Judges 17-18 – The First Step to a Nation’s Downfall

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Sudying Judges 17-18 reveals how desparate spiritual leadreship is needed in a land that is moving further away from the Lord spiritually. Spiritual leadership must never consent and conform to sin.

Introduction

We have nearly made it through the roller coaster that is the Book of Judges, but the roller coaster of Judges has one more twist that you’re not expecting.  Judges 17-18 takes the roller coaster backwards to a time not long after Joshua’s death.  In fact, a phrase you will see repeated from Judges 17-21 is that these events took place when there was no king in Israel.  Honestly, the scripture might as well say when there was no leadership in Israel.

The events that take place in Judges 17-21 show what led to the collapse and downfall of a nation.  There are three phases a nation goes through that ultimately lead to its downfall.  The first phase of a nation’s downfall is what we are going to see in our study of Judges 17-18, as spiritual leadership is once again at the forefront. 

There is going to be a decision that a young spiritual leader will face that all spiritual leadership will face and have to make.  This one decision truly does decide the fate of a nation, and I am not saying that hyperbolically.  These chapters highlight why churches everywhere, especially in this land,  ought to be teaching the book of Judges today because we are a nation that is in the midst of a downfall.

Judges 17:1-6 – Confusion of the Spiritually Bankrupt

Judges 17 introduces us to a spiritually bankrupt household of Ephramites.  Micah is the man who stands front and center in the opening of this chapter.  This Micah ought not be confused with the prophet Micah who lived during the times of the kings (Mic. 1:1).  

This Micah was an unlawful man who lacked principle.  This is shown to us as Micah had stolen his mother’s 1,100 shekels of silver, telling her, “I took it”.  Keep in mind that in the Ten Commandments, God commanded one to honor one’s father and mother (Ex. 20:12).  Not only that, but there is a commandment that literally says, “You shall not steal.”

The fact that Micah would steal shows that he was an unlawful man.  Moreover, the fact that he stole from his own mother shows that he didn’t honor her much, at least it does in my mind, and that he doesn’t have any principles whatsoever.

Micah’s mother was also spiritually bankrupt because she desired that 1,100 shekels be molded into a carved image.  She said to Micah that she had wholly dedicated the silver from her hand to the Lord, that it be used by Micah as a molded image.  Just consider how spiritually bankrupt you have to be to dedicate anything to God so that it can be made into a carved image to be worshiped.

How spiritually bankrupt was this household?  They take it a step further with Micah consecrating his son to be a priest to him!  This household was organizing their own religion, and they were doing it dedicated to God!  Spiritually immoral and spiritually confused was the household of Micah.

When Paul stood before the philosophers in Greece, he spoke about how worship of the one true God does not require one to worship images or idols (Acts 17:16-31).  This, of course, is founded upon the teaching of Christ, who taught that one must worship the Lord in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  In other words, one must move in sincere obedience to the word of God.

The danger of foolish living

The frightening part about this is that Judges 17:6 tells us that it wasn’t just Micah’s household that was like this!  Judges 17:6 states, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”  

Referencing Judges 2:11-13, we know that in the years following the death of Joshua, the children of Israel were given over to idol worship.  Throughout our study of Judges, for example, in Gideon’s story, we saw the people worshiping Baal and Asherah, having their wooden idols.  The people lived in a manner that Proverbs 14:12 states its end is the way of spiritual death–eternal condemnation.

What makes these opening verses so sad, given that this took place after Joshua’s death, is that Joshua had warned of doing this very thing.  In Joshua 24:14-15, he encouraged Israel not to do as their fathers had done on the other side of the Jordan when they had worshiped the gods of the Amorites.  Remember, God did not permit that generation to enter the Promised Land because of their sin and disobedience!

With that very thought in mind, Joshua said to Israel, as shown in Joshua 24:20, “If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good.” Then, the people responded to Joshua, saying to him, “No, but we will serve the Lord!”

There is sin that is committed out of ignorance, and then there is sin that is done out of foolishness.  I want you to understand that there is a difference between ignorance and foolishness.  When something is done out of ignorance, it is done with a lack of understanding.  Ignorance can be corrected with rebuke, teaching, and a heart that desires to learn.

Foolishness, on the other hand, is when one knows better but chooses to do otherwise.  Foolishness is blatant.  Foolishness is stubborn, hardheadedness that, while it could be corrected, often goes uncorrected because a fool despises wisdom and instruction (Prov. 1:7). 

Micah’s household was an example of a household that had become spiritually bankrupt through the way of foolishness.  Yes, we should look to spiritual leadership for guidance, but at the same time, we must hold ourselves accountable – we have a responsibility to ourselves.  After Joshua’s wise words, one should have made up their mind not to go in the way of certain destruction.

Judges 17:7-13 – When Spiritual Leadership Consents

Judges 17:7 introduces us to a young man from Bethlehem who was a Levite.  The fact that this Levite was in Bethlehem highlights that Levites did not receive any allotted land like the other tribes because the Levites were consecrated for serving the Lord.  There were Levitical cities that Levites could dwell in, but eventually, the Levites made their home in Jerusalem because that was where Solomon’s temple was located.

This young Levite was living in a time well before Solomon’s temple, and he was in search of a place to stay.  He could have gone to one of the Levitical cities, but he chose to go to the mountains of Ephraim, the common-land for Shechem, a Levitical city (Josh. 21:21). 

Now, as we’ve seen, the people in the mountains of Ephraim needed spiritual leadership, and I believe that God had brought the young Levite to the house of Micah for a reason.  What we find in his story is an opportunity that all of God’s children are faced with in the world today: Will you conform and consent to sin or not?

There are two things a spiritual leader ought to do in the presence of sin, especially that of idolatry.  The first thing a spiritual leader should do is rebuke sin.  As Paul told Timothy, “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear (1 Tim. 5:20).”  You see, rebuking sin in the presence of sinners sets the tone that sin is not OK, and that one must make correction, or be ready to face the consequence of their sin.

What Paul taught Timothy was founded on the principle of Christ’s teaching.  In Luke 17:3, Jesus said to the apostles, “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him…”

Let us understand that when we’re in the presence of sin, the sin isn’t just against God; it is also against us, as it is a temptation to get us to disobey.  Should one not heed the rebuke, the second thing the spiritual leader ought to do is withdraw themselves (1 Tim. 6:3-5).  Again, as Paul said, when you’re in the company of sin, “evil company corrupts good habits (1 Cor. 15:33).”

Judges 17:10-11 tells us that the young Levite was content to dwell in Micah’s house of idolatry and become a priest to him for 10 shekels of silver per year.  The young Levite sold his soul for ten shekels of silver per year.  The spiritually weak will conform for little to nothing.

Upon this decision, Judges 17:13 shows us that Micah rejoiced, saying, “Now I know that the Lord will be good to me, since I have a Levite as priest!”

Look at what happens when a spiritual leader consents to the sin of a sinner!  They feel they’re in the right in their wicked living!  The young Levite has given permission to this wicked household to continue in their sin, in their idolatry.  This, you should understand, is the gravest of sins as the spiritual leader ought to help lead one to the Lord, not lead one away from the Lord!

Judges 18:1-6 – Downfall of Speaking Falsely

Judges 18:1 introduces us to the tribe of Dan, the tribe of Samson, and Manoah, as it was during the days of Judges 1-2.  In this passage of scripture, we’ll learn why the Danites’ land was in the hands of the Philistines in the days of Samson.

The scripture tells us that the Danites were “seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in”.  The fact that they were searching for an inheritance for themselves is a major red flag.  

You see, like all the of the other tribes, aside from Levi, the Danites already had an inheritance of land allotted to them by the Lord.  Their searching for an inheritance outside of God’s inheritance says is like us searching for a blessing outside of God’s blessing.  Think about that:  Why would you, a faithful believer, search for a blessing aside from God’s blessing?

In Joshua 13:1-6, when Joshua was advanced in years, the Lord spoke to him about all the land that remained unpossessed, or unconquered by Israel.  The land remaining unpossessed was through no fault of Joshua, as he had been successful in taking the conquest as far as he physically could. The remaining land to be possessed was left to all the tribes to finish possessing; however, Judges 1 notes that none of the tribes took total possession of their allotted land. 

In the map below, you will see the land allotments that each tribe was supposed to inherit

In this map, you will see the land during the time of the Judges.  

Notice that the land allotted to Dan was in the hands of the Philistines, which reminds us why Samson was always around the Philistines.  Judges 1:34 spoke of how the Danites were forced into the mountains by the Amorites.

When we read Judges 18:2-6, we’re told that five Danite spies had been sent out to search for a land that the Danites could call their own since they had been unable to take possession of their allotted land.  The five spies ended up coming across the house of Micah, where something interesting happened – they recognized the young Levite!

Pay attention to the questions they asked the young Levite.  In Judges 18:3, you’ll see that they asked, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you have here?”

Now, I believe those questions say a lot about what was going on in the mountains of Ephraim.  I believe those questions say a lot about what they recognized about the house of Micah.  I believe those questions also say a lot about what they thought about a Levite being there.

If I were in such a place like that and people came asking me what I was doing there, I’d feel that says a lot about what was expected of me.  I wouldn’t be expected to be in such a place unless I was there preaching against the sin of the people.  However, if I’m seen in such a place participating in the sin of Micah’s house, then that wouldn’t be a good look for me.  

So, the Levite conforming to the sin of Micah is now setting an example for the Danites.  How do you suppose they will now feel about idolatry?

So, they asked the young Levite to inquire of God to see whether their journey to find a new home that wasn’t of God’s promise would be prosperous.  This, searching for a blessing outside of God’s blessing, should have been something that the young Levite rebuked immediately.  However, the young Levite said to them, “Go in peace.  The presence of the Lord be with you on your way.”  

The young Levite has now spoken falsely on behalf of God; he is bringing God in to consent to the Danites’ defiance!  I repeat, the Danites had land they were supposed to conquer, but desired to go elsewhere!  The young Levite is lying in the name of God to appease the Danites, which will lead them to commit to their sin.

You must be on the lookout for those who are supposed to be spiritual leaders but will consent to sin – they are false teachers who will bring you into great sin.  Such a leader, as this young Levite, is a fool and the path they set is to condemnation.  If you join the fool in their sin, you will come under the same judgment of condemnation.

Judges 18:27-31 – The Sin That Fells a Nation

I’m not going to go over Judges 18:7-26, as that scripture covers the Danites moving against Laish.  The two things of note from those verses are the Danites robbing Micah of all his idols and images, and the young Levite happily accepting the invitation to go with them. 

Why do you think the Levites took Micah’s images and idols?  Why do you think they took the young Levite with them?  

Well, they’re under the impression that the young Levite had been a blessing to them since they were able to find a place to call home.  On top of that, they figured that Micah’s idols and images must have been good because the young Levite’s word had brought them a blessing.  So, now the Danites are going to also participate in the idolatry/religion of Micah and the young Levite.

This young Levite was a symptom of what would eventually lead to Israel’s downfall centuries later with the two divided kingdoms.  Israel’s downfall began with its spiritual leaders not being truthful to God’s law and instructions.  In the days of Jeremiah and the prophet Micah, scripture speaks of how the people, in their wickedness, ignored the prophets of God to heed the voice of prophets who consented to their sin (Mic. 2:6-8).

Again, I say to you, when the spiritual leadership conforms to sin, rather than be faithful to God’s word, the people under that leadership have little chance to prosper spiritually.  For all of us, God’s children, stewards of the Lord, that is not fair for those who seek to find their way to God!  We have a great responsibility to carry out, and we must be truthful to that responsibility. 

So, the Danites eventually settled in Laish and renamed the city to Dan.  This is why, when you look at a map of the land allotments for the tribes of Israel, you will see the allotted land of Dan, but you will also see the city of Dan in the northernmost part of the map.  The Danites literally moved away from God’s blessing, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually!

In Laish, the Danites committed spiritual apostasy, forsaking the Lord.  Judges 18:30 tells us that Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

You may not be familiar with the name Gershom, but Gershom was the son of Moses (Ex. 2:21-22).  Therefore, the Jonathan participating in the apostasy of Dan, was the grandson of Moses!  Moreover, this means that Jonathan was another Levite who should have known better, and once again, makes this apostasy that much greater!

You see, this is how a nation falls:  When it moves away from God, it cannot truly prosper.  When you have spiritual leaders consenting to blasphemy and apostasy, that nation is putting itself at odds with the Lord.  How can it stand against the Lord and succeed?

This, again, is why I truly believe that the book of Judges must be studied, because here in this land, we’re watching history repeat itself.  All of us stewards of the Lord cannot sit by quietly while blasphemy and apostasy continue to spread.