Observations:
(1) 17:6 In those days Israel had no king. Each man did what he considered to be right.a. Micah stole a large sum of money from his mother v.2.
(EBC) Compared with a yearly wage of ten shekels (v.10), its value represents a fortune
b. Micah's mother violated the 1st commandment and made images for God v.3.
"I solemnly dedicate this silver to the LORD. It will be for my son’s benefit. We will use it to make a carved image and a metal image.”
Plus, Micah made more personal idols v.5.
c. Micah first hired his son and then a young Levite to serve as priest while the Law said only the son of Aaron can be the priest v.5.
(2) Micah and his mother thought they were very religious persons.
a. Micah's mother praised God for her son when her son confessed that he stole the money.
v.2b “May the LORD reward you, my son!”
b. She dedicated the money to the LORD to make a carved image and a metal image.
v.3b “I solemnly dedicate this silver to the LORD. It will be for my son’s benefit. We will use it to make a carved image and a metal image.”
c. Micah hired the Levite to be his priest so that he could get divine revelation through him v.10, 12.
17:10 Micah said to him, “Stay with me. Become my adviser and priest. I will give you ten pieces of silver per year, plus clothes and food.”
(NET) [adviser] “Father” is here a title of honor that suggests the priest will give advice and protect the interests of the family, primarily by divining God’s will in matters, perhaps through the use of the ephod.
d. Micah long for God's blessing
17:13 Micah said, “Now I know God will make me rich, because I have this Levite as my priest.”
Reflections: For people who violated all the Laws of God, they appeared to be very religious.
Their personal life was immoral, and they violated the first commandment and other Laws. Yet they praise God and dedicated money to God. They even sought the advice from God and long for His blessings. Why?
Maybe they thought as long as they worshiped the LORD the format did not matter. However, God made it very clearly that we should worship God in the format that He prescribed.
How about us? Do we think that we are very religious because we offered the money to God and mentioned God's name? Do we obey God? Do we honor God and glorify Him the way He wants us to do that? Do we live our lives according to the Scriptures?
Audrey
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