In TheirOwn EyesJudges 17:1-6

You do not determine what is right and wrong!

Judges 17:1-6

In Their Own Eyes

Micah’s mother gives lip service to the LORD (v 2).“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’

seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do” (Matt 23:2-3).

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 Jn 2:6).

In Their Own Eyes

Micah made an ephod.The ephod was the special garment worn by the

high priest (Ex 28:6-14).In the King James Version, Micah also made

teraphim. “Teraphim” is a Hebrew word that means “household

gods.” Micah couldn’t make due with just one idol.

Micah installed his son as priest. Only Levites could be priests (Deut 18:1). Micah knew that.

He later installed a Levite for his priest (v 12). “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since I

have a Levite as priest!” (Judg 17:13).

Why would Micah sin so grievously?“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (v 6).

In Their Own Eyes

That statement—“In those days there was no king in Israel”—occurs four times in the Book of Judges.Here at 17:6.18:1.

In chapter 18, the people of Dan are setting up a carved image for themselves and establishing a priesthood.

19:1. There is great sexual sin in chapter 19.

21:25 sums up the entire Book of Judges.

In Their Own Eyes

Cycle of the Period of the Judges (3:7-12).The Israelites would do evil in the sight of the

LORD.The LORD’s anger was aroused against them,

and the people would serve a foreign power.The people would cry to the LORD for

deliverance. He would raise up a judge. The judge would deliver His people.

The people would have rest for a period.The cycle would begin all over again.

You do not determine what is right and wrong!

In Their Own Eyes

We must allow God to be the king of our lives.During this period, there was no king in Israel.That’s only partially true.

There was no earthly king. Yet, the Israelites had God for their king.

“The LORD shall reign forever and ever” (Ex 15:18). God to Samuel: “Obey the voice of the people in all

that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them” (1 Sam 8:7, ESV).

In Their Own Eyes

Will we submit to God as king of our lives?“Do not present your members as instruments

of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom 6:13).

“Submit to God” (Js 4:7).What way do you need to submit to God in

your life?

In Their Own Eyes

Understand that you do not determine what is right and what is wrong.You and I are in absolutely no position to

determine what is right and wrong.Ps 119:9-11.“O LORD, I know the way of man is not in

himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer 10:23).

In Their Own Eyes

We must also pay attention to God-appointed leadership.There is a real tendency for people to forget the

leadership of God and to wander away from Him. The people in the time of the judges did that. “Even as they did not like to retain God in their

knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting” (Rom 1:28).

I wonder if that isn’t part of the reason God gave elders to the church: Individuals who are physically present to help remind us of God’s truths.