Judges 18:19–20: “And they said to him, ‘Be quiet, put your hand over your mouth, and come with us; be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest to the household of one man, or that you be a priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?’ So the priest’s heart was glad; and he took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved image, and took his place among the people.”

May 2nd, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

At first reading, it seemed like the Levite was making a courageous stand against these intruders. But what he was really doing was complaining that they were about to ruin the good thing he had going for himself. When they told him to keep quiet because they were offering him a better deal, he immediately folded. The old saying is that the line of least resistance makes both men and rivers crooked. He did the expedient thing because it was to his advantage and he was not a man of principle. They made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, and his heart was glad for the upward mobility and job advancement. If you can be bought at any price, then Satan will supply someone with your price.

Neither the Levite nor Micah, the one whose idols and priest were being stolen, found their false gods worth dying or even fighting for, because they were nothing more than manufactured gods. And since they weren’t worth dying for they weren’t worth living for either. Compromise came easily to the Levite because he wasn’t invested or following the true God. What is worth fighting for in our lives? We probably won’t have to face physically loosing our lives for Jesus today, but we will face the battle of living our lives for Him. Will we serve Him today will all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength?

“LORD, only by Your strength will we stand. Strengthen us by Your Spirit we ask and keep us standing for You this day.”