So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out. . . . and came to the house of Micah. . . . Then the five men who had gone to scout out the country of Laish said to their brothers, “Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a metal image? Now therefore consider what you will do.”. . . . And the five men who had gone to scout out the land went up and entered and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the 600 men armed with weapons of war. . . . And the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” And they said to him, “Keep quiet; put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?” And the priest’s heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people. So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the livestock and the goods in front of them. When they had gone a distance from the home of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah’s house were called out, and they overtook the people of Dan. And they shouted to the people of Dan, who turned around and said to Micah, “What is the matter with you, that you come with such a company?” And he said, “You take my gods that I made and the priest, and go away, and what have I left? How then do you ask me, ‘What is the matter with you?’ ” And the people of Dan said to him, “Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives of your household.” Then the people of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home. But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire. . . . And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land. So they set up Micah’s carved image that he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh. (Judges 18:11–31)Reading this result of worshiping idols makes my heart heavy. All this did for them was conflict and murder. Their gods did not do for them what the true God does for His people. This truth is repeated dozens of times in the OT and the NT:
“Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the Lord and his people. (1 Chronicles 22:18)Knowing inner peace is the epitome of the peace God gives. It is a peace that does not depend on circumstances but on a faith relationship with Him.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:3)
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
A current example of the need for peace in human hearts is on this week’s daily news. Gangs are destroying parts of Mexico and putting terror in the hearts of many who live or are vacationing there. Both those burning vehicles and buildings, and the people hiding in their hotels need the peace of God. What gods are they worshiping?
And I need this amazing peace too, even just watching this violence on the news.
Jesus, You are the Prince of peace. You said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) How we need You to give us this inner peace so that our world can experience the freedom of no more conflict. Come, Lord Jesus.