Seeds of Idolatry Judges 17, 18 W. Cochran
What tribe is missing? Why? Revelation 7:4-8 Judah, Rueben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin Dan s name on East Gate in Ezekiel s millennial temple (Ezek 48:32).
Time Period for Judges 17-21 Events seem to occur shortly after the conquest by Joshua Danites conquering north during the time of Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses (Judges 18:30) Migration north by Dan was included in Joshua 19:47. Phinehas, son of Eleazer the Priest, ministering in Judges 20:28. Same priest serving during Joshua's time (e.g. Josh 22:13, 31, 32) Same priest born in Numbers 6:25.
Son is to be praised for his desire to be blessed (like Jacob), but his pursuit mimics pagan idolatry and superstition. Son desires to worship the true God using improper images (violation of 2nd commandment). Gideon s ephod had become a snare to his family (Judges 8:22-28). Bronze serpent destroyed by Hezekiah s reforms (2 Kings 18:4). Rachel takes images along with her on leaving her father Laban's house. Dysfunctional Family Judges 17:1-5 History of Dan s idolatry begin with an unhealthy mother/son relationship in Ephraim Mother has silver ephod and teraphim (household god) crafted by silversmith. Son builds private shrine holding idols and ordains his son as priest.
Proper Worship Deuteronomy 12 God establishes statutes and rules for Israel to live by in the promised land (12:1) Israel is not to incorporate private locations and carved images in their worship of God (12:2-4) God appeared with no form when He spoke (Deut 4:15-30) Single location for all tribes to be chosen (12:5) The method, place, and mode of worship is not decided as each individual sees fit (12:8) Not to mimic Canaanite methods of worship (12:29-32)
Man centered worship Judges 17:6 What is right is dictated by individual; Predominant theme during dark days of the Judges (17:6) Deuteronomy 12:8-14 Alluding to Golden Calf Event (Deut 9:13-29) Jeroboam s Golden Calves (1 Kings 12:25-33) One in Bethel, the other in Dan (v. 29) Appointed non-levite priests.
Levite for Hire Judges 17:7-13 Son convinces sojourning Levite to be his personal priest and father. Levite was content with arrangement. Micah is convinced that he will now be blessed.
Worshipping God in Spirit and Truth John 4:19-26 Samaritan woman concerned with place of worship (v. 20) Samaritans followed their own version of the books of Moses. First place Abraham builds altar is at Shechem which is overlooked by Mt Garizim and My Ebal (Gen 12:6,7) Where Israelites shout blessings and curses (Deut 11:29,30). Jews, recognizing full OT canon, worshipped in Jerusalem (2 Sam 7; 2 Chron 6:6).
Worshipping God in Spirit and Truth John 4:19-26 Location of worship about to become moot point (4:21) Jerusalem will be razed in AD 70. Those who would worship the invisible God will worship His Son. The hour is coming (v.23) Paradigm shift: the temple veil will be ripped in two at Christ s death -- He will secure our salvation and provide direct access to God s Throne. in spirit and truth (v, 23,24): worshipping God will not require ritual, but a right heart that is in conformity with the Word of God.
Dan travels north Joshua 19:40-48 Dan unable to hold original allotted land. Dan travels north and captures unsuspecting Leshem/Laish.
Danites take Levite & Idols Judges 18 5 Danite explorers lodge at Micah s home. Question Levite how he came there and ask him to inquire the LORD. Priest gives immediate favorable response. Explorers discover unsuspecting people of Laish. 600 Danites arrive Steal Micah s idols and take Levite. Levite s heart is glad to go with him. Micah powerless to stop them. Danites wipe out Laish Danites set up carved images and Micah s idols Last s until Assyrian captivity? or house of God at Shiloh? Note the irony in how powerless the idols themselves are.
Idolatry of Israel & Judah eventually leads to captivity (722 BC) Northern kingdom falls to Assyria (586 BC) Southern kingdom falls to Babylon. Jeremiah 8 Jer 8:19 -- provoked God to anger with idols. Jer 8:6 -- every turns to hos own course Dan: Jer 8: 16, 17
Modern Idolatry covetousness = idolatry (Eph 5:5; Col 3:5) "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:15) Worship of created things (Romans 1) Trap for Christians (1 John 5:21) sexual immorality tied with idolatry (Eph 5:5; Col 3:5; Rev 21:8; Rev 22:15) American culture rife with idolatry; very difficult to escape. Even things that are normally blessings from God can become idols: work, family, friends, health.
Jacob s Prophesy of Dan Genesis 49:16-18 Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse s heels so that his rider falls backward. I wait for your salvation, O LORD. Samson from Dan -- some theologians suggest he fulfills the first part of this (eventhough he acted alone).
Irenæus on the tribe from which the Antichrist will come And Jeremiah does not merely point out his sudden coming, but he even indicates the tribe from which he shall come, where he says, We shall hear the voice of his swift horses from Dan; the whole earth shall be moved by the voice of the neighing of his galloping horses: he shall also come and devour the earth, and the fulness thereof, the city also, and they that dwell therein. This, too, is the reason that this tribe is not reckoned in the Apocalypse along with those which are saved. Irenæus Against Heresies, Book V, Chap. XXX, 2 Jeremiah 8:16, Irenæus conflates Babylonian captivity with tribulation described by John Tribulations begins with opening of seals in Rev 6; first four seals = horsemen of Apocalypse. First horsemen brings unlasting peace (Jer 8:11). Serpents of Jer 8:17 mesh with Gen 49 prophecy of Dan; serpent biting heels = Satan.