A mercenary spirit

When these went into Micah's house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molded image, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?" 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. – Judges 18.18-20

The priests were supposed to be special. They had all kinds of special rules. They were to live holy lives and carry out all kinds of rituals and sacrifices, but their goal was supposed to be to point the nation to the Lord.

They were not meant to be mercenaries.

You’d have to wonder about this guy for hiring himself out to start with, but now we see his true heart. Another group comes to him comes in to Micah’s house, and gathers up his idols and paraphernalia. Then they persuade him to come and priest for them. The amazing this is that this Levite is carrying all these idols and images around with him.

They make him a better offer, and he leaves.

You can almost understand it with a this guy, he wasn’t a spiritual example to start with.

What is tragic though is that it is possible to serve God the same way today. It is too easy to make decisions about serving God based on what we can get out of it instead of what God wants us to do.

Lord, keep this mercenary spirit far from me. Remind be to be content and trust you where you call me to serve You. Help me to trust You to sort out the rest.