GOD’S WORD FOR YOU
JUDGES 17:7-13
7 There was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, from the division of Judah. He was a Levite, descended from Gershom.
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17:7 Hebrew, following a slightly different division of the Hebrew words. Traditionally: “There was a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, who had been staying within the clan of Judah.”
The traditional translation of this verse is that this young man “from Bethlehem in Judah who was a Levite who had been staying there with the clan of Judah.” The phrase “staying there” has the same consonants in the same order as the Levitical name Gershom (gr-shm). Gershom was a tribe descended from Moses, and formed a whole division of Levites. The term “division” is sometimes called a clan in translations, but it seems like our author wants us to understand where this Levite fit from among the various divisions of the Levites. Also, in 18:30, this Levite is called “son of Gershom, son of Moses,” so it’s also likely that the name Gershom should be used here. This understanding and translation does not require any rearranging of letters, merely that two separate words be brought together as one word, the way our words “at one” can also be brought together to form the word “atone.”
8 He left the town of Bethlehem in Judah to find some other place to stay.
Why? In our day of background checks, we might want to know a little more about what happened back at Bethlehem, and why this young Levite wanted to leave. Was he really just looking for some other place to stay? Or was there more to it?
As he made his way he came to Micah’s home in the hill country of Ephraim. 9 Micah asked him, “Where do you come from?”
He answered, “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I’m looking for a place to stay.”
So far in this chapter, we have encountered a situation which to many 21st-century eyes and ears seems remarkably pious and good. How wonderful that this family in Ephraim wanted to get closer to God! How wonderful that they spent so much money on the upkeep of their private chapel, with their own family pastor-priest, with their collection of religious trinkets that didn’t hurt anybody. If it brings people closer to God, it must be good, right?
Wrong. Everything, everything, everything was wrong with what was going on here in the beth-el, the “house of God” that wasn’t Bethel, the House of God.
First, a woman, Micah’s mother, had begun this new church. It was her creation. This was not the tabernacle Moses and Aaron built, it was an aberration, like the unauthorized fire of Aaron’s sons, who were put to death for what they did (Leviticus 10:1-2). And a woman is not to exercise spiritual authority over a man (for example, by setting up her own denomination and consecrating ministers in it), since “she must be in submission, as the Law says” (1 Corinthians 14:34).
Second, there were the profane idols that littered the place. These were all a violation of the first commandment. In addition, there was the unauthorized ephod; not to mention the wrong kind of priest (only Levites could become priests, Numbers 1:50-54).
Now a genuine Levite has turned up. Was everything about to get better?
10 Micah replied, “Stay with me. Be my father and priest, and I will give you ten silver shekels a year, along with your clothing and food.” So the Levite moved in 11 and agreed to stay with the man, and the young man was like one of his sons to him. 12 Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his home. 13 Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because this Levite has become my priest.”
The word “father” is not usually used for a priest, but it’s not unique to this story (see also Judges 18:19). David calls King Saul his father (1 Samuel 24:11), and Elisha calls Elijah his father (2 Kings 2:12).
Notice the error in the final verse. What does God want from us? To do his will (Ezra 10:11). As the prophet Micah (not the mistaken Micah of our text) said: “What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). And Jesus said: “I have not come down from heaven to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38). God is not good to us just because we have a lucky priest. A Levitical priest could not sanctify this abomination any more than a pretty girl can make an overflowing toilet any less of a mess by standing on top of it.
Let’s put this in perspective for ourselves. A good deed doesn’t atone for a sin. Confessing the sin, and trusting in Christ for forgiveness, is whet we do. We’re not actually doing anything in this way, but we’re trusting in the one who told us to trust in him. This is the nature of the gospel and of Christian faith; to trust in Christ because he upheld God’s word in our place, every trustworthy and righteous statement of God (Psalm 119:138). We can no more make ourselves holy by what we do than we can make the sky blue by wishing. Our righteousness, Paul says, comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Romans 3:22). Don’t be misled by this Micah’s mistakes. Keep trusting in your Savior Jesus.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Archives by Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel: http://www.wlchapel.org/worship/daily-devotion/
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm, Minnesota