How To Lose Your Inheritance In Low Places

Today's Daily Reading Is Judges 17:

Why is the author making sure we consider the strange setting in which this idolatry takes place since "the hills of Ephraim" are the first thing he mentions? (v.1)

Therefore consider how close Micah would have been to Shiloh, where the ark of the covenant was resting from the time Joshua led the priesthood into the promised land and delivered them from the threat of invasion from all sides.

Judges 18:31 (NKJV)

31 So they set up for themselves Micah's carved image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

Also, what does this say about the level of corruption that has become of the priesthood? And what does it say about the "spiritual" illiteracy of the nation when there was no revelation or practice of education/discipleship at the very center of Israel's heart of worship/capitol.

Therefore what manner of idolatry is taking place at the core of Israel's worship? And therefore, what was the nature of their faith? (v.2)

James 2:19–26 (NKJV)

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

When there is no exclusive Mediator, who has the right and authority to bless and to curse? And so consider that without going up to offer the proper confession by means of the proper sacrifice, these children were demonstrating by their faith that they were still dead in trespasses and sins. (v.2)

James 4:11–12 (NKJV)

11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

And how prideful is it to curse the whole world with the exception of your own when an evil from your own blood is committed against you? (v.2) i

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Galatians 3:10–14 (NKJV)

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Genesis 9:24–25 (NKJV)

24 So Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his younger son had done to him. 25 Then he said: "Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren."

Is it true repentance to only commit to repentance after you receive the blessing and affirmation? (v.3)

2 Chronicles 18:7 (NKJV)

7 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah, the son of Imla." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things!"

Is Micah using the power of his youth and strength to manipulate his mother into giving him control over her retirement fund (life savings) by leading her to make him the executive of her will? (v.4)

Was this wise on her part to make it "Corban" so that her son can exalt himself over her life savings that she has made Corban? (v.3)

Mark 7:9–13 (NKJV)

9 He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 11 But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"—' (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."

Therefore by Micah allowing her to do this, to make his image the likeness of her will, how has she sold her soul to idolatry? And how is Micah only serving himself by using God's corban to standardize himself as the mediator of her will? (v.4)

Matthew 22:16–22 (NKJV)

16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" 21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

How ashamed he should be for pawning his mother!

Judges 18:18–21 (NKJV)

18 When these went into Micah's house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molded image, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?" 19 And they said to him, "Be quiet, put your hand over your mouth, and come with us; be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest to the household of one man, or that you be a priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?" 20 So the priest's heart was glad; and he took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved image, and took his place among the people. 21 Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones, the livestock, and the goods in front of them.

Do men have the authority to exalt themselves as a mediator of their own affairs? (v.5)

John 15:16–19 (NKJV)

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another. 18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Therefore how is the author of Judges demonstrating the need for a king to enforce the Law of Yahweh in Israel so that there would be no "competing" standards of value and truth? (v.6)

Judges 18:22–24 (NKJV)

22 When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house gathered together and overtook the children of Dan. 23 And they called out to the children of Dan. So they turned around and said to Micah, "What ails you, that you have gathered such a company?" 24 So he said, "You have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and you have gone away. Now what more do I have? How can you say to me, 'What ails you?'"

Therefore it is most likely Samuel who is the author of Judges because he was the prophet who transitioned Israel from dependence on upon the judges to establishing a permanent house of a king in Israel. Yahweh was still King of kings, but they did not want to go up to the tabernacle for judgment by the mystery of the sacrifice. And because of the corruption of the priesthood, the LORD was willing to show mercy to them as preparation for the coming reign of His only Son.

1 Samuel 8:4–9 (NKJV)

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 9 Now, therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them."

Colossians 1:13–15 (NKJV)

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Therefore how did Micah open himself up to losing his own soul by exalting himself over the sovereignty of God's sacrifice?

Numbers 28:2 (NKJV)

2 "Command the children of Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time.'

Matthew 16:24–26 (NKJV)

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Luke 19:43–46 (NKJV)

43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation." 45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, 46 saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"

And what good is it to have your own hired priest? (v.7)

John 10:11–15 (NKJV)

11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

And how is it possible that a son of Judah could become an adopted Levite of the house of Levi? And more importantly, why is a Levite wandering or sojourning in Bethlehem, which was not a city appointed for the Levites to dwell in for their devotion to Yahweh as "His firstborn?" (v.8)

Why couldn't he get comfortable in one of the cities appointed for him? The testimony of Scripture seems to present him as a real adopted Levite, but is it possible that he is an imposter masquerading as a Levite?

Judges 18:3–5 (NKJV)

3 While they were at the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. They turned aside and said to him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you have here?" 4 He said to them, "Thus and so Micah did for me. He has hired me, and I have become his priest." 5 So they said to him, "Please inquire of God, that we may know whether the journey on which we go will be prosperous."

Or was he a Levite who has apostatized from the "appointed" sacrifice? (v.9)

Is there any measure of truth to a real minister of the Word of God being both a father and a son before a member of the Lord's baptism? (v.10)

1 Timothy 4:12–5:2 (NKJV)

12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

Therefore how is the Spirit of grace demonstrating mercy towards the Levite with gentle warnings to return to the house of Levi where he can serve in truth? (v.11)

John 4:19–23 (NKJV)

19 The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship." 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

Therefore why was it impossible for Yahweh to bless Micah since he made himself the standard for consecrating (licensing) his own priest? (v.12)

Hebrews 9:16–22 (NKJV)

16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you." 21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

How is Micah superstitious concerning the blessing upon the Levites? And how should we be prepared to find out how he is found dead wrong? (v.13)

Matthew 23:14–22 (NKJV)

14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. 16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.' 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.' 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.