Prayer: Father, You do not like compromise and disobedience. May my life be an example of loyalty and obedience unto You. Amen.
Reading: Judges 18 key: vs. 3-6 “When they were near the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite. So they turned aside there and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you have here?” He said to them, “Thus and thus Micah did for me—he hired me and I became his priest.” “Please inquire of God,” they said to him, “so we may know whether our way that we are going will be successful.” “Go in peace,” the priest said to them. “The way that you are going has Adonai’s approval.” TLV
Attention: The whole concept of hiring a priest to be your priest, seems a bit strange to me. However, having been in the church up until around 2018, I get the concept. I witnessed congregants who felt the Kingdom work was the Pastor’s. After all, he was a paid clergy. He was seminary-educated and knew the scriptures far better than we.
A couple other alerts about this situation are found in verses 14 and 18. We read a list of items in the priest possession; an ephod, which was usually considered a part of the priest’s wardrobe, which was used as a source of divine guidance. However, research shows the ephod was not always associated with seeking a word from God, but in a “wrong way as an idol.” (Source: Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary pg. 499), household idols, a carved image, and a molten image.
As a priest of Adonai, one would think he would not be in possession of icons which would be an offense to God. Whether we attribute legitimacy of priestly status to this man because of the ephod, the other items give me pause to discredit him. Yet, in questioning his legitimacy, he did give the men from Dan correct counsel when inquired by the men from Dan.
What we do not see from the priest, is godly counsel about the household items and idols in Micah’s possession. Is the priest’s compromise because he is getting paid? It is a tough balance for pastors who are concerned about their congregations’ sensitivities to be faced with the Word of God.
If you are in a faith community which is structured with a senior pastor, I encourage you to find a pastor who is not into just tickling your ears, but willing to hear from God. Is he willing to confront you with the scriptures, under the power of the Holy Spirit?
Action: I choose today to be biblically selective in selecting scriptural teachers, pastors, and leaders.
Yield: I choose today to yield to the Holy Spirit in selecting spiritual leadership.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in selecting spiritual leadership.
Relationship: I choose to maintain a close intimate relationship with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, spiritual leadership have grave responsibilities to the body of Christ. I have a responsibility to select spiritual leadership and mentors who are obedient to You. Amen.
Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 4: 1-4 “I solemnly charge you—in the presence of God and Messiah Yeshua, who is about to judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom—proclaim the Word! Be ready when it is convenient or inconvenient. Confront, rebuke, encourage—with complete patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not put up with sound instruction, but they will pile up for themselves teachers in keeping with their own desires, to have their ears tickled. And they will turn away from hearing the truth and wander off to myths.” TLV
Music Video: Jason Upton—Whisper https://youtu.be/eD_xQNhBlfM
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”