Judges 17: When God is absent from men’s hearts, pursuing God’s kingdom and His righteousness takes a back seat. Meet Micah, whose name means “who is like God,” an example. He lived just a stone’s throw from the tent of God in Shiloh but lived by this principle: What is mine is mine, and what is yours is mine as well. God had said, “Thou shalt not steal” [Ex 20:15], but for Micah, stealing was just another day in his life.  Further, when he stole, his own mother blessed him by having an idol made to honor his treachery! 🙁 Then, one day, a wandering Levite from Bethlehem comes looking for a place to stay, and Micah bribed him with ten pieces of silver per year to be his priest. However, that loyalty only lasted until a better offer came along.

This story, along with Samson’s, teaches us the principles of Romans 1:18 they suppress the truth by their unrighteousness. God’s presence is near, but it is unimportant. They claim to be wise but instead become a fool. [Rom 1:22] And so God gives them over to a depraved mind.

Want to honor God? Choose ye this day whom you will serve [Josh 24:15] and be ye holy as God is holy. [1Peter 1:16 ]