Judges: Faithful God — Broken People: Creating God in Your Own Image

In some ways, the end of Samson is the end of the Judges story. He is the last judge, and his death appears to be the last chronological event in the book. But there are four more chapters at the end of Judges! These last chapters of Judges are a departure from the earlier narrative structure. The earlier passages give us a bird’s-eye view of things, only saying that the people “did evil in the eyes of the LORD.” These next chapters give us a ground-level, detailed view of what life was like in Israel during those times, and consists of two episodes: Micah and the Danites (chpt. 17-18), and Israel’s war against the Tribe of Benjamin (chpt. 19-21). Chapters 1-16 showed us how God rescued Israel, but in these last four chapters we are given two case studies of the kind of spiritual condition he rescued them from. It’s not pretty. They show us just how far men can sink into depravity when left to their own resources. This view of humanity without God is so bleak that these passages are almost never preached upon or even studied.

Our focus for this evening is on the sad story of Creating God in Our Own Image. This has been the great temptation since the Garden of Eden. God, Creator of the Universe, has revealed Himself in the pages of Scriptures, yet, for some reason, men give only lip-service to Him, and choose to re-fashion God into a deity of their liking. This is why, centuries later, Jesus would tell a woman he meets at Jacob’s Well, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (, NIV84). The kind of worshipers God seeks are those who will worship the Father as He has revealed himself, and not for as we would like Him to be.

First Micah, then Jonathan, son of Gershom, then the Danites all worship a God of their own ultimate creation. The outline of the text is pretty obvious ...

The Failure of a Family (17:1-6)

• The Perversion of the Priesthood (17:7-13)

The Perversion of the Priesthood (17:7-13)

• The Corruption of the Clan of Dan (18:1-31)

The Corruption of the Clan of Dan (18:1-31)

I. THE FAILURE OF A FAMILY

“Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim 2 said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have that silver with me; I took it.” Then his mother said, “The LORD bless you, my son!” 3 When he returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, “I solemnly consecrate my silver to the LORD for my son to make a carved image and a cast idol. I will give it back to you.” 4 So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into the image and the idol. And they were put in Micah’s house. 5 Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some idols and installed one of his sons as his priest. 6 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” (, NIV84)

1. much of chapters 17 and 18 revolves around Micah, a man “from the hill country of Ephraim” (17:1)

Ephraim” (17:1)

a. the hill country of Ephraim is the mountainous area of central Israel

1) in the time of the Judges the hills were densely wooded, and were intersected by well-watered, fertile valleys

well-watered, fertile valleys

2) the area would have been similar to our own Missouri Ozarks

2. chapter 17 begins with the theft of 1,100 shekels of silver by Micah from his mother

a. that’s almost thirty pounds of silver and was the proverbial “small fortune”

1) though it’s hard to know for sure, this amount would have equaled virtually a life’s savings

life’s savings

b. it implies that this family was rather well off

c. it also tells us something about Micah’s character — every culture in the world would consider stealing your own mother’s life-savings pretty low-down

would consider stealing your own mother’s life-savings pretty low-down

3. we enter the story in mid-confession of the thief

a. having heard his mother call down a curse on the robber, Micah confessed the theft (v 2) and returned the money (v 3)

(v 2) and returned the money (v 3)

b. Micah is neither a very good, nor a very bad, person

1) if he were thoroughly evil, he would not have given the money back

2) but, of course, if he were a good person, he wouldn’t have taken it!

a) and what seems to have prompted him to return the money is that he “heard [his mother] utter a curse” rather than feeling any pangs of conscience

[his mother] utter a curse” rather than feeling any pangs of conscience

c. we have pictured for us a person of very weak character, with no principles

1) he is hollow — a man without very much substance within

4. his mother’s response is rather astonishing

a. her son’s confession to the theft led his mother to switch from a curse to a blessing, which she followed up with a pious intention: “I solemnly consecrate my silver to the LORD for my son to make a carved image and a cast idol.” (v. 3).

which she followed up with a pious intention: “I solemnly consecrate my silver to the LORD for my son to make a carved image and a cast idol.” (v. 3).

A. A HOME FULL OF SPIRITUAL CONFUSION

1. Micah’s mother is very orthodox in invoking the LORD’s name to consecrate her wealth to the Lord (v 2) (would that all true believers do so!)

wealth to the Lord (v 2) (would that all true believers do so!)

a. this family does not worship Dagon, the Baals, the Ashtoreths and so on

b. they are worshiping the LORD in name

2. Micah's mother is very idolatrous in instructing her son to make an image overlaid with silver (v. 3)

silver (v. 3)

a. this is startling; it shows a blatant disregard for the second commandment (Exodus 20:4–5), where God says no one should make an image of him

20:4–5), where God says no one should make an image of him

b. He must not be worshiped in a form created and shaped by man

3. Micah goes to the local silversmith and has him fashion an idol out of the silver, and then creates a shrine in his home for the idol

then creates a shrine in his home for the idol

ILLUS. Archaeologists have found these kinds of house-hold shrines in several digs throughout the nation of Israel. The shrines are generally made out of clay. There are box-shaped with a facade that looks like the entrance to a temple. The idols are generally carved from wood and then overlaid with precious metal, and are in the form of a calf, (does that sound all too familiar?) The shrine, with its idol, would be prominently displayed somewhere in one’s home.

throughout the nation of Israel. The shrines are generally made out of clay. There are box-shaped with a facade that looks like the entrance to a temple. The idols are generally carved from wood and then overlaid with precious metal, and are in the form of a calf, (does that sound all too familiar?) The shrine, with its idol, would be prominently displayed somewhere in one’s home.

a. the problem is that Israel has a place to worship — it’s at a place called Shiloh which is in the hill county of Ephraim!

which is in the hill county of Ephraim!

1) Shiloh was the major Israelite worship center before the first Temple was built in Jerusalem

Jerusalem

“The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. ... ,” (, NIV)

b. Micah compounds the disobedience by taking the family’s disobedience several steps further

steps further

“Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household gods and installed one of his sons as his priest.” (, NIV)

and installed one of his sons as his priest.” (, NIV)

1) 1st he creates an ephod — and item only to be worn by the High Priest

2) 2nd, he adds other idols to the shrine beside the one supposedly representing Yahweh

Yahweh

3) he installed one of his own sons as the family’s private priest even though only Levites were to serve as priests

Levites were to serve as priests

4. the author of Judges ends this part of the story by reminding us that “In those days ... everyone did as they saw fit”

everyone did as they saw fit”

ILLUS. Warren Wiersbe, in his commentary on this passage writes, “Have you ever seen a family more spiritually and morally confused than this one? They managed to break almost all the Ten Commandments, and yet not feel the least bit guilty before the Lord! In fact, they thought they were serving the Lord by the bizarre things they did!”

a family more spiritually and morally confused than this one? They managed to break almost all the Ten Commandments, and yet not feel the least bit guilty before the Lord! In fact, they thought they were serving the Lord by the bizarre things they did!”

II. THE PERVERSION OF THE PRIESTHOOD

“A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, who had been living within the clan of Judah, 8 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. 9 Micah asked him, “Where are you from?” “I’m a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,” he said, “and I’m looking for a place to stay.” 10 Then Micah said to him, “Live with me and be my father and priest, and I’ll give you ten shekels of silver a year, your clothes and your food.” 11 So the Levite agreed to live with him, and the young man became like one of his sons to him. 12 Then Micah installed the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house. 13 And Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.”” (, NIV)

1. this section begins by introducing a young Levite (we are not told his name or background at this point), and he is from Bethlehem in Judah

background at this point), and he is from Bethlehem in Judah

ILLUS. Modern readers need to understand what ancient Israelites knew. Levites were given no territory of their own, but were assigned to live in cities among the other tribes. However, Bethlehem was not one of the Judean cities assigned to Levites. This particular young man was on the prowl, looking for a way to better his life.

given no territory of their own, but were assigned to live in cities among the other tribes. However, Bethlehem was not one of the Judean cities assigned to Levites. This particular young man was on the prowl, looking for a way to better his life.

a. we’re told that he left that town in search of some other place to stay

2. this Levite from Bethlehem heads north, somehow finds himself on Micah’s doorstep looking for some hospitality for the night

looking for some hospitality for the night

a. a conversation ensues and Micah discovers that young man is a Levite and immediately invites him to be the family’s personal priest

immediately invites him to be the family’s personal priest

1) Micah offers him salary and benefits ... he will give him room and board, clothing, a 10 shekel salary per-annum

a 10 shekel salary per-annum

2) the Levite becomes a mercenary minister

3) if Jonathan is typical of God’s servants in that period of history, then it’s no wonder the nation of Israel was confused and corrupt

wonder the nation of Israel was confused and corrupt

b. of course hiring Jonathan means that Micah has to fire his son (who was too young and not qualified) with another man (who was too young and not qualified), but of the tribe of Levi

and not qualified) with another man (who was too young and not qualified), but of the tribe of Levi

c. why is this Levite unqualified?

1) while all Levites were dedicated to priestly service, only the direct descendants of Levi could be priests, and Jonathan is not

Levi could be priests, and Jonathan is not

2) it’s more than likely that he was under the prescribed age for priestly service which began at 30 years of age

which began at 30 years of age

3. in some really weird leap of logic, Micah assumes this new hire will legitimize his personal sanctuary, and says “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.”

personal sanctuary, and says “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.”

a. the purpose of his religious efforts is to get access to God so that he can get God to do what he wants

do what he wants

b. but there’s the rub ... the goal of true faith is to give God access to your heart so that He can get you to do what He wants

that He can get you to do what He wants

4. fundamentally, the faith of God’s people is a revealed faith

a. God reveals himself in his word — we do not discover him through our reason or experience

experience

b. in short, God says: Worship me as I am, not as you want me to be, and

c. worship me as my heart directs, not as your heart suggests

5. Micah’s family shapes a God who is convenient to worship

a. they follow the laws they like and ignore the laws they don’t

III. THE CORRUPTION OF THE CLAN OF DAN

1. this chapter continues the story of Micah and the Levite, but also introduces some new characters

characters

2. chapter 18 introduces us to the Danites — members of the Tribe of Dan

“ ... And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking a place of their own where they might settle, because they had not yet come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.” (, NIV)

a. what’s going on here?

b. the tribe of Dan was seeking a place of their own (18:1)

1) why are the Danites still homeless?

a) because, while all the other tribes had at least partly fulfilled God’s command to fight, and drive the Canaanites out of their God-given inheritance, Dan had failed in their military obligation, and were “confined to the hill country”

to fight, and drive the Canaanites out of their God-given inheritance, Dan had failed in their military obligation, and were “confined to the hill country”

b) all the way back at the beginning of the book we read, “The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain.” (, NIV)

the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain.” (, NIV)

3. as a tribe, the men of Dan are exactly like Micah

a. they suffer from the curse of restlessness and alienation because they have not obeyed God

obeyed God

b. they have an idolatrous view of God, and ignore his word — he has already told them where to live, but they are looking for a more convenient place

them where to live, but they are looking for a more convenient place

c. like Moses before them, the send scouts into the hills of Epharim to see is any land is available

is available

“So the Danites sent five of their leading men from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out the land and explore it. These men represented all the Danites. They told them, “Go, explore the land.” So they entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night. 3 When they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they turned in there and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?”” (, NIV)

1) as the Danites speak with our Levite, it’s obvious that they know him, and ask why is he there and what is he doing

why is he there and what is he doing

2) the reason why this young Levite would be known by prominent Danites will be revealed at the end of the chapter

revealed at the end of the chapter

4. to make the proverbial long-story-short these Danites come back later and make the Levite and offer he can’t refuse

Levite and offer he can’t refuse

“They answered him, “Be quiet! Don’t say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn’t it better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man’s household?” 20 The priest was very pleased. He took the ephod, the household gods and the idol and went along with the people.” (, NIV)

a. when he was offered a place involving more money, more people, and more prestige, he took it immediately and gave thanks for it (v. 19)

prestige, he took it immediately and gave thanks for it (v. 19)

b. and then he assisted his new employers in stealing his former employer’s gods

1) this reveals something of our Levite’s character

2) his disloyalty is alarming ... he abandons a man who had treated him like a son, and left without a backward glance

and left without a backward glance

5. Micah vigorously protests to the Danites “He replied, “You took the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, ‘What’s the matter with you?’ ”” (, NIV)

my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, ‘What’s the matter with you?’ ”” (, NIV)

a. but Micah doesn’t protest long

“The Danites answered, “Don’t argue with us, or some of the men may get angry and attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.” 26 So the Danites went their way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him, turned around and went back home.” (, NIV)

6. the Danites, along with their new priest, head toward Laish, attacked and took the town

town

a. they rebuild the city, and set up for themselves the idol

b. and it’s here that we learn the identity of our Levite ... he is “ ... Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land.” (, NIV)

Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land.” (, NIV)

1) this is one of the great plot twists in all of Scriptures, and the reason the Danites valued him so much

valued him so much

2) the one through whom God gave the Ten Commandments, had a grandson who became the exemplar of violating the first commandment

became the exemplar of violating the first commandment

c. it is shocking to see that the Levite who will compromise on everything except his own interests is the descendant of Moses

own interests is the descendant of Moses

ILLUS. As scholar and writer Don Carson has said, one generation knows the gospel, the next assumes it, and the third loses it. Nowhere is this better seen in Scripture than in Moses’ family.

the next assumes it, and the third loses it. Nowhere is this better seen in Scripture than in Moses’ family.

IV. APPLICATION

A. IDOLATRY REMAINS A CONSTANT ISSUE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE

1. God understand human nature, and so is explicit — we are not to create graven images even if we’re attempting to make a graven image of the true God

images even if we’re attempting to make a graven image of the true God

2. the problem with idols is that we eventually begin to worship the image itself, instead of the deity the image is meant to represent

the deity the image is meant to represent

ILLUS. In Hong Kong, China there is an unusual place of worship called "The Monetary of the Ten Thousand Buddhas." On display inside the shrine are thirteen thousand likenesses of Buddha, each one just a little different from the others. They are there so that the Buddhist worshiper can come in, find the Buddha figurine that looks most like his or her self, and worship it.

a. our Lord was deeply concerned that nothing should deprive the people of God of the blessings offered by the pure worship of the great Jehovah

the blessings offered by the pure worship of the great Jehovah

b. to that end Moses was given four specific commandments governing the worship of God

God

1) the first is simple — God says, "Ye shall have no other Gods before me"

2) the second commandment builds on the first — not only are the Hebrews to abandon the worship of any other deities and worship God alone, neither are they to create a representation of any other deity nor are they to attempt to create a portraiture of Jehovah

a) worshiping God with images reveals an inward spirit which does not want to submit to God as he is, but which wants to pick and choose attributes in order to create a God who is palatable to us

submit to God as he is, but which wants to pick and choose attributes in order to create a God who is palatable to us

b) the real issue in worship-by-images is the desire to shape and revise God spiritually

spiritually

3. in modern terms, it is a refusal to let God “be himself” in our lives

a. we filter out (consciously or unconsciously) things about God that our hearts can’t accept

b. in some ways, this is the main sin of our time

1) how often have you heard someone say: “I don’t believe in a God like that — I like to think of God as …?”

like to think of God as …?”

c. that is worshiping a God of our own making, not the God Who is

B. THE SELF-REVEALING GOD WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR US

1. there are many sad verses in the Bible, and is one of them

“He replied, “You took the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, ‘What’s the matter with you?’ ... and Micah ... turned around and went back home.”” (, NIV)

ILLUS. Throughout history, when serious adversity has blitzed the Christian community, the Christian testimony has been, “They’ve taken my home, and my possessions, but I still have the Lord.” Now think of Micah’s testimony. The Danites have taken neither home or possessions nor life from Micah. But they have taken his god, and he’s beside himself. He doesn’t know what to do. His faith has been destroyed because the image he worshiped has been taken away.

the Christian testimony has been, “They’ve taken my home, and my possessions, but I still have the Lord.” Now think of Micah’s testimony. The Danites have taken neither home or possessions nor life from Micah. But they have taken his god, and he’s beside himself. He doesn’t know what to do. His faith has been destroyed because the image he worshiped has been taken away.

2. years before, when the Hebrews came to the boarders of the promised land, God gave Joshua a promise

Joshua a promise

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (, NIV)

a. Jesus told his church, “ ... lo, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

a. Jesus told his church, “ ... lo, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (, NIV)

(, NIV)

C. GODLINESS IS NOT GENETIC

ILLUS. Someone once said that God has no grandchildren.

1. we are all individually responsible to God

a. when saved by His awesome power, we are adopted as His personal sons and daughters

daughters

1) not one of us can claim the faith of our father or mother as our own

2) there is no such thing as a “spiritual grandchild” of God

b. we each must come to Him on our own

1) if we don’t have our own faith, we have no faith

2. Moses is considered the greatest prophet in the Hebrew pantheon of prophets

a. he was a man of deep faith and courageous obedience

3. but by the third generation, idolatry has seeped its way into the lives of his progenitors

D. GOD’S MEN NEED TO GUARD AGAINST THE TEMPTATION OF BECOMING HIRELINGS

D. GOD’S MEN NEED TO GUARD AGAINST THE TEMPTATION OF BECOMING

HIRELINGS

1. whenever the church has a “hireling ministry,” it can’t enjoy the blessing of God

a. the church needs true and faithful shepherds who work for the Lord, not for personal gain, and who will stay with the flock to feed them and protect them

personal gain, and who will stay with the flock to feed them and protect them

b. true shepherds don’t see their work as a “career” and run off to a “better job” when the opportunity comes

the opportunity comes

c. they stay where God puts them and don’t move until He sends them

2. true shepherds receive their calling and authority from God, not from people (Gal. 1:6ff); and they honor the true God, not the idols that people make

1:6ff); and they honor the true God, not the idols that people make

3. in today’s “consumer society,” self-appointed preachers and “prophets” have no problem getting a following and peddling their religious wares to a church that acts more like a Hollywood fan club than a holy people of God

problem getting a following and peddling their religious wares to a church that acts more like a Hollywood fan club than a holy people of God

a. unfortunately Jonathans and Micahs will always find each other because they need Each other

each other

4. viewing the pastor as an employee is problematic as it promotes a hireling mentality in the church

the church

a. the result is that many churches look not for a man who is going to faithfully expound the Scriptures and shepherd the people of God, but for one who is likely to fill the pews and assure that the church meets its budget

expound the Scriptures and shepherd the people of God, but for one who is likely to fill the pews and assure that the church meets its budget

5. on the other hand, I have known of “pastors” who have worked the church job market the way that some seek to climb the “corporate ladder”