Today’s reading: Judges 18:1-19:30
My selection: Judges 18:19-20
And they said to him, “Keep quiet; put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?” 20 And the priest’s heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people.
My reflections: The Levite who had illegally been installed as priest to the household of Micah in Ephraim has now received a greater “call”. The men of Dan make him an offer he can’t refuse, to be the priest for a whole tribe rather than merely for one family. It is a real promotion and he is glad to take it. Besides, there were 600 armed men ready to pounce on him and his master should they cause any trouble.
Having already wandered from obedience to the law of God, the priest (whose name is never mentioned) had neither the character nor the commitment to resist this new “opportunity.”
My challenge: If you are a minister of the gospel, do you serve the Lord and obey Him whether or not it advances your status, financial prosperity, or security? Are you eager to promote yourself? Do you consider whether the offer for a more prestigious position is in accord with the ways of God as revealed in His word? Are you caving in to pressure from powerful forces to act in ways that are not true to God’s word?
Minister, be faithful. Make obedience to God your sole aim, not personal advancement or the appeasement of powerful people.
Christian, pray for your pastor and all those who are serve the Lord that they may be faithful and content to serve in the place and way they have been called.
Tomorrow’s reading: Judges 20:1-Ruth 1:22
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