Judges 17

[MEST] Judges
Judges 17 >
“Bookends for one book”
Right back at the beginning of Judges (1:1) we read, “After the death of Joshua...” and right at the end of Judges we read, “In those days Isreal had no king”.
This book is all about mess.
The mess we get in without leadership or direction.
The last 5 chapters find us in a place in Isreal where they’ve lost their obvious leader, Joshua... and are yet to find their king, David.
How will God’s chosen people fair?
Throughout the lives of the 12 judges, God has been playing a major role, but now he seems to have left, only showing an obvious appearance once in all 5 chapters.
Lets see how they get on “going it alone”...

Verses 1 and 2 are 2 brilliant sentences that tell us loads, but at the same time leave us with questions. What?

Micah heard his mom’s curse and then gave the silver back. Why?


After the silver was returned why did Micah’s mom speak a blessing on him?


Verse 3 conflicts with the end of verse 2. How and why?


If this returned silver was to be “consecrated to the Lord”, why did Micah’s mom only actually use 200 shekels of silver?

Next we see that this “idol” is put in an already existing shrine in Micah’s house. What does this tell us?


Micah then makes an ephod. Does this remind us of anyone else? What parallels can we draw between them?


Then Micah installs one of his own sons as his priest! What issues could we have with this?


“Everyone did as they saw fit” kinda sounds like our situation in 2010. How do the two compare?


Next we see a Levite from Bethlehem, who we later find out is called Jonathan, who is looking for a new home and a new job. So, he’s a man looking for a job and Micah has a job and is looking for a man...coincidence?


Even though this priest-position was already filled, when a Levite comes along looking for a job, the position is made available to him. What could this tell us?


This “chance meeting” was seen by Micah as a sign from God. Is this the right assumption?