Micah, Confusion Judges 17

Judges 17:6 "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

After Samson's death, the time of the judges pretty much was over. A time of confusion lasted probably until the first king, Saul, was anointed.

The one thing Israel seemed to have an ongoing problem with was trying to hang on to God with one hand and worshipping the gods of the local population with the other. Images were always popping up. This period is no exception. The priest, Levites, seemed to have no purpose. Here we find one wondering in the hills.

Look at Exodus 20:2-3 and Israel knew these words: "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."

v5 "And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest."

Micah found the young Levite wondering about and asked him to join him in his house.

v11 "And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons. v12 And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest and was in the house of Micah."

If you remember from our study, the Levites belong to the LORD. They were his portion and he theirs. So ends this chapter. I wonder myself if this is but an example of what was going on all over since our text verse says "every man did what was right in his own eyes."

The next chapter continues the story.

Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."