SCRIPTURE: JUDGES 17
MICAH’S IDOL (vs. 1-13)
Micah was a man from the hill country of Ephraim. He returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver taken from him. Then his mother took 200 shekels of silver and gave it to a silversmith to make a carved image and a cast idol. And they were put in Micah’s house. Then she installed one of her sons as priest.
A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah passed by Micah’s house looking a place to stay. Micah saw him and invited him to live with him and be the priest. he will be given ten shekels of silver a year with free clothes and food. So the Levite agreed and he became Micah’s priest.
THOUGHT:
THE FAMILY THAT DOES WHAT IS RIGHT IN THEIR OWN EYES:
- The family was devoted to idolatry – the mother spoke curses and blessings. She made a carved image and a cast idol and installed her son as priest.
- The son invited a Levite to stay in his house and became his father and priest.
- The Levite was a hireling by accepting the offer.
Micah and his mother seemed to be good with the desire to worship God. But they disobeyed God by following their own desires. They replace the true worship of God with a home made version of worship. We must be careful not to do what is right in our own yes. We should avoid conforming to society’s low standard. Instead, we should adhere to God’s standard seriously. By drawing closer to God and His Word, we will be able to know His will and the right way of living.
Since many people no longer worshiped God, the priests and the Levites were no longer supported with their tithes. The young Levite left Bethlehem and accepted money, idols and position inconsistent with God’s law. This priest illustrated the religious downfall of priests and Levites.