Wed.’s Devo - God is Our King -

Read: Judges 17:1-18:31; John 3:1-21; Psalm 104:1-23; Proverbs 14:20-21 The saying, “In those days Israel had no king: all the people did what ever seemed right in their own eyes” could not be more obvious in today’s story. Micah was a man from the tribe of Ephraim. He overheard his mother put a curse on whoever stole her 1,100 pieces of silver. He confessed to her that he hd stolen it and she forgave him since he told her the truth and returned it. She took 200 of the silver coins and had the silversmith make an idol for them to worship. *** A young Levite stopped by on his travels and the woman asked him to stay and be their priest. She would pay him ten pieces of silver a year, a change of clothes, and room and board. He agreed and Micah made him his own personal priest. *** Meanwhile, the tribe of Dan had not yet taken their land assigned to them. They sent men to spy out the land that was given them and happened to stop at Micah’s house and spent the night. They met the priest and he told them his arrangement with Micah. They tested him by asking him if their journey would be successful. When it was, they came back and asked the Levite to come and be their priest over their tribe. It was a much more prestigious job so he accepted. They sent their 600 warriors to Micah’s house to raid it. They took his ephod his household idols, a carved image and a cast idol. These were all the things Moses had told them not to have. Micah went after them but when they threatened with his life, he had to turn away. *** The men of Dan went to the next town, Laish, and took it. They renamed it Dan. They set up their idols and worshipped them. *** In John, one of the Pharisees, Nicodemus came secretly to talk with Jesus. Jesus spent much time telling him the secrets of the kingdom. This man’s influence could help change the other leaders. This was who Jesus came to offer salvation to first. Jesus explained how to be born again. The first birth is natural but the second birth is spiritual. He told him the second birth was the way into the Kingdom of God. *** Jesus explained how the serpent in the wilderness was lifted up on a pole and how he would too be lifted up on a pole so that everyone who believed in him could have eternal life. He gave Nicodemus the most quoted verse: John 3:16. God didn’t send his son into the world to condemn it but to save it. This was contrary to their teaching for sure. He spoke of God’s love instead of his judgment. Judgment was for those who didn’t believe in him. Those who loved darkness more than light would be judged. Those who lived in God’s kingdom lived their lives in the light. They would be saved. Lord, may we live in your light and do what you say is right. Thank you that we are not a nation without a king. You are our king, may we do what is right in your eyes as a people and a nation.