Judges 18 -- Receiving Ungodly Counsel

"If the people had forsaken their idols, and if the elders of Israel had consulted God's law and obeyed it for God's glory, Israel could have been governed successfully.  Instead, 'Every man did that which was right in his own eyes,'"my commentary said.  It enumerated many sins committed by the tribe of Dan as it sought to find territory to relocate to:

Covetousness -- "The Danites coveted somebody else's land instead and took it in a violent manner ... God put each tribe just where He wanted it.  For the tribe of Dan to reject God's assigned territory and covet another place was to oppose His divine will."

Ungodly counsel -- The five spies found Jonathan the Levite (from the last chapter) and he was more than willing to tell them anything they wanted to hear, whether it was from God or not.

Breaking and entering, robbery and intimidation -- Knowing of Micah's idols from their previous trip, the spies invaded the shrine and stole the gods.  The Levite was shocked but quickly got over it when they lured him away from Micah!

 

Violence and murder -- The Danites marched north and invaded the peaceful people at Laish, killing them all and burning the town to the ground before rebuilding it for themselves.

Idolatry -- Even though there was a house of God in Shiloh, they preferred their images and idols.

People don't want to hear the truth.

Father, shield my heart from Satan's attacks.  Don't let me ever give up on following You.  Help me to trust You more every day.  I don't want to turn out like they did.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford