In this chapter, a man named Micah takes in a Levite in hopes of restoring blessings to his life after he committed an ungodly act. Remember, Levites were the tribe that served closest to the Lord. They worked in the Tabernacle; they broke down and reconstructed the Tabernacle each time they traveled to a different location, and they served as priest. Moses and his brother Aaron, the first high priest, were Levites. You can read about the Levites in our lessons in the book of Numbers.
The chapter begins, “A man named Micah lived in the hill country of Ephraim. One day he said to his mother, “I heard you curse the thief who stole eleven hundred pieces of silver from you. Well, here they are. I was the one who took them.”
“The Lord bless you for admitting it,” his mother replied. He returned the money to her, and she said, “I now dedicate these silver coins to the Lord. In honor of my son, I will have an image carved and an idol cast.” So his mother took two hundred of the silver coins to a silversmith, who made them into an image and an idol. And these were placed in Micah’s house.
Micah set up a shrine, and he made a sacred ephod and some household idols. Then he installed one of his sons as the priest. In those days Israel Had no king, so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.
One day a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah arrived in that area of Ephraim, looking for a good place to live. He happened to stop at Micah’s house as he was traveling through. "Where are you from?” Micah asked him. And he replied, “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am looking for a place to live.” "Stay here with me,” Micah said. “And you can be a father and priest to me. I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, plus a change of clothes and your food.” The Levite agreed to this and became like one of Micah’s sons. So Micah ordained the Levite as his personal priest, and he lived in Micah’s house. "I know the Lord will bless me now,” Micah said, “because I have a Levite serving as my priest.” (Judges 17:1-13)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us behave in ways that are pleasing to you. And when we have sinned against you, convict our hearts to be honest. We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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