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THE MEN WHO FAILED GOD (IV)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1
Judges 18:27-31

Psalm 78:55-64

 

“…they tempted and provoked

the most high God…”

 

THE MEN WHO FAILED GOD (IV)
 
Judges 18:27-31 presents the capture of Laish by the Danite forces. The inhabitants of the city that dwelt secure by themselves and separate from other cities were suddenly smitten by the edge of the sword. A new city rose in its place. The name of the city was Dan. This new city would in the future become one of the nation’s idolatrous centres during the divided kingdom period.
 
“And the children of Dan set up the graven image…” (Judg 18:30). Micah had lost his gods. But gods that can be moved, stolen and removed from their devotees are no gods. Those who steal them and set them up for themselves are no different from those from whom they stole. In this, the Danites showed that like family like tribe, and like tribe, like nation. True religion is not about the outward forms and organisations; for in a day Micah had lost everything, and in a day, as the Danites settled in their new land, they set up everything.
 
“…all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh” (Judg 18:31). At the first conquest led by Joshua, the place of worship was set up and established at Shiloh (Josh 18:1), and when the two-and-a-half tribes had discharged their commitment to their brethren, Joshua reminded them of their spiritual responsibilities before they departed to go across Jordan. When they erected an altar across Jordan, the tribes of Israel gathered at Shiloh ready to go to war against them (Josh 22:10-12). Now, the Danites had set up a new centre of worship, yet the Tabernacle was still in Shiloh. How had the godly nation backslidden? Had they forgotten their history? Did not this generation receive the heritage of piety? The tribe of Dan kept its idolatrous religion until the Philistines took the ark captive and Shiloh was destroyed during Eli’s priesthood. The degradation of true religion, though gradual, is severe in its consequence. None is immune from its effect, priest or Levite, noble or commoner, and as such, all must watch and pray, all must remain steadfast in the faith. Sin always leads to destruction as Habakkuk points out in Habakkuk 2:9-20.
 
THOUGHT: Will our sons defend the faith?
PRAYER: Silence my heart in your presence, Father. Keep me faithful.

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