In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
This is a very well-known statement. However, it’s not this verse that receives all the attention. It’s actually the last verse of the last chapter, 21:25. For it is the exact same words. And many preachers and students of the Bible have rightly declared this statement to be defining verse of the book of Judges. Scofield refers to it as the key-verse to the condition of Israel. (He actually refers to 17:6) It was a suprise to me to find it in the middle of the book because I’ve always heard reference made to the one at the end of the book.
The story and events of Chapter 17 and 18 go together. It’s one period in time. This verse lies in this section and is truly the defining verse of these chapters. For everything that man did in those chapters was NOT right. It may have been in these character’s eyes: Micah, his mother, the young Levite, and the Danites; but there was NOTHING right that they did, from verse 1 to verse 31.
- Micah steals 1100 shekels of silver from his mother. That’s not right!
- He confesses, and she blesses her son for this. It’s understandable that she’s happy that she received her money back, but I think consequences are in order now for that son of hers, not blessings. That’s not right!
- She tells him it was for him anyway. Not. I think stealing it just about disqualifies him for it. That’s not right!
- She spend 200 shekels for make a silver god for her son. She shouldn’t be spending 200 shekels on that little thief, but aside from that, thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. That’s not right!
- Micah had a house of godS. Apparently, this silver god was not the first one Micah had recieved. That’s not right!
- Micah consecrates on of his son’s to be priest. Only Levites were to be preists. That’s not right!
- The young Levite was wandering looking for a place. There’s no reason Levites should be wandering. They were given cities and they were to serve with their families. That’s not right!
- Micah offers him a job as priest. I really don’t see allowance for personal priests like this in the law. Besides Micah has no business expecting a Levite to serve his silver gods. That’s not right!
- The young Levite takes the job. He has no business there. That’s not right!
- Micah thinks the young Levite is a good luck charm. He thinks that just because he has Levite serving in his gates that God is somehow going to bless him. This is a gross twisting of what the law declared regarding the tribes of Israel and their responsibility to the Levites. That’s not right!
- The Danites still hadn’t possessed the land. They were given borders but they never possesed them. That’s not right!
- The Danites were trying to possess Ephraim’s land. Why were they searching mount Ephraim. They didn’t have any business there. That’s not right!
- The Danite spies sought God’s approval through a priest of a silver god. Why are these inquiring of a strange priest to strange gods? Where’s their priest? That’s not right!
- The young Levite blesses them. There’s no indication that this young Levite is close to God or in communication with Him, and he’s falsely handing out God’s blessings. That’s not right!
- The 600 man Danite army steals Micah’s stuff and his priest. They just go in and take his stuff. He protested, but they threatened him and they were stronger so they got away with it. That’s not right!
- The Levite priest is glad. No doubt this prosperity doctrine priest thinks that the army coming is a blessing from God, a chance for him to move up the financial ladder. That’s not right!
- The Danites slaughter the city of Laish for no reason. They slaughtered the city of another tribe of Israel. This is no light thing. That’s not right!
- The Danites set up Micah’s graven image, the silver god, and his priest, (his name was Jonathan), to minister unto them. They’re doing the same thing Micah did. That’s not right!
- All this while the tabernacle was still set up in Shiloh. That’s not right!
There was nothing right about any of these characters and their actions in Chapter 17 and 18. Truly every man did that which was right in his own eyes. The obliviousness and apathy toward the law of God is astounding. They did this all while the tabernacle was still set up in Shiloh. They could have inquired there. There was the law. There was the ark. There was the vessels and instruments of the law. There was what God had commanded.
The astonishing thing about Micah, his mother, the Levite, and the tribe of Dan is how religious they were. They do all these things as if they had the blessing of God on them, as if God approves of them, as if the law approves of them. They seemingly have no clue as to their violations toward God. Yet, today and even unto the white throne judgement, man will continue in this manner.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)
Are you absolutely sure that you are in the will of God; that the Lord approves of your actions, your desires, and your religion? Micah, Mama, Jonathan, and the Danites had no idea. The Danites who had no idea inquired of a priest that had no idea; they stole and copied the religion of Micah who had no idea. It’s a vicious cycle. Somebody has got to break it.
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