Opportunistic Priests & Abominable Worship
Judges 17:7 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."
Judges 18:18 When the five went into Micah's house and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?" 19 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.
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Wow! Talk about striking me between the eyes! Lord, you certainly know to grab my attention. I connect with SO MUCH of this narrative.
A Levite (who was born into the house of religious leadership for Israel) goes looking for a better deal (at least we can imagine that this could have been part of this motivation). He finds Micah who's mother has made an idol made of silver for him (sins of the "mudda!"). Micah has set up a mini-worship-centre in his house (a "shine") and offers the opportunistic Levite a job as Micah's personal priest. There are even priestly garments there for him to wear. Note that it never says that the Levite is a consecrated priest -- which means he likely isn't. He just comes from the right "religious" pedigree and is looking for elevation. So he takes it! Booyah!
But then we see just how consistent this pretender-priest is with his motives. I mean you have to give this guy some credit: he knows what he wants. When the next better opportunity comes along, he is outahere! He is consistently opportunistic. When the Danite army shows up and offers him the better gig ("come on, personal priest is a good resume starter, but military chaplain...here are the big bucks and honour...and as an added benefit you can get in on the pillaging and raping all you want") he is all over that. As the text says, "The priest was very pleased." (18:20)
So what am I to learn from this? Man, I have got to watch out for the temptation to make my pastoral calling something that is out there for "hire." Because once I start monster.ca-ing my pastoral resume, it isn't long before a Danite army is going to show and offer me "a chance I cannot pass up." In accepting, not only would I be abandoning the true faith (bad enough!) but I would be baptizing the pagan and evil actions of my employers (that is a priest-for-hire 's job). "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." (Eph 5:11).
O Lord have mercy on me!
Amen.
Judges 18:18 When the five went into Micah's house and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?" 19 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.
----
Wow! Talk about striking me between the eyes! Lord, you certainly know to grab my attention. I connect with SO MUCH of this narrative.
A Levite (who was born into the house of religious leadership for Israel) goes looking for a better deal (at least we can imagine that this could have been part of this motivation). He finds Micah who's mother has made an idol made of silver for him (sins of the "mudda!"). Micah has set up a mini-worship-centre in his house (a "shine") and offers the opportunistic Levite a job as Micah's personal priest. There are even priestly garments there for him to wear. Note that it never says that the Levite is a consecrated priest -- which means he likely isn't. He just comes from the right "religious" pedigree and is looking for elevation. So he takes it! Booyah!
But then we see just how consistent this pretender-priest is with his motives. I mean you have to give this guy some credit: he knows what he wants. When the next better opportunity comes along, he is outahere! He is consistently opportunistic. When the Danite army shows up and offers him the better gig ("come on, personal priest is a good resume starter, but military chaplain...here are the big bucks and honour...and as an added benefit you can get in on the pillaging and raping all you want") he is all over that. As the text says, "The priest was very pleased." (18:20)
So what am I to learn from this? Man, I have got to watch out for the temptation to make my pastoral calling something that is out there for "hire." Because once I start monster.ca-ing my pastoral resume, it isn't long before a Danite army is going to show and offer me "a chance I cannot pass up." In accepting, not only would I be abandoning the true faith (bad enough!) but I would be baptizing the pagan and evil actions of my employers (that is a priest-for-hire 's job). "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." (Eph 5:11).
O Lord have mercy on me!
Amen.
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