My family used to vacation in small mountain towns where we would move from shop to shop looking for souvenirs. Every year, without fail, my little sister asked if she could buy a lucky rabbit foot keychain dyed in the most delightful, little-girl colors. Every year the answer was the same. No.
In Judges 17 we meet Micah and his mother who had a complicated relationship living in a time without a king. Micah had stolen silver from his own mom, but fearful of his mother’s curses upon him, he confessed to stealing the silver. Together they agreed to make an idol out of it, introducing idolatry to their household. It was a direct revolt against God, “Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me” (Exodus 20:5).
In his own pride, Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me” believing God would show him favor because Micah made his own son a priest over the idols (Judges 17:13). When a young Levite stumbled into Micah’s home and agreed to be Micah’s priest, Micah believed it was a blessing from God.
Although rubbing a lucky rabbit foot snuck may seem like a silly superstition, we all have habits, ideas, and identities that need to be pried from our hands by our God who loves us too much to let us bow to anything or anyone other than Him.
Exodus 20:6 promises that God will show “faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands,” and you and I now benefit from that very love. God fulfilled His promise in bringing us a Savior in Jesus who would carry every weight of our sin and shame and take away the need of a substance, person, or object to provide for us.
Thank you, God, for Your Word and for the book of Judges to remind us that we don’t need luck or good fortune when we have You. May we know, “we are God’s offspring, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination” (Acts 17:29). We have a King, it is You.
All Hail King Jesus.
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39 thoughts on "Micah’s Priest"
All Hail King Jesus!
the broader context of the Israelites’ struggle to follow God’s laws. The chapter presents the story of Micah, an Ephraimite, who, along with his mother, participates in idol worship. It reflects the spiritual and moral decline in Israel during the time of the Judges, as well as the pervasive influence of moral relativism. (Moral judgment across people and culture, unwelcome rebellion against Divine Law, most rebellion against God).
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Yes Cheryl, I’m praying that prayer as well! ❤️
You can find a link on the website or go directly to Apple Podcasts. Search for She Reads Truth ❤️
All hail King Jesus! This little line at the end of the commentary says it all. Jesus should be the only king of our life. When we allow or put anything or anyone else on the throne, we will fail.
My prayer is show me Lord, who b or what I have put before you! Forgive me! Make me sensitive to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit!
Where is the podcast?
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Lord, forgive us for our wandering hearts, for wanting more than what you provide. Guard our hearts from the distractions of this world and lead us back to a true worship of You.
Happy birthday Traci and I am praying for you
Happy Monday feiends! Thanks so much for the prayers @SEARCHING ❤️
I am experimenting, MERCY! (There are six emojis that follow.)
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Thank you ladies for suggesting HRT today. It was exceptional. “The emptiness of a Micah-like religion is shown when you try to recreate God in your own image. If you pick and choose what you want to believe and reject the rest, you will never have a God who can contradict you, only one who suits your desires”. This described lots of modern day beliefs that we can fall prey to. Creating God in our own image has been a recent repetition that I hear. I need to catch myself at times, reminding that God is not like us, He is not emotional, His kind of love is never sentimental. God is not our uncle – I have been hearing this too. He is His own very special and wonderful kind. We have to dismiss our ways to make room for His. Make room in our heart, our habits, our mindset and more. It’s a progress of demolition, then emptying. And that whole idea is so satisfying for a minimalist person like myself lol. I walked away from a heavily cluttered lifestyle and I have not looking back. To a she that asked about emojis not being displayed, I don’t think it is because you are not subscribed, there are only few approved icons that SRT would allow shown. Some experiments might be worthwhile ;)). Lifting your requests in prayers shes. May our prayers be like incense unto You Father. May the lifting of our hands be as evening sacrifice. Be blessed dear sisters.
Amen
Happy birthday, @Traci G! May the Lord be near to you as you remember this time two years ago.
I listened to the podcast while walking laps during “recess” today at preschool. It made me not want to read the last chapters of Judges. But, I was glad when Tony said that this time is chronologically the same time that Ruth is happening (which is our Bible lesson at preschool this week. Gods timing? I think so!) So, I’ll continue the struggle till the end. God would want me to. As KAREN V pointed out… it offers hope!
And happy (bittersweet) birthday today, TRACI GENDRON! <3 (I don’t know why typing emojis on my iPad don’t show… maybe as I don’t subscribe at this time?)
I listened to the podcast as well, thanks for the suggestion Brenda of only listening to the current day reading, it was very helpful and eye-opening of how we tend to do the same thing today! Highly recommend it!
Thank you for the comments.
@Traci- you remain in my thoughts and prayers as I know you miss Tanner all the time, but this coming week and time period is even harder. I can’t imagine your grief.
Thank you @Searching for asking about the movers bringing back my furniture and possessions that were part of the pack out from the flood! You are amazing at following up!
Yes, there were 110 boxes and furniture. At the end of the day, my Apple Watch showed over 9000 thankful steps! All the water exposed items are still in my garage that a representative is coming to go through on Wednesday. It has been a tedious process, and I’m grateful to be reorganizing and transitioning into using that part of my house again!
Thank you for your prayers. I am praying for all the requests of our sister She’s as well. ❤️
Hello, ladies..
Happy birthday for yesterday TAYLOR.. prayerful thst this year will be all you hope it to be..❤️
A. WALTON.. Praising God for His faithful provision..❤️
SEARCHING..❤️
TRACI GENDRON..Always, in my prayers dear friend.. it is well..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY for today!❤️
And to all, Happy Monday my loves..❤️
Good morning sweet SRT sisters!
TAYLOR— Happy belated birthday! I hope you had a great day! Sorry you aren’t feeling well! Get better soon! ❤️
TRACI GENDRON—Happy birthday! I hope you have a great day! I know you miss Tanner terribly but pray that you find comfort in his complete healing. ❤️
CEE GEE and MOLLY R (and others who are sick)—I’m praying for your quick and complete healing! ❤️
I’m praying for all your requests! May God bless each one of you!
Sisters, please be sure to listen to today’s podcast. It presents these dark chapters in Judges in a way that enables us to understand what is going on, how to process our emotional responses to these events, and leaves us with hope. Super valuable.
TRACI GENDRON: Your strength is in grieving well. Don’t be afraid to grieve or think somehow it isn’t pleasing to God. Job gives us an example of grieving well Chapter 1 verse 20. He took his grief to God. He fell down at the feet of God with his grief. That is how we grieve well. We don’t push our feelings away, thinking that if we’re hurting we are somehow not trusting God. God expects us to grieve our losses. It shows how much we love. Take your grief to God and sit with Him in it. God will be there in the midst of your grief. And yes, Tanner received the ultimate healing by being with Jesus now in heaven. You can rejoice in that. Grief and joy can coexist. That’s the beauty of it.
This from Tiny Evans Study Bible (17:6) – “The people had completely forgotten that the Lord was to be their King. Instead, everyone followed his own standard, his own god.”
I love how the verse in Acts states emphatically: “because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed.”
Micah’s appointment of a priest had no real footing and was a selfish appointment. Quite a contrast.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TRACI GENDRON! Praying as you enter the dreaded week of remembrance that you will feel God’s Presence in a mighty way.❤ Hugs across the miles!
Belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TAYLOR! Praying you feel better soon!❤
SEARCHING – Your comment/reflection- so good – reminded me of the song, BREAK EVERY CHAIN. I am definitely a little better each day, but have a way to go. Thank you! ❤
The thing about the book of Judges is that the Israelites are in the promise land. They aren’t in the wilderness wandering around, they aren’t in captivity. They are in the Promised Land. Right where all of God’s blessings are there, available for them to enjoy. If they only obey. Many times I have to remind myself, I too, am living in the promised land, the land of milk & honey, where all of God’s promises and blessings are available to me. But do I always keep the right attitude? No. Do I sometimes look away from all that God has given me and try to do things on my own? or make an idol out of something God never wanted me to worship? Help us all, Father God, to keep our focus on You and all You have for us. Help us to not want the things the world offers us. Change our hearts, O God, and make us mindful of the blessings that are ours forever more by simply obeying You.
He Reads Truth devo was good!
I also found the reading confusing. The son steals from his mother and she offers him a blessing?? What?? And then an idol. Doesn’t make sense to me except for us to see the wrongdoing here.
Today is my 62 birthday. It is also the start of hell week from 2 years ago. Tanner died on 11/13 just one week after my 60th birthday. I was out walking my dog this morning and could feel the weight of that time. I’m trying to give it to God. To remember that Tanner is healed and with his Father.
GM!
This was confusing scripture for me thinking “what’s going on here…isn’t this wrong?” There was lying, stealing, false worship and idols…but that they were followers of God. Glad to determine through the devotion and comments that yes, it was wrong but used as an example to us. That we, even thinking we are aligned with God, still bringing in our own idols into our household, and do as we see fit in who we look up to, and so on. Lord, help us in all areas of our life to look to you FIRST, and pray and seek you in all of our relationships. OOF! Check our hearts Lord.
Happy Birthday Taylor! I remember my 28 being a really good, fun year!
Happy Birthday Traci Gendron!! Hope you have a wonderful day!!
@Laura- thought of you yesterday and prayed for you and your kids, and all of our prodigal children here.
I’ve got to admit, getting up to read Judges doesn’t have the same luster as something like studying the Psalms…or the upcoming Give Thanks or Advent readings! But there is a sweet humility in being reminded that we as humans are bound to keep making the mistakes of our wayward brokeness until that second Advent of Christ.
BUT GOD.
In His great and unmatched mercy He reminds me this morning that in getting up to read I really am getting up to be with Him, and oh how I long for Him to know that is a desire of my heart. The reminder of the promised that He is near to me truly brings me peace this morning. It’s Monday and that means a full day at homeschool co op and teaching. I am mildly under the weather, but praying that the joy of being with our community will bring me strength.
Have a great day, dear She’s! I pray we all will “reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each of us.” Acts 17:27.
Micah is not so different from us. I think the line can be really thin sometimes. I know I have fallen short in my own story. Thankful to know Christ as the only true Savior and intercessor. No one else can wash us white as snow. Lord, forgive us for our secret sin and help us not trust in idols or resources above you. It’s crazy how innocent sin seems at first… Then it suddenly has your foot caught in a trap.
Truly, our world is not so different. How many times have we looked to things to save us instead of God? Money, savings, relationships, job security… And this is why God allows these things to be stripped from us, sometimes, so He can get the glory. Oh Lord, forgive us for trusting in ourselves and things above You.
@Taylor- happy belated birthday! I pray you get good rest and take care of yourself to feel better soon :) good time to drink tea!!
@A Walton- grateful to hear you got a car paid for !!! Thank the Lord :)
And… happy birthday, yesterday, TAYLOR! <3
And I love the end of Acts 17:27. He is not far from us, sweet She’s!
KRISTINE LOUGHMAN… I have often thought it would be wonderful to hear God speak to me audibly, like He did in the OT… instead of me, looking for signs… “Is that a sign?” “No, wait. I think that is a sign.” “No. Wait. That is the sign.” Being a sinful human being, I can turn anything into a sign. That still small voice is so elusive for me!
And I think it is funny about Natalie’s mention of a rabbit foot. I do the readings and then the devotion. My thoughts when I was reading, was that Micah treated having a Levite as a rabbit’s foot! So. Funny. I’ll have to look up why that became a symbol of “luck”.
Anyways… blessings on all of my sweet She sisters today!
HRT is really good today. This section really spoke to my heart: “Micah wanted a proper Levitical priest to justify his rebellion. The priest wanted to live out his role according to his own desires. Both Micah and the Levite were shifting their lives, even their convictions, to do what was most comfortable for themselves. They rebelled against the one true God and made a god of their own.” My rebellious children are dong this in our family and it just breaks my heart. My own heart does this too, wants to justify my rebellion instead of repenting. I pray for a contrite heart for my children and for myself, that we may follow only the One True God and not our own desires.
Definitely a convicting passage to think of the idols in my own life that draw me away from fully surrendering to God. One of which is my striving to be a “good Christian”. Jesus paid it ALL on the cross and satisfied my debt, freeing me from the need to strive to earn my salvation. Now I can live in the freedom of my salvation and not try to do better, work harder, etc.
Also ladies my 28th birthday was yesterday :) I’m excited to begin a new chapter and see how God uses me this year. I also went to bed feeling a little under the weather and woke up this morning with what feels like a sinus infection. I am in the thick of post-season officiating for field hockey so prayers are appreciated that I feel better quickly <3 I hope everyone has a blessed Monday!
On the app it’s non existent. At least it’s the correct day on here.
Okay, this story was confusing for me. Thanks BRENDA for helping me admit that, and for the insight about all the things in our lives that can become idols. Honestly it’s probably even easier for us in these times to make idols than it was in Micah’s time. We don’t have to melt down any silver! KELLY (NEO) – excellent point about misinterpreting signs. Growing up in a Christian home, I was told continually to “listen” for that still small voice, and promised repeatedly that God would give me a sign. Well, if it’s wasn’t a flashing neon sign with an arrow pointing me in the right direction, I couldn’t trust it. Because what if it’s just me WANTING to see a sign? What if I’m just inventing signs and convincing myself they’re from God? Ugh, the mind games I played with myself. These days I do a lot more waiting on the Lord and trusting he will make my path straight.
A WALTON -praise for the car situation!
My first thoughts when reading today’s scriptures – Micah & mother, what part of NO did you not understand?? Was the mother not taught the 10 commandments or did she not listen? Did she not teach Micah, or did he not listen?
It also brought to mind TINA’s ❤️ prayer yesterday, that God “will bring us out of the ‘slavery’ and chains that hold us back from seeing You, and From worshipping You and You alone.” And sadly realizing that we are the ones who either allow the chains to be placed on us, or we grab the chains and put them on ourselves. What are the chains that hold me back? Rationalization that KELLY (NEO) ❤️ spoke about? Compromise? Anger? A grudge I hold on to? We are free in Christ, let’s live like it!
MARTHA HIX – have you settled back in after the completion of the repairs? ❤️
CEE GEE ❤️ praying you are continuing to feel better
ALEIDA – praying for peace as you complete the move, and for Victor to have victory in all that is going on in his life
A WALTON – what a blessing! Thankful a form of transportation has been provided and paid for
NICOLE BURKE – thank you for sharing the completion of harvest. Farming is never finished and may the Lord be with you and your family in the upcoming work.
KIMBERLY Z – praying for efficient and smooth completion of your orders! You are blessed with many skills ❤️
I found this days reading to be confusing and challenging. I am in the habit of listening to the podcast (as best I can) to mirror the day’s reading that they are discussing so I listened to about 17 minutes this morning and that did give me a lot of insight. I am guilty of thinking about these people as worshipping idols and not realizing that today in this day and age I have done/might be still doing the same thing. My idol might not be a small statue but it could be my phone, a person, etc. Very challenging but good all the same. Love and prayers to you all.
It is amazing how we can easily rationalize events to be “signs” of God’s blessing to choices that are blatantly against His Word. Both Micah and the Levite were blind to how to receive God’s blessing.
A WALTON – yea! Happy to see things moving in a positive direction.
KRISTINE LOUGHMAN – Hi ❤️
Thank you for your prayers. After 2.5 months of not having a car, we finally have a temporary car from the garage. We had been promised one since 18 September, but I think it’s taking a long time for other people’s car parts to arrive as well. It still doesn’t have enough seats for all of us, but at least my husband and I can make it to appointments, take our older kids to their sports, or get to the shop.
We were told at first, we needed to pay €30 a day for it. We don’t have that kind of money, especially since they still don’t know when our own car will be fixed. Then they told us when the car would be available they would reduce it to €10/ day. Again, we don’t have that kind of money to spend. My husband was on the phone with customer service and the lady there firmly said VW wouldn’t pay for it. That was on Friday. Monday morning they said they had a car for us and VW would pay for it! I think the lady at the garage really pushed VW for us to get this paid for. So thankful.
Praying for all of you.