we should never let anything keep us from doing what God has called us to do.  Verse seven says, And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.  The Levite got up to leave, but allowed his father-in-law to talk him in to staying another night.  I believe that the Levite truly believed that he should be on his way, but allowed the fact that he was having a good time and the desire to please his father-in-law to keep him from doing what he believed he should do.  Once we know what God wants usxto do, we should not allow anything to keep us from doing it, nor even delay us from doing it.  Verse eight adds, And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel’s father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.  The next day, when the Levite was ready to depart, his father-in-law once again asked him to wait at least until the afternoon to depart.  His father-in-law was still attempting to keep them there.  Verse nine continues, And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel’s father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.  When the Levite got up to leave that afternoon, his father-in-law attempted once again to get him to stay, now saying it would be better to leave early in the morning, after just keeping him from doing that.  Sometimes, the arguments people make against us following God's will may seem to oppose earlier arguments, but we need to pray that we never use any argument to keep those closest to us from being about doing what God has called them to do.  Verse ten concludes, But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.  The Levite would no longer be convinced to stay, but took his wife and two donkeys and left.  It wasn't the best time of the day to do so, but I believe the Levite just felt he had to get underway, before his father-in-law once again attempted to get him to delay his departure. As Christians, we should never do things that make it more difficult for others to do what God has called them to do. 

Judges 18:22

Judges 18:22 says, And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah’s house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.  The men of the house of Micah and the houses near him overtook the army of Dan.  At least his neighbors supported Micah, even if their purpose wasn't that good.  Micah would have been better off just letting the false religious items go, and so are we today if we have been allowing idols and false preachers to guide us.  Verse twenty-three adds, And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?  When they saw the army of Dan, they called out to them, and the army of Dan asked Micah what was wrong with him and why did he came at them with so great a company.  I am not sure how many neighbors went with Micah, but it was enough for the men of Dan to at least take notice.  When we oppose the people of the world today as followers of Christ, I hope it is for the right reasons, and they will take notice if enough of us do so.  Verse twenty-four continues, And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?  Micah said they had stolen his gods which he had made and his priest, and they had to ask why he was upset.  Both groups would have been better off without man made gods or a false priest.  We might be better off today if someone stole some of the things that get between God and us.  Verse twenty-five states, And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.  The leaders of the army of Dan basically told Micah to be quiet before they killed his household and him.  The army of Dan certainly wasn't following God's leadership, but neither was Micah.  Those who follow after the false gods of the world today will often be at war with each other.  Verse twenty-six adds, And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.  When Micah saw that the army of Dan was too strong for them to defeat, he turned back and went home.  It is too bad that he didn't turn back to God at the same time.  Losing idols ot the world is a good thing, but only if it leads us to turning to God.  Verse twenty-seven continues, And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.  The army of Dan continued on their way to Laish with their idols and false priest, and successfully defeated the people there and burned the city.  They likely thought that God had given them the victory, but since they had never consulted Him and had brought idols with them, they were likely successful simply because they were the stronger force.  As Christians, if we are successful in defeating those that oppose us today, we need to make sure it is because we are following God's guidance and not simply because we are physically stronger.  Verse twenty-eight says, And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.  There was no one else to oppose them, because they were a long way off from any opposition.  The army of Dan built another city there and lived in it.  Though this was their part of the Promised Land, they had left God out of their claiming it, and went even farther by bringing false gods with them when they did so.  Heaven is our Promised Land, but we will never get there by any other means than by putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  After we do, we cannot continue to put our faith in the false gods, or idols, of the world.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.  They renamed the city Dan, in name of their father.  They were not giving God the glory.  There are still people today who profess a form of Christianity, but still want everything that they do to bring honor and glory to themselves instead.  Verse thirty continues, And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.  After claiming the city, the people of Dan set up the graven image to worship, and Jonathan and his sons became their priests, but not God's priests.  If we are following the leadership of a particular preacher today, we need to make sure that he is called by God and preaches His word.  Verse thirty-one concludes, And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.  They set up the graven image of Micah to serve.  They continued to serve this graven image for a long time, even though they were a part of God's chosen people.  If we are followers of Christ, we cannot afford to have idols in our life. 

Judges 18:7

Judges 18:7 says, Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.  The spies found the people of Laish to be ill governed and ill prepared to defend themselves.  There was no one to put them to shame for the way they lived.  They lived as though they were as secure as the Zidonians, who Matthew Henry says were surrounded by water.  We cannot afford to live life as though we have all the security in the world because of the power of the government, and we cannot laze around simply doing what pleases us as Christians.  We must put our faith in God and live in obedience to His will.  Of course, these people of Laish were not a part of God's chosen people, and a majority of the people of the world today are not Christians, and we cannot afford to emulate them.  Verse eight adds, And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?  When the spies returned, the people of Zorah and Eshtaol asked them for their report.  Still, other than consulting the paid Levite of Micah, we are not told of anyone consulting God, and this should be our first step in everything we do as followers of Christ.  Verse nine continues, And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.  The spies told them that the land was good and to be not slothful and go up and possess it.  Of course, if this was indeed a part of the Promised Land it would have been good and should have already been possessed.  Verse ten states, When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.  The spies then told them that they would encounter people who felt that they were secure and that it was a large land, but that God had given them the land.  Again, there was no evidence of God having promised this at this time, thoughthis had beenHis promise5hat they had yet to follow through on.  We should never promise victory over evil as long as we are in the world by claiming God has promised it if we have not consulted Him.  Of course, we know we have everlasting victory if we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, but we are not promised a material or physical victory in every situation in the world.  Verse eleven adds, And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.  The people of Zorah and Eshtaol sent six hundred men of war to claim the land.  They felt confident in themselves.  Though God could have brought victory with even fewer people, they had to be seeking his guidance in order to assure this happening. We should never act out of self-confidence as followers of Christ, but should always rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. Verse twelve continues, And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.  Verse thirteen concludes, And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.  The men got to the house of Micah on their way to claim the land. They were back where the paid Levite lived, and they had followed his prophesy that they would be successful.  We need to beware of anyone who is supposedly serving God, but is doing so only for material gain.

Judges 18:12

Judges 18:12 says, And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.  Verse thirteen adds, And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.  After camping once on their way, they came to the house of Micah.  This time, there were the six-hundred soldiers as well as the five spies.  I am not sure how Micah felt about having that many people there, and I am not sure they really had a lot of concern for Micah.  Verse fourteen continues, Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.  The five spies told them that there was an ephod, a teraphim, a molten image and a graven image in the house of Micah, and asked what the others thought they should do about it.  As a part of God's chosen people, they should have destroyed them, but they didn't ask God what to do about it.  If we come across idols in our life today, we don't need to debate about what to do about them, but need to simply get rid of them under God's guidance.  Verse fifteen states, And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.  They then went to the house of the young Levite and saluted him.  They still had not consulted Micah about what they might do.  Verse sixteen adds, And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.  Verse seventeen continues, And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.  While the six bundled men of war stood by the gate with the young Levite, the five spies went in and took the ephod, the teraphim and the graven and the molten images.  These things had not been ordained by God, but actually went against His law, but this army wanted them to signify His presence and blessings.  The things of the world that many people see as sign of God's blessing or presence may often be just idols that we are worshipping.  Verse eighteen says, And these went into Micah’s house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?  After the men took the carved image and the molten image, or idols, and also the ephod, and the teraphim, they asked the priest what he was going to do.  Had he been a real priest, devoted to doing God's will, he would have said that he was first going to pray about it, but we find no evidence of his doing so.  I believe that when we have any choice to make as followers of Christ today that we should first pray about it.  Verse nineteen adds, And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?  They told the priest to keep quiet and come with them, asking if it were not better to be a priest to a whole tribe of Israel than to one house.  Preachers today should never be tempted to move to a new place of service simply because it is larger.  Verse twenty continues, And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.  The young priest was happy, and took the ephod, the teraphim and the graven image and went into the midst of the people.  Still, neither the priest nor the soldiers had asked God about any of this.  We as Christians should never go about doing anything that we say is for God if we haven't gotten His approval for what we are doing, and we can be certain that if what we are doing goes against His laws that He is not leading us to do it.  Verse twenty-one concludes, So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.  They also took some of the children and the cattle with them.  They were not satisfied with just stealing the things associated with God, but took material possessions as well.  Of course, these things associated with God really didn't have anything to do with Him.  If we start chasing after idols, we may never be satisfied, but may always want more and more.

Judges 18:1

Judges 18:1 says, In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.  This was another period of time when Israel had no king, which Matthew Henry says was part of the reason that some of the people of Dan had not claimed their inheritance of land.  He also points out that this land was now under the control of the Philistines.  Now, for whatever reason, this part of the people of Dan decided it was time for them to check out the possibility of claiming their inheritance.  We as followers of Christ should never be content to just live off what the faith of others may have accomplished for God, but we should seek what He wants us to do, and the sooner the better.  Verse two adds, And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.  The people of Dan sent five spies, who were said to be men of valor, to spy out the land of  their inheritance.  When they got to Mount Ephraim, they came to the house of Micah, and lodged there.  They had yet to enter the land that they were supposed to be spying on.  Of course, we aren't told that God was behind this endeavor either, but if God has called us to do something, we do not need to stop short of what He has called us to do.  As we will see, now that they were nearly to their destination, they would suddenly decide to see if God was with them.  Verse three continues, When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here? They heard the young Levite, and recognized him, maybe from his earlier wanderings, and began to question him.  They first asked who brought him there.  If we hear someone professing to be a preacher today, we need to first ask who made them one.  If the answer is anything other than the call of God, we need to beware of them.  Relatives or even a local body of believers thinking that a person should be a preacher is not enough.  They then inquired about the place of worship that He had made there.  Again, as Christians today, we need to make sure that the place that we worship is one that God ordained and one that follows His laws.  Verse four states, And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.  The young Levite told them about his deal with Micah, and his being Micah's hired priest and making the idols.  As Christians, we should never use our relationship with God for our benefit materially.  Verse five adds, And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.  These spies asked to young Levite to ask council of God as to whether or not the way which they went would be prosperous.  Matthew Henry points out that they had already passed by Shiloh and had not sought out the high priest for guidance, but now they sought guidance from this shabby Levite to be their oracle.  In this whole situation, we see no evidence of anyone seeking God's guidance until now,and now they sought that guidance from the wrong source.  Before we even undertake any spiritual quest, we need to first ask God if this is His will.  Verse six continues, And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.  This priest for hire told them what they wanted to hear, and that was to go in peace, because God was with them. Sometimes, we want someone to tell us that what we are doing is going to be successful more than we want to know what God says, and we may seek out someone who will tell us it is more than seeking out a true believer in God to give us guidance, and this is a dangerous thing to do.

Judges 17:7

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.  

Judges 17:1

Judges 17:1 says, And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.  Verse two adds, 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.  We are told of a young man, named Micah, who came to his mother confessing that he had taken the eleven hundred shekels of silver that she had been looking for.  She had cursed whomever had stolen her money, but when her son returned it, she asked he be blessed of the LORD, though it seems that the money was more important to her than her son or the LORD.  We should never allow material things to be more important to us than our family and we certainly should never allow them to become more important than God.  Verse three continues, 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.  The woman said that she had wholly dedicated the silver to the LORD, but then said it was to be used to make a graven image, which was against God's law.  We cannot give something to God while at the same time specifying that it is to be used for something that goes against His law.  Of course, I personally think that what we give to God should come with no strings attached.  Verse four states, 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.  Though the woman said she had given the eleven hundred shekels to the LORD, she only used two hundred to make the graven image.  She did not carry through on her promise, but since she was using the money to make an idol instead of it being used for God's glory and by His leadership, it really didn't matter.  We should always give to God what we promise to give Him, but if we are giving it to be used for ungodly purposes, it doesn't matter if we claim that we are giving everything to Him.  The idol was kept in Micah's house.  Verse five adds, 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.  Micah then made an ephod and a teraphim, which are associated with worshipping God, and consecrated one of his sons to be his priest.  Though Micah was called a young man, he was evidently old enough to have a son old enough to serve as a priest, but Micah did not have this authority to make his son a priest.  Only God can call someone as a priest, or I believe more accurately as a pastor today.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, which comes by His call, we are all a part of the priesthood of believers. Then, we are called to a particular role of service in His kingdom, but our parents nor we ourself can ever just decide what that role will be.  Verse six continues, In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.  In those days Israel was without a king or a judge, and everyone did what they felt was right in their own eyes.  God's people, or at least those called by His name, were not seeking His will, and that is a place we never want to be as Christians.