SCRIPTURE: Judges 17
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some idols and installed one of his sons as his priest. In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, who had been living within the clan of Judah, left that town in search of some other place to stay. On his way he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim. [Judges 17:5-8] This chapter gives us a glimpse into the corrupt times of the judges, in those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. With cursed money, Micah builds an idol, a shrine, sets up his own priesthood, then assumes God is with him. He takes this young levite, who was dedicated to serve the Lord, and turns him into a servant of his idol. All of this, thinking that he is being religious and serving God.
‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. [Matthew 23:15] This passage makes me think of the Pharisees, very zealous people, yet not doing God’s will. Outwardly religious, but inwardly corrupt. And they misled God’s people, who were supposed to be serving God like the levite in the story. What the people needed was a good leader, a good king. Jesus came to be that King, and all who do as He sees fit will be blessed.
What kind of disciples are we producing as churches? Are we raising up people who share Jesus’ heart, passion and mission, devoted to living God’s kingdom on earth here and now? Or are we reproducing devotees of our own religious brand, followers of our church and denominational idols? Are the people our churches are producing more like Jesus, or simply outwardly religious but inwardly corrupt? God is not looking for more people in church, He is looking for more people like Jesus.
I see today’s passage as a warning to churches that the status quo is not acceptable. More of the same kinds of churches that exist today will not advance God’s kingdom. How else do we explain the weak impact and declining influence of the church today. People go to church, but continue to live and do as they see fit. We build shrines, reverence our priests, worship our idols, and assume that You are with us.
Something needs to change, and it starts with surrendering to the King, living for the things He lived for, doing as He sees fit!
PRAYER:
Lord, I sense that something is wrong in the church, and in me, and I sense that Micah’s shrine holds a clue.