Yesterday I got too excited while reading about Samson. We should have stopped at chapter 15, but read through 16.
Therefore, we have already discussed escalating sin which involved Delilah.
Today, let’s move on to chapters 17-19.
The King
These chapters focus on the story of Micah, or so it would seem. He is a main character in the first two chapters.
The true focus on these chapters, however, is idolatry.
Starting in 17:6, we read that “Israel had no king, everyone did as they saw fit.”
This line really hit home. Here in America, we have elected officials, and we are diligent to resist giving them too much power. We don’t want a king. This is a good thing. No person should have control over us.
The problem is that few people allow Jesus to be their king. He is our King, (see Mat 17:22-27) whether we submit to Him. All will one day bow before Him, and we will have to give an answer. (Phil 2:10-11).
Like the people of Dan, who did not want to give lordship to anyone, we all like to do our own thing.
We gather up sums of money, as Micah had done, and we make an ephod. Making an idol of wealth.
Then we find someone who appears to support the worship of this idol, and we make them our priest.
This is not a person God has anointed. They have no authority. But we allow them to lead us, even if they are heading in the wrong direction.
When someone else comes along to take them away, we rise to defend them.
Because God does not anoint them, just false idols, they can not save. Therefore, these intruders steal this ephod.
Three questions
At Micah’s house, the men heard the Levite’s voice. So they ask three important questions: “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?” (Jud 18:3, NIV)
I have to ask myself these questions daily.
Who?
Who brought me here? As told in the preface of my book, I was not seeking God. He brought me to the place where I fell to my knees and put my faith in Him. If your answer does not acknowledge God bringing you to where you are at, I would ask: Are you sure you are where you are supposed to be?
I have done almost every job I could imagine doing. I had a solid plan in mind, but they didn’t lead to where I thought they were going. After realizing my misdirection, I pivoted and found a fresh course.
After surrendering control to Jesus, I am exactly where Jesus wants me to be. Even when I do not know why I am there, or how I got there.
What?
When I recognize my location, I have to ask the next question: What am I doing there?
God has a purpose and a plan for all of us. Praying and seeking His guidance is necessary to figure out what we should do in the place He has brought us to.
There are days I feel lost. I look around and see a lot of activity that I don’t understand.
When I submit to His will, and pray for guidance, it clears up and I realize my purpose.
Why?
Then I have to determine the answer to why I am there.
Do I have a special attribute the situation needs me to contribute? What is that skill and how can I apply it?
Or am I there to learn something I don’t know? Many situations seem like I am there to lead, but I then realize I am there to follow. To gain something that will prepare me for something else later.
Henry Blackaby stresses the importance of finding where God is at work and participating in His work.(1)
When you get there, you may realize they lack leadership. If that is one of your qualities, you may think, “oh, they need me to lead!” It is right up your alley.
You then find yourself stuck there, because that wasn’t what they needed. They needed you to develop a leader for them.
Sometimes, the best way a strong leader can lead is to allow someone else to lead but to provide guidance as you follow.
Determining why you are in a situation is important.
Once you understand where you are, what your role and purpose are. You must get to work.
Chapter 19 is all about procrastination. We see this other Levite whose wife leaves him. He goes to her father’s house and tries to get her to return with him. The father keeps delaying him.
Procrastination is a great way to defeat momentum. You may have a great plan. It may be God’s plan. The enemy will give you a long list of “better things” to do if it will prevent you from accomplishing the goal God has set for you.
I consider procrastination to be a demon, and I pray asking God to remove it from me.
When we don’t, we end up in places we have no business in.
