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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 7 July 2025:
Judges 17 and 18 mark a transition point in the Book of Judges, the third, final section of the book. In this section, no foreign oppressors are mentioned, no judges identified, and the many shocking sins of the protagonists are not even called out (it is left to reader to identify them). Most specifically, there are no longer accusations of idolatry – their syncretism was so complete that they thought that, in some strange way, their idol worship was actually acceptable to God, and it had become totally integrated into their worship. Note that there are no prayers to God, only blessings proclaimed in the name of God to validate sinful behavior.
This section in the Book of Judges reveals a disintegrated, lawless society where every important societal institution has been totally corrupted – the family, the church, the government, the economy, etc. To paint this picture, the book artfully guides the reader to follow a thread that leads from 1,100 pieces of stolen and cursed silver to a permanent idol set up in an unauthorized and ungodly “church” on bloody soil stolen by the tribe of Dan not far from both the land that had been allotted to the tribe of Dan by God through Joshua and the town of Shiloh, the place of worship authorized by God. Again, the numerable, appalling sins throughout the story are only mentioned, not specifically addressed.
To drive the point home concerning the depths at which the nation had fallen, the author reveals at the end of chapter 18 who the “young Levite” was who left Micah to join the Danites: “Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses!” While scholars debate today over whether “Moses” should really read “Manasseh,” the point remains that this unfaithful, ungodly, idolatrous priest for hire had come from a once great and noble lineage – everything had been ruined.
I believe in this stage of the game, God has turned the people over to their own desires to face the consequences of their behavior, no Judges, no rebukes, no protection from themselves. At this stage, their worship is utterly worthless, and they are oblivious to that fact – keep in mind that we are talking about Israelites, not pagans. They are now on an inevitable path of terrible destruction.
The situation described in Judges is very similar to what Paul describes in Romans 1. How does this story apply to us today?
- Matthew 16:3 — “And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”
- 2 Timothy 4:2-4 — “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
- Matthew 24:11-13 — “And many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Judges 18:1 — In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.
The chapter begins by repeating the refrain that defines this dark period of Israel’s history: “There was no king in Israel.” This not only highlights the political disorganization but the spiritual anarchy among God’s people. God richly blessed the Israelites with the Promised Land, a land of milk and honey, but also adversaries. God called his people to face the challenge of securing their promise, but the Israelites chose comfort over commitment, and self-centered disobedience grew into disintegration, destruction, and demise. In this case, the tribe of Dan had failed to claim the land allotted to them by God (Joshua 19:40-48), and rather than seeking the Lord’s help in faith and obedience, they looked for an easier land to take at the expense of their souls – “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36).
God’s promises do require effort on our part – “Grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning.” For some, who have not grown to fully appreciate the riches of Christ, obedience is simply too much to bear, but God calls us to a love for Him which makes obedience not only easy but our true joy — “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3). In one sense, obeying is hard (effort), but in another sense, when inspired by love, it is easy (desired). It isn’t ‘hard’ to do what you really want to do. This is why people pay big money for gym memberships to lift heavy weights until they can’t lift anymore yet moan and complain when they must do common chores – the ‘harder’ effort is ‘easier’ because of their “joy” (anticipation of results), while the relatively simple task is burdensome, lacking in apparent reward. The Bible says, Jesus “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross….” (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus certainly didn’t enjoy the pain of the cross, yet He was inspired by the joy of knowing His sacrifice would be for the salvation of countless people, so the Cross became His aim. The Danites had no joy in obeying God with anticipation of future reward, so they sought easy satisfaction at others’ expense and at the expense of the future God had intended for them. Without a heart of genuine “worship” (God’s worthiness), they turned to idolatry, which many scholars believe is why Dan is not listed in the twelve sealed tribes of Isreal in Revelation 7. Where might you be compromising your calling for sake of idolatry (something in your life more influential than God and His will)?
We too must acquire a joy which inspires us to want to take up our respective crosses daily and follow Christ though the disciplines of discipleship. Someone once said, “We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.” Jesus said this: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) How can we experience genuine love, joy, and peace (Galatians 5) through any and all situations? By seeking love, joy, and peace in Christ alone and doing all things for His glory.
- Hebrews 10:36 — For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Judges 18:5, 6 — And they said to him, “Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed.” And the priest said to them, “Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD.”
The Levite had not heard from God, and God was not with the Danites, but the Levite, who led unauthorized worship, told these ungodly marauders what they wanted to hear. Again, the Bible warns that we must not presume to speak for God in order to please ourselves or others — “But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:4).” We cannot proclaim “peace” to others when they do not have “peace” with God through repentance and obedience — “They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14, 8:11).”
Throughout the Bible, God has called His ambassadors to speak the truth in love, particularly to those who do not want to hear it — “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37).” However, too many have distorted God’s word to “keep the peace” by telling people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear, a sign of end times — “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2 Timothy 4:3-5).” Our readings from Proverbs warn us continually not to be a messenger who is unfaithful with the message.
Judges 18:7-10 — And the five men departed and came to Laish… quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing… And when they came to their brothers… they said, “Arise, and let us go up against them… for God has given it into your hand.”
Laish appears prosperous, peaceful, and vulnerable. The Danites presume God has given them this city, even though there is no divine directive and their gain would require the victimization of the weak. Prosperity and ease are not evidence of God’s approval. The Danites are walking by sight, not faith.
- Proverbs 14:12 — There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Judges 18:14-20 — Then the five men who had gone to scout out the country of Laish said…. “Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a metal image? Now therefore consider what you will do.”
Instead of confronting idolatry, the Danites seize it for themselves. They steal Micah’s idols and priest as if spiritual tools were talismans of success. Religion is commodified. They think having the priest and idols on their side will guarantee blessing. Many committed people turn Jesus into an idol – someone who will grant them their wishes if they proclaim the right things and perform certain deeds. As long as it is about you, it’s not about Him. Search your heart to consider how you have sought God to make much of you rather than the other way around. Listen to your own prayers. Are you praying for God to change your circumstances or to change your heart? Are you praying for Christlike character or carefree comfort?
- Acts 8:20 — May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
Judges 18:20 — And the priest’s heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people.
The Levite proved himself to be an opportunist with no loyalty.
Judges 18:24 — And he said, “You take my gods that I made and the priest, and go away, and what have I left?”
Micah placed all his hope in false religion. Though he claimed that his false religion was honoring to God, it was powerless. If you place you hope in anything other than Jesus, you will discover that you built the house of your life on sand. To use another metaphor, your house of cards will collapse, and the bigger the house, the harder it falls.
Judges 18:27 — …and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.
The Danites, blessed by their illegitimate priest, were ruthless and took advantage of the weak. Some of the most ruthless people claim to be the most righteous. Moralism is often the excuse for lawlessness. In the Name of God or with great proclamations of justice, many people do terrible things. God is certainly a just God, but His desire isn’t to condemn but to reconcile, and He has commissioned Christians to be His ambassadors and ministers and messengers of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5). Ultimately, God responds to injustice with an offer of mercy and grace at the Cross. While other social-justice warriors seek to penalize their perceived offenders, we are called to proclaim the Gospel.
Judges 18:30, 31 — And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land. So they set up Micah’s carved image that he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.
Once again, the Danites used man-made religion to validate their sinful lifestyles as many do today. Today’s most popular religion is secular humanism support by a fake pseudo-science that starts with the premise that there is no God. However, many adulterations of Christianity create a more appealing Jesus who seems to validate compromise in the name of grace.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 7 July 2025: Judges 18 is a sobering warning: even God’s people, even the descendants of Moses, can fall into dangerous error when they substitute convenience, tradition, or cultural comfort for obedience to God’s Word. The Danites were strong, strategic, and successful by the world’s standards. But they built their legacy on stolen idols and spiritual compromise.
Today, examine your foundation. Are you pursuing comfort over obedience? Are you mistaking worldly success for spiritual blessing? Are there areas in your life where you’ve mixed truth with error, tradition with faith, sincerity with sin?
- Luke 6:46 — “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
- Matthew 7:21-23 — “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Pray: “Lord, keep me from doing what is right in my own eyes. Teach me to love Your truth and to reject every false way. Help me not to settle for a form of godliness without the power of Your Spirit. Make my life a reflection of worship in spirit and truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
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