Spurious Worship

by D. Smith, Lerwick | Category: General | Jul 1970

"And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there" (Joshua 18.1).

These words describe a significant event in the history of Israel after they entered the land of Canaan. Shiloh became the divine centre for the whole twelve tribes. The house of God and the ark of the covenant were there (1 Samuel 1.24, 4.3). For a little over 300 years God caused His Name to dwell in Shiloh (Jeremiah 7.12), until through the wickedness of His people, and the lewdness of His priests, the sons of Eli, He was forced to forsake the "tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which He placed among men and chose instead "the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which He loved" (Psalm 78.60, 68).

The importance of God's dwelling place in relation to the worship and service of His people, had been clearly emphasised by Moses before they set foot on the land, as follows, "Unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put His name there even unto His habitation shall ye

seek, and thither thou shalt come"; and "Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: but in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes" (Deuteronomy 12.5, 13, 14). The Israelite could not worship nor serve God in the place and manner most agreeable to himself, but only in complete obedience to the word of God.

The 17th chapter of the Judges brings us another significant event in the history of Israel, but one of a very sombre character. In a small and apparently innocent form there began in the house of Micah, in the hill country of Ephraim, a spurious form of religious worship which became a blemish in the midst of Israel.

Having recovered the eleven hundred pieces of silver which her unscrupulous son had stolen from her, the mother of Micah dedicated the silver unto the LORD, for her son, and gave two hundred pieces to the founder, who "made thereof a graven image and a molten image". These were set up in the house of Micah. In perversive religions down the ages, silver and the amassing of money have exceeded in importance every other purpose. The unreasonable exacting demands of organised religion have in no small degree contributed to the reaction which the world has so painfully witnessed during the past hundred years. It is sad that many are so deluded into thinking that the redemption of the soul, which God says is "costly", can be obtained by casting a few coins into the hand of a priest or prelate.

Micah extended the evil order by making an ephod and teraphim, and in consecrating one of his sons to be a priest; thus three generations were now involved in this rebellious system. It is not surprising that the Holy Spirit records "In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes (verse 6). The absence of a recognized authority in any community of men will inevitably lead to disorder and corruption. God has ordained the powers that be (Romans 13.1), and the believer is exhorted to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities (Titus 3.1). Those in the Fellowship of God's Son should also know and submit to those whom God has made responsible for the carrying out of His will among His people (Hebrews 13.17). It is a disastrous step in the life of any individual when he chooses to do what is right in his own eyes, for his vision, like his thoughts and ways, is not as God's vision. We live in the present, not knowing what a day may bring forth. In contrast, God declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46.10).

The evil which had been born in the house of Micah was soon to receive fresh impetus through the casual arrival in Ephraim of a young Levite who had left Bethlehem in search of a place. It is consistent with the perfect order of God that every object of creation has an appointed place (see Ecclesiastes 1.5; Job 38.12). Yet how sad that many children of God should be indifferent to their God-appointed place in His service. The young Levite had a very privileged place in God's economy for the service of the sanctuary and all that pertained to it had been committed to the tribe of Levi which had no territorial portion in the land for the LORD was their portion and the ministry of the sanctuary their field of service (Numbers 3). To wander from a divine station is a dangerous move which may well entail grievous consequences both for the person concerned and also for his posterity. The wandering Levite found an open door when he came to the house of Micah who greeted him with the salutation "Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten pieces of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals" (verse 10). This attractive offer was more than he could resist, so the Levite went in, no doubt with a feeling of satisfaction that at last he had found the place pleasing to his taste. Consecrated by Micah to serve in his house, with a suit of apparel and a yearly stipend, the Levite was now content to dwell there.

One man, with certain qualifications and a distinctive garb, standing between God and men, as is common in many of the sects of Christendom today, is not in keeping with the New Testament Scriptures. It is contrary to the divine order for the present age which began on the day of Pentecost and will continue until the Lord returns. The conventional titles and attire of religious personages have been handed down by tradition without divine authority. Neither the Lord nor His apostles set the example for such unnecessary distinctions.

It is abundantly clear that the service of a holy priesthood, as envisaged in the Scriptures, cannot be performed by isolated individuals nor by occasional attendance at religious services. Priestly service today, like that of the past, is associated with the house of God over which the Lord Jesus Christ is Great Priest (Hebrews 10.21), appointed of God after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5.10), " a Minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man". He serves in the sanctuary of heaven, presenting to God in His own perfection the offerings and spiritual sacrifices of a holy priesthood (Hebrews 8.3; 1 Peter 2.5). This priesthood consists of believers, termed living stones, not as an incoherent heap, but "built up" a spiritual house, and is composed of churches of God, "fitly framed together, ... for a habitation of God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2.21-22). One of the principal reasons for God having a dwelling place among men is that He might be worshipped and served in an acceptable manner.

The idols that were made and set up in the house of Micah, and later in the city of Dan, have long ago passed away; the attire which the Levite wore and all the victuals of service have gone into oblivion; but the spirit of subversion and the evil characteristics embodied in this false religion of ancient days continue to exert an influence over the lives of many even in this late day.

The apostle Paul was well aware of this evil when he wrote, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables" (2 Timothy 4.3-4).

D. Smith, Lerwick | Jul 1970
General