Compromises Judges 17
Micah’s story shows humanity how personal desires and cultural influences all can lead away from God.
Verse 2, “(Micah) said to his mother, ‘The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse – I have taken that silver with me; I took it.’”
Micah warns us about compromising authority. We all have personal authority, we make decisions about our own lives, but Micah shows us how our personal authority influences our understanding of what we perceive as truth.
In this passage Micah stole years’ worth of money from his mother, and he justifies it in his mind. Notice how when he tells her about it, he doesn’t apologize, he just states his theft as fact. We need to see the warning in Micah.
There are many Christians who we can use the term “Cafeteria Christian” to describe. Those who pick and choose which scriptures they want to follow. Those that focus on those verses that seem to support and promote their own fears and prejudices.
James 4:12, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. Who are you to judge your neighbor.” We all judge others to a degree, I know I do, It’s one of the things I try to work on and pray about. You’re married three times, you’ve had an abortion, you live an alternate lifestyle, can’t be around you. I’ve even heard, you’re liberal, you go against God’s teachings. And you can find verses that can justify these positions if you look at parts of verses or verses out of context. But we cannot let ourselves be tempted to prioritize personal interpretations or social and political trends over biblical truth. You need to look at all God says. Leviticus 19:33 & 34, “When a foreigner lives among you, do him no harm. The foreigner residing among you must be treated like a native-born.” Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary of doing good…”
When we use scripture to justify our preconceived beliefs instead of using scripture to find God, we are usurping God’s authority and replacing it with our own. And this hinders our spiritual growth. It causes us to mistreat our fellow man. It causes separation between us and God.
Micah warns us about compromising our worship. Verse 4, “So after he returned the silver to his mother, she took 200 shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who used them to make an idol. And it was put in Micah’s house.”
I see two compromises here. One is how the silver used to make the idol. I think we have a very generous church and a very generous congregation. I’ve seen many of you donate time and money to the things the church needs. Micah used the silver to make an idol that he then worshiped. If we purchase something for a church such as a chalice, a vase, anything that is used for display or to be aesthetically pleasing, and then get upset because it was moved, or not used, or perhaps replaced after a while; we are in a way compromising our personal worship.
I know people who’ve left churches because of these types of things. I’ve known people who’ve left churches because the new hymnals were brown, and they wanted blue. When any of us do this, it places the material object above our worship of God, and God is where our worship should be focused on. I realize tradition and history are important, but they should not be more important than God.
The second compromise I see in the making of this idol ss where it is placed, in Micah’s house. I have a beautiful handmade wooden cross embedded with hand forged nails in my home. I really like it, but I don’t worship it. I don’t let it conflict with my church worship.
Micah placed the idol in his home. He didn’t place it in the Temple. He didn’t place it in a church. He didn’t place it in public. Micah placed it in a place where he could let it compromise his shared worship and spiritual growth with others.
Verse 5, “Now this man Micah had made a shrine…” Having a religious item in your home is OK. Feeling close to God on a mountain hike, or while sitting on a beach are OK, if they don’t replace real worship of God. If they are not the focus of the entirety of your worship. It is important for one’s spiritual growth to worship with other believers. It is important for us to support other believers by our presence and joint worship.
Verse 6, “Now in those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” This sentence warns believers not to compromise our integrity, not to compromise the high standard of God’s Word.
Today Christians feel pressured to conform to social or political ideals. We must let our faith dictate our political and social beliefs not let society or political pressure dictate our faith. Jesus went to Samaria to reach the lost. He allowed a sinner to wash his feet. He touched lepers. He had sympathy for the Roman whose servant was dying, Jesus, although preaching of God’s kingdom, never demonized an entire group.
I’ve said before that I’ve heard it said if you vote a certain way you can’t be Christian. Faith should dictate your politics, not the other way around.
Ephesians 5:2, “Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us…” 1 Corinthians 16:14, “Do everything in love.” Romans 12:9, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good.” And James 2:8 & 9 “If you are really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted…” These verses and many others like them dictate my life. Am I perfect at it? No. I’m not even sure in God’s eyes I’m good at it, but I pray, and I try. In our current situation I’ve had “friends” call me many things, some nasty and vile. But I believe that if I ignore these verses, if I don’t let my heart be moved by these verses, then I am compromising the Word of God. I am denying the truth of the Word of God.
Verses 9 through 11, “Micah asked him, ‘Where are you from?’ ‘I am a Levite from Bethlehem…and I am looking for a place to stay.’ Then Micah said to him, ‘Live with me and be my father and priest, and I’ll give you ten shekels of silver a year, your cloths and your food.’ ‘so the Levite agreed…”
As before, I see two compromises here. The first involves Micah. The underlying notion here is this priest has the same beliefs and values as Micah, I don’t think he would be asked to live in Micah’s home if they were going to be at odds. There are many churches and many pastors, and there are those who go from church to church until they find one that teaches what they want to here. Some like to hear how God will make you wealthy or give you whatever you want if you pray hard enough. Others don’t want to think they might be wrong about what God teaches, they want to be reassured that their fears are correct, that someone else is the cause of their trouble. Some seek a church that teaches that they are superior because they believe, that they are better, that they are sinless.
Am I always right, probably not. Can you question me, absolutely. But whatever you think, go to scripture, don’t just rely on what someone says. If you don’t, you compromise the integrity of the written Word.
Secondly, this verse is a warning to pastors. This priest aligns himself with Micah, goes along with the worship of an idol. He focuses on the one who gives him the things he wants. He allows himself to be swayed by someone saying” You’re great, we want you, we think of you above the others.” This priest warns all ministers through time to guard against the temptations of egos, to stay grounded in reality.
Micah and the priest demonstrate how these compromises cause the bigger compromise of a faith community. We can see these compromises today. People who seek out a church that caters to their fear or prejudice, instead of learning what God is really saying. Churches that enforce these fears over the truth of scripture, compromising the authority of God. Churches that teach prosperity over Biblical scripture, compromising the truth of God’s Word. Churches that cater to current political or societal whims, compromising the integrity of God’s Word. Churches that teach separation, compromising the community God calls us to.
In those things of faith, always look to God’s word. 1 Chronicles 16:11, “Look to the Lord and his strength, seek his face always.”
Micah amended his worship to fit his needs and beliefs. It is quintessential that we look at our lives and guard against the temptation to compromise ourselves in the same way.
To all Christ’s followers, we must not change our faith to fit societal or political whims. We must let our faith change us to fit God’s teachings, and his Word.
May the God of peace in heaven,
Equip you with everything needed to do his will.
Amen