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Judges 18:1-2 - Danites running amok - Day 216

Dear Friends,

Another day of trying to keep even.  Today's devotion is about excuses.  When I was working at Millsone, there was an "accountability" phase of leadership.  Everybody had to be able to explain why they did what they did.  Generally, this was after something went wrong.  It is very hard to explain why you didn't follow a procedure.  We should take Paul's warning to the Corinthians that we all have to stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  Will our "excuses" hold up before His questioning?

Blessings

Jeff

Joshua 19:40-47 describes the lot that fell to Dan, how it was "lost to them" and their eventual capture of Leshem.

40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the people of Dan, according to their clans. 41 And the territory of its inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon, 46 and Me-jarkon and Rakkon with the territory over against Joppa. 47 When the territory of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and striking it with the sword they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor.

This passage in Judges explains how this happened.  The Levite in the house of Micah is a commentary on the mixed up religious practices in Israel during this time.  We have seen numerous "going after foreign gods" episodes.  This is different in that the value of a Levite is recognized but used for idolatrous purposes.  The mixture of Jewish and pagan practices.  

The fact that there was no king is the implied reason for apostacy.  This is one of those "is it true?" things.  We believe that every word in scripture is God breathed and therefore inerrant.  But it seems like we can ask if having a king (political arena) would have solved this problem (religious arena).  This entire episode is an example of how individual tribes were going astray.  Instead of conquering the land that they were allotted, they go off to the edges of Canaan.  Partial obedience is not really obedience. 

The Levitical priesthood was really responsible for maintaining observation of the law.  They were the spiritual authorities.  While Moses and Joshua were political/military leaders, the Levites retained responsibility for spiritual practices.  

As Calvin later stated, man's heart is a factory for idols.  We can fault the Danites, but we have to take this warning very seriously.  We must watch ourselves very carefully and be open to correction by our overseers.


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