(The entire chapter of Judges 17 & 18 should be read to get the gist of this entire story -- Micah & his mother were just īplayingī at following God and this Levitical priest was in it for the money.... Donna)
THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY -- Judges 18:5-6 NIV
Then they said to him, "Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful."
The priest answered them, "Go in peace. Your journey has the LORDīs approval."
The Levite that Micah took into his home was not a true priest. Nothing about him resembled what a true priest of Israel was supposed to be. Nothing except the fact that he was a Levite... a member of the tribe to whom God had assigned the role of priest. But this young Levite was nothing more than an opportunist. He took advantage of the situation and allowed himself to be called Micahīs priest. And he did it for the money. This is obvious, because later, when the Danites came along and offered him more money, he happily went with them. So here he was, pretending to worship God, all the time helping Micah worship the idols Micah had made. Canīt you just see that sanctimonious so-and-so, solemnly walking around with a pious look on his face, being "priestly?"
He must have been really playing his part well, because when the Danites came along, they also believed he was a true priest, even asking him to inquire of God whether they were on the right track. Staying in character, the Levite immediately responded that their journey had "the Lordīs approval." In true form for someone with his lack of character, the Levite told the Danites what they wanted to hear. They had sought the counsel of the ungodly and had gotten exactly what they deserved.
When you and I need advice on a matter, where do we generally go? When weīve really made a mess of things, do we run straight to the most spiritually mature person we can find to get advice, right? Generally, no. Because that spiritually mature person is going to tell us what we need to do to straighten out the mess. And what we need to do is probably going to be painful and is definitely going to require a lot of faith. Knowing that, we avoid that type of person - just like the Danites. Instead, we head for someone we know is going to tell us what we want to hear, right? Thatīs a lot easier, isnīt it? In the short run, yes. But in the long run, weīve just made our road harder still.
When youīre in trouble, or confused, or just too close to a situation to see what you need to do, seek counsel. But seek the counsel of someone whom you know is living his or her own life in Godīs will, someone whose advice fits the scriptural definition of "wise counsel." Then you can have more confidence that the advice you are given is sound advice - advice thatīs within Godīs will for your life.
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3 NIV
(Dogwood Ministries, Inc.)
Submitted 2/12/2008 9:59:14 AM | Author: Dogwood Ministries. Inc.
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