on reading the latter parts of Judges (part. 2)

Continuation from earlier posting (cos' the earlier post, was like, getting too long, man... ) These are from Chapter 17 - 21 of Judges, which the NIV Life Application Bible titled in bold, "THE MORAL FAILURE OF ISRAEL"

1) In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. (Judge 17:6)

Basically, the "bo zeng hu" (“没政府") days, in Singlish-ese. People do what they like, without concern for God's commandments.

2) He told them what Micah had done for him, and said, "He has hired me and I am his priest." (Judges 18:4)

Ooo, ooo, priest for hire!   But seriously folks, this was not meant to be. The footnotes gave a somber explanation:

"Priests and their assistants were all members of the tribe of Levi (Numbers 3:5-13). They were to serve the people, teach them how to worship God, and perform the rituals involved in the worship service both at the tabernacle at Shiloh and in the designated cities throughout the land. But this disobedient priest showed disrespect for God because (1) he performed his duties in a house. Priestly duties were to be performed only in the tabernacle or a designated city. This requirement was intended to prevent God's laws from being changed. (2) He carried idols with him (18:20). (3) He claimed to speak for God when God had not spoken through him (18:6)." 

3) Then the priest was glad. (Judges 18:20)

Man, the evilness that resides in the heart of man. The priest was glad because now he gets to be taking spiritual care of more people, no matter that it required him to betray the person who has been giving him shelter. Nor did it cross his mind to consult God in this.

4) There the Danites set up for themselves the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of captivity of the land. They continued to use the idols Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh. (Judges 18:30-31)

Two things that strike me about this passage. First, Jonathan was 2 generations away from Moses, it meant that this period was relatively early after the Israeli nation had entered into the promised land of Canaan. Yet it couldn't have happened in Joshua's time, while he was still leader of the Israelites. Man, it's a pretty short period for them to fall away thus far into the evil practices.

Second thing, how stiff-necked we can be at times, insisting on idols which are man-made and can be seen. The Danites worshiped idols which had no power to defend themselves from being moved from place to place.

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wo, just did a rain check, this post is running on again. Shall stop here for now...