Read verse 1: Our main character enters the scene, Micah, and he is an Israelite. An interesting note as you read through the story: Micah means "Who is like the Lord."
Read verse 2: Micah reminds his mom of some silver she thought had been stolen and then confesses that he was the one who took it. Her response, "Lord, bless my son." (Seems like a weird response to me!)
Read verse 3: Micah gives the silver back and she instructs him to take it back and use it to make idols. (FYI- a graven image would be wood overlaid with silver and a molten image would be solid silver)
Read verse 4: Micah gives a silversmith 200 pieces of silver which he makes into idols.
Read verse 5: Micah takes the new idols and adds them to his shrine of idols and ephods. He makes one of his sons a priest.
Read verse 6: I don't know about you, but I'm scratching my head wondering what is this guy thinking. He is an Israelite which means he shouldn't have idols and since his son is not a Levite, he can't be a priest! Thankfully this verse is inserted into the story letting us know, THIS IS NOT OK!!! People are just doing whatever they want. They do not have a physical king and act as if they do not have a spiritual king either.
Read verses 7-8: A new guy enters the scene. We don't know his name but are told he's a Levite and coming from Bethlehem. That info is easy to skip over, but it's actually significant. In Joshua 21:9-16 there is a list of cities in which Levites are told to serve. Bethlehem is not one of them. This shows us that this Levite is not doing what he's been called to do properly. Anyway new guy is on a journey and happens upon Micah's house.
Read verses 9-10: Micah offers the Levite a job as a priest for 10 pieces of silver a year. Again, that info is easy to skip over, but it's actually significant. Levites were to be paid from the money the other tribes have given as tithes. To collect a salary was to go against what God had planned for this special tribe of people. (This also gives us insight as to why he was in Bethlehem. He was probably there looking to be hired, but left in search of a higher salary.)
Read verses 11-12: The Levite agrees to this arrangement and is consecrated by Micah and becomes like a son to him.
Read verse 13: Micah thinks everything is ok now because he has a Levite as a priest, not his son.
Read verse 2: Micah reminds his mom of some silver she thought had been stolen and then confesses that he was the one who took it. Her response, "Lord, bless my son." (Seems like a weird response to me!)
Read verse 3: Micah gives the silver back and she instructs him to take it back and use it to make idols. (FYI- a graven image would be wood overlaid with silver and a molten image would be solid silver)
Read verse 4: Micah gives a silversmith 200 pieces of silver which he makes into idols.
Read verse 5: Micah takes the new idols and adds them to his shrine of idols and ephods. He makes one of his sons a priest.
Read verse 6: I don't know about you, but I'm scratching my head wondering what is this guy thinking. He is an Israelite which means he shouldn't have idols and since his son is not a Levite, he can't be a priest! Thankfully this verse is inserted into the story letting us know, THIS IS NOT OK!!! People are just doing whatever they want. They do not have a physical king and act as if they do not have a spiritual king either.
Read verses 7-8: A new guy enters the scene. We don't know his name but are told he's a Levite and coming from Bethlehem. That info is easy to skip over, but it's actually significant. In Joshua 21:9-16 there is a list of cities in which Levites are told to serve. Bethlehem is not one of them. This shows us that this Levite is not doing what he's been called to do properly. Anyway new guy is on a journey and happens upon Micah's house.
Read verses 9-10: Micah offers the Levite a job as a priest for 10 pieces of silver a year. Again, that info is easy to skip over, but it's actually significant. Levites were to be paid from the money the other tribes have given as tithes. To collect a salary was to go against what God had planned for this special tribe of people. (This also gives us insight as to why he was in Bethlehem. He was probably there looking to be hired, but left in search of a higher salary.)
Read verses 11-12: The Levite agrees to this arrangement and is consecrated by Micah and becomes like a son to him.
Application:
- Partial obedience is disobedience. Micah tried to take and twist the rules about Levites and worship to fit his own needs. However, to only obey some of the rules is to disobey. I mean if my mom asks me to clean the bathroom and I just clean the sink, I haven't obeyed. Make sure you completely obey!!
- Don't live like you are king. We discussed this back when we talked about Gideon, but we see it come up again. Israel had no king and people lived however they pleased. God is in authority over us, even if He does not have a literal physical kingdom set up on earth. He is King, you are not!
- Live up to your name. Micah's name should've been a challenge to him to live up to it. He should have strived to be like the Lord. However, we see that he falls short. Likewise, we are called Christians, followers of Christ. Do you live up to that name?
**All Scripture is quotes from the New American Standard.
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I'm currently teaching on the book of Judges for the youth group Sunday school class. We normally spend half our time playing a game and the other half studying the Bible. These are my lessons and some funny tidbits that happen during the course of the morning.
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I'm currently teaching on the book of Judges for the youth group Sunday school class. We normally spend half our time playing a game and the other half studying the Bible. These are my lessons and some funny tidbits that happen during the course of the morning.
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