Judges 17:1-18:31
One of the clear messages I get from Judges is that we're all sinful in nature and we all have the desire to do what is right in our own eyes. And Judges 17 and 18 seems to lay this out in detail.
Right off we see that Micah has stolen from his mother. He fesses up and then his mom dedicates the money to the Lord and has an image carved and an idol cast (contradictory to say the least). Micah sets up a shrine for the idol in his house, makes a sacred ephod and more household idols and then proceeds to install one of his sons as his personal priest. It's right after these details that we're told "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6). (Now there's a lot more in the rest of the passage, but you get the picture.)
What does this passage show us about our desire to worship? What about worshiping the wrong things? How can you use Judges 17 and 18 to help you get, and keep, your focus and your worship exclusively on the Lord? Tami W.
God has created us with the desire to have a relationship with Him. The problem seems to come in when we believe we know best. Self idolatry. If we truly want a relationship with Him, we'll seek His Word. The Bible stands unique in all history. My recent experience in a denominational church located "just outside of weird" has proven that when we are ignorant of Gods Word, character and yes, Law, we will follow the best feelings of our heart. If we won't stand for The One True God, we'll fall for anything.
This speaks volumns on the worship of material wealth. All of these people did what they wanted, and were fat off the land, and of ill gain, and thought nothing of the Lord. Micah put himself right up there. When the Danites came and took his possessions, the Lord did not prevent it. Then they went to their final destination, the people of Laish. They had it good, in abundance, and seems like they forgot the Lord had given them their good fortune. They were too busy rolling with the good times. So once again, the Danites took everything, and the Lord did nothing to prevent it. The message is clear, be thankful what the Lord has given you, and realize it comes from him, for just as he gives it too you, he can easily take it away.
God's word just as he has given it is the only way to have victory in life.
Why are we so shocked when we hear of a pastor, evangelist, or missionary who has given into sin?
When even back in the Old testament time, men of God proved to be weak when it came to the easy way and often the convenient things of this world.
The priest in today's reading surely knew God's command, that the people were not to make any graven images, let alone give them such a high place of honor in their home. Yet this Levite priest went along with what he knew was against the very God he was supposed to represent before the people.
When ever we deviate even one tiny bit from God's word we can and should expect nothing good to come from it even though for the time it may seem all is well. We can not add, subtract, or twist God's word to suit ourselves or the situation at hand regardless of the situation.
If we are to worship God and obtain his blessings and protection, we must worship and honor God as he has commanded us.
After a long walk in God's creation I became distracted by the release of pheasants, missed a turn, insisted of forging ahead instead of turning back and ended up lost. I searched for high places to spot a landmark, followed hunches - and went in circles for 2 hours. Eventually, exhausted, I found a hiker who gave me directions and I retraced my steps for another hour. It made me think of the Bible and God's word - when we follow our own hunches/ideas/idols we get lost, exhausted and bewildered. His Word is true.
Thanks everyone for your insights. How lost we can become if we do not read the Bible. I'm guilty of following my own religion, of not worshiping God as He has commanded us. I am always striving to do better to follow His Word. Thanks be to Christ for His saving grace, His atonement for my sin.
Greetings and GOD bless you my good friends! I have heard Pastors & Preachers say that we humans have a deep desire to worship something. I think worshiping anything besides GOD is wrong and dangerous and I do not know why GOD let them get away with it. In fact I found this passage hard to grasp/understand, but thanks to you who post I get a better understanding. Which by-the-way, I'd like to thank all of you who do post on P4! I have only been a Beliver/Follower of Jesus for about ten years and I learn so much more with your comments. I love the LORD so much and want to do "everything" HE says. Some of the teachings are hard to grasp (which I think means the LORD wants me to spend more time with them) and your comments make things more clear for me and helps my understanding. I can tell from reading your posts that there are many well educated people in GOD Word here, and I thank GOD every day for my new found teachers. So please don't stop, I need you! Thanks again!
I forgot to say:"I love you!" (Te amo!). Adios y via con Dios amigos!
Heard the broadcast on CSN 90.5 in Montrose Colorado. I love hearing the sermons. Woodrow you are a true blessing to many.
The 21st century is the Micah story. Even when I think I am getting close to understanding God He gives me something else to think about. Praise Him for His patience with me! It's such a wonder to me His love & acceptance of such a haywire world & still letting it continue. It's a good thing I'm not God I would have annihilated the world a long time ago....LOL
Thank you for your broadcast & the opportunity to put my 2 cents in. My problem most of all I think is wanting to control my world. Which is the essence of the scripture today. I'm looking for a job & it's hard to be in balance of knowing when I'm doing the right thing or trying to take control of the situation by bugging an employer I'd like to work for. Just this morning I prayed the Lord would take my selfishness and controlling nature away from me. It's so hard to stop & know the Lord IS in control & I'm not. I came from a family that's a git'er done family & it's not easy waiting on the Lord. I think I'm finally learning that if I don't wait on Him my choices are never for the best. Please lift a quick prayer for me that whatever the Lord has for me I will know that without a doubt it's from Him.....thank you & God Bless you.
10-4 Dj will do! Thanks for your reply!
Dj, what a compelling testimony. I love your honesty and your willingness to share your personal experiences relating to today's lesson. You really nailed it on the "wanting to control my world" issue. And your response to God is simply beautiful. It IS hard to stop and know the Lord is in control and we're not...but amazing things begin to happen when we learn to just let go and trust completely in God. Suddenly, you realize that for the first time in your life you are truly free, and it's a freedom like you've never even imagined before. You're so free, that you find complete contentment no matter what the circumstances. And now that you're not busy manipulating the controls, your hands are free to be used of God for His good purposes. Talk about soul food...the inner satisfaction you get from that is beyond compare! God had to break me pretty hard to get me to let go, but it is all worth it. Stay surrendered, brother. I'll be praying for you.
Porfirio, thanks for the questions you posted recently on October 18th's blog, "18 Years?" We just posted a response on that day's entry & wanted to make sure you didn't miss it. We apologize for the delay.
Meredith
P4 Team Member
I am learning so much from the comments posted each day on P4. Praise God. Initially, I always felt impressed to "say something", but now, I find so fulfilling to read other people's comments and testimonies! I read once, in a book, where it said that we can "disagree without being disagreable" - this is so profound. Thanks again for your comments. I am learning a lot from them.
Spiritual apostasy is always followed by moral decline.
My desire is to worship the one, only, true, and loving God. All of the other comments have hit it right on the head. This world is caught up in worshipping too many idols to the point of being lost to materialism, greed, no joy, etc. We, that know or learning God's word of truth, must continue to share & witness to a dark/ cold world about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Worship is obedience and we must choose whom we're going to serve in spirit and in truth, if not, we'll be like the priest, the tribe of Dan, & others in the posted scriptures living ungodly and unrighteous. Solomon wrote that: " there's nothing new under the sun".
This is a powerful message. We as human beings were created to worship God. That is what the word of God says. Therefore it is a desire to worship. However, the mistake is when worship is manipulated by the devil and he seeks out to distract us from the true one to worship.