The Dire Consequences (Part 1)

Introduction

Please Open your Bibles to Judges 17. We will read Judges 17

There is a famous sermon on this text by Pastor Paris Reidhead. Titled, “ten Shekels And A Shirt.” I have heard his sermon several times and I would recommend it to you. I wish every christian would hear Pastor Reidhead’s sermon and take the time to understand it. Tonight, it is not my intent to reproduce Pastor Reidhead’s sermon though some of the themes will be similar, how could they not be when addressing the same text.

Judges 17:1–13 ESV

1 There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2 And he said to his mother, “The 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it.” And his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the Lord.” 3 And he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. And his mother said, “I dedicate the silver to the Lord from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image. Now therefore I will restore it to you.” 4 So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took 200 pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into a carved image and a metal image. And it was in the house of Micah. 5 And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and ordained one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 7 Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. 8 And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn where he could find a place. And as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah. 9 And Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to sojourn where I may find a place.” 10 And Micah said to him, “Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year and a suit of clothes and your living.” And the Levite went in. 11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons. 12 And Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. 13 Then Micah said, “Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.”

May God Bless the Reading of His Holy and Infallible Word

Lets Pray

Transition

This is the first different story in the book of judges. Here the book takes a turn from the stories of the judges, single individuals who God used to save the people. These men and a woman were raised up as examples of redeemers, rescuers. We will see more on this idea of redemption when we get to Ruth.

However, as we are looking here, the theme of the book changes, we now get stories, of Micah, the Levite’s concubine, the war with Benjamin.

Why are these stories here? They are here, among other things, to show us the consequences of what happens when the Lord does not drive out the enemies and how their god’s are a snare to the people.

Body

Micah's Greed (1)

Text

“1 There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2 And he said to his mother, “The 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it.” And his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD.” 3 And he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. And his mother said, “I dedicate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image. Now therefore I will restore it to you.” (Jdg 17:3–4, ESV)

Exposition

“The 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you”

Exposition

Large Sum

“about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it.” (Jdg 17:2, ESV)

Exposition

Why Micah would take this sum and why he would give it back we don’t know.

Perhaps he was afraid of this curse that she spoke. Would be a reasonable guess because he mentioned it.

The emphases in this section is on-how his mother reacted.

“And his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD.” 3 And he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. And his mother said, “I dedicate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image.”

Exposition

James speak of the tongue

“With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.” (Jas 3:9, ESV)

Language is unclear abouT when the silver was dedicated to the LORD.

“I dedicate the silver” “I had dedicated”

Gifts Dedicated to the LORD where to be brought into the temple treasury.

Remember in Joshua how all the silver and gold at Jericho where to be dedicated to the LORD.

The point this that God did not leave Isreal instructionless on how to dedicate things to the LORD.

Application

For the New Testament Believer the Apostle Paul in Romans says that our Bodies are dedicated to the LORD at all times. Not just on the sabbath or on passover, or this sum of money or that land or time, all of ourselves are his all the time.

Of we were to lose a large SUM of money, let our response show our dedication to him. So that instead of cursing we say Lord you will be done.

Illustration

I often think about the offering on this subject, the New testament teaches us to only give what we can give cheerfully. It is the attitude in giving. If I found that a brother a sister were giving out of compulsion I would council them to stop.

Transition

Not only is the dedication to the Lord not with the right heart, its not thankfulness we see displayed here in the action of Micah's Mother. We also see that though she uses the name of the LORD, she has actually dedicated this offering to a god of her own making. The LORD has said, “Thou Shalt not Make any Graven Images” but that is what happens. Lets take a look verses 4 - 6.

Thou Shalt not Make any Graven Images (2)

Text

“So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took 200 pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into a carved image and a metal image. And it was in the house of Micah. 5 And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and ordained one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Jdg 17:4–6, ESV)

Exposition

“So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took 200 pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into a carved image and a metal image.” (Jdg 17:4-6, ESV)

Exposition

Generational Iniquity displayed.

A carved Image and a Metal Image

Application

How important it is to train the children, what different path might Micah’s life have taken if his Mother followed God’s commandments.

We don’t know but this practice my have been even more generations then his mother.

If you want to see the power of a Godly mother read of the Kings of Judah.

Illustration

My mom is not perfect, but I can person attest to the power of a God fearing mother.

“And it was in the house of Micah. 5 And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and ordained one of his sons, who became his priest,” (Jdg 17:4–5, ESV)

Exposition

So it seems as the story goes, perhaps Micah’s Mother has died or is old and Micah is running the household.

We don’t know for sure, but it is clear that the practice is passed from mother to son.

Some might say, Micah was just doing the best he knew.

It was almost impossible to get to Shiloh because of the Amorites.

The snare happening

“I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” (Jdg 2:3, ESV)

Application

Micah has added a little bit of the other ways people worshiped from around him. He was snared by the God’s of the nations.

Paul said, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” (Ga 5:9, ESV)

Addressing the Gospel

So many addons to the gospel over the years some examples.

Constantine Baptism.

Roman Catholic Penance

In or Day, Liberation Theology, Social justice, and Liberal Ideology.

Remember a little "A little leaven leavens the whole lump”

The gospel is to be kept pure

That was the point of the reformation.

Justification by

Faith Alone

In Christ Alone

By Grace Alone

Founded upon Scripture Alone

and for the Glory of God Alone.

There are many many things trying to leaven the gospel right here in our time, and that means it is our time to stand for a pure gospel.

Transition

Keeping the gospel pure, keeping worship pure has always been about recognizing the true king. Look at verse 6.

"In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Jdg 17:6, ESV)

Exposition

The statement there was no king in Israel is a statement of judgement.

“And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. (1 Sa 8:7–8, ESV)

Application

There was a king in Israel, but they live as if there was no king.

God was king but they did not listen to him.

The statement is not an excuse,

oh you know, no body really knew better.

Transition

The story include a Levite, and we will talk more about him next week, but his presents tells us about abut Micah. Look at verses 7-13.

Text

"7 Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. 8 And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn where he could find a place. And as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah. 9 And Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to sojourn where I may find a place.” 10 And Micah said to him, “Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year and a suit of clothes and your living.” And the Levite went in. 11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons. 12 And Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. 13 Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.” (Jdg 17:7–13, ESV)

Exposition

"7 Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. 8 And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn where he could find a place. And as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah.”

Exposition

This is how hospitality worked.

His name is Jonathan

As a Levite he had no inheritance

The Levites inheritance

“But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the LORD God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them. (Jos 13:33, ESV)

Probably why he was sojourning

Application

Jesus prayed for his people because they have no inheritance in this world.

“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (Jn 17:14, ESV)

We are not talking about Physical things here. This is addressing the world system.

“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Pe 2:4–5, ESV).

There is a parallel with this Levite and us. We will look more at The Levite next week so be ready to explore that parallel more.

Transition

For now we are looking at Micah, we see the truth come out. As I said before, some say give Micah a break, going to the temple would have been fraught with danger, but here in verse 12 and 13 we see the true motive of Micah come out.

“12 And Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. 13 Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.”

Exposition

“Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest”

God had already said who was a priest and differentiated the roles of the Levite and the priest.

“Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.”

Look at me I have done something to earn favor from the LORD.

I will get what I want now

Micah was not worshiping God, he was worshiping himself the same way Adam and Eve did in the Garden.

Eat the fruit and you will be like God

Have a Levite as a priest and God will bless you.

Application

How many come to church today, judge yourselves rightly, to get for yourself.

If I believe i don’t have to go to hell?

If I give my Tithe God will give me money

Not if you don’t give cheerfully.

Illustration

There was once a stuck up little princess that was captured by an evil baron. After many hours of hard work and fighting the hero rescued her. The stuck up little princess told the hero that he better kneel and thank he for the honor of requiring her.

Conclusion

We are not royalty, we are the evil kidnappers, and still he rescued us. Jesus is worthy of worship simply because he is worth. There is nothing in us, there is less then nothing in us. We are creatures made out of dirt that have rebelled against their King. Like Micah we have often worshiped God for what he gives us and not for who he is.

Come to the Lord by

Faith Alone

In Christ Alone

By Grace Alone

Founded upon Scripture Alone

Not so you can have eternal-life, yes you will get eternal-life in Christ, but your eternal life his nothing compared the the weight of Glory that is due God. You come for the Glory of God Alone. Come and say, LORD Rich or Poor please get Glory from my life, Heaven or Hell Please LORD get glory from my life. LORD enslave my heart and mind to be totally devoted to your Glory.

We have a greater covenant than the one Micah had. Our King has personally come and declared, I have over come the world. Let us their for live like the people of this great king.

Benediction

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.” (Ga 6:18, ESV)