Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 18:1-31.
The corruption in Israel went far deeper than one man of Ephraim and his personal priest; the entire tribe of Dan was rotting due to the rejection of the LORD as king. Though outwardly the Danites might have looked like faithful Israelites, their actions and words reveal their true moral and religious decay. They operate from the principle, “Might makes right.” That’s why they sought illegitimate approval from an illegitimate priest. That’s why they chose to conquer Laish rather than the territory the LORD had actually allotted to them. That’s why they plundered Micah of his household gods and his personal religious service. That’s why they set up idolatry within their tribe until the days of King David. The tragedy of the tribe of Dan gives us the ugly picture of what sort of life idolatry produces, thus inviting us to repentance and faith in Christ alone.
“Rebellion and Rescue” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Judges. This book is characterized by a familiar. As the generations after Joshua forget the LORD and what He has done for Israel, they fall into idolatry. The LORD gives them over into the hands of their enemies in order to bring them to their senses. When they cry out to Him in repentance, He sends a judge to rescue them and give them rest for a time, until they relapse into idolatry once more. In this cycle, we see a picture of our own Christian life. Daily, the old Adam in us is drowned in contrition and repentance, and the new man emerges in Baptismal forgiveness to live in righteousness and purity before God forever.
