Study of the Book of Judges – Jdg 18:16-31 They Smote the Inhabitants of Laish with the Edge of the Sword

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Jdg 18:16-31: They Smote the Inhabitants of Laish with the Edge of the Sword

[Study Aired August 23, 2021]

Jdg 18:16  And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate. 
Jdg 18:17  And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war. 
Jdg 18:18  And these went into Micah’s house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye? 
Jdg 18:19  And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? 
Jdg 18:20  And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people. 
Jdg 18:21  So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them. 
Jdg 18:22  And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah’s house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan. 
Jdg 18:23  And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company? 
Jdg 18:24  And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee? 
Jdg 18:25  And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household. 
Jdg 18:26  And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house. 
Jdg 18:27  And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire. 
Jdg 18:28  And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein. 
Jdg 18:29  And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first. 
Jdg 18:30  And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. 
Jdg 18:31  And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh. 

The last session ended when the six hundred men from the tribe of Dan who were appointed with the weapons of war entered the house of Micah.

Jdg 18:15  And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.

The house of Micah represents the physical churches of this world (Babylon) which at our appointed time, we enter thinking we are serving God but we come to find out later that we were actually serving another Jesus. The six hundred men are the elect in every generation who are appointed by the Lord with weapons of war to wage war against the flesh in order to possess their inheritance. The weapons of war are the whole armor of God of which Paul told us in Ephesians chapter 6 as follows:

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

This session of the study is focused on our experience of evil appointed for us in Babylon. As the scripture makes us aware, this is to humble us so that we will take hold of the salvation offered to us through the ceasing of our own strivings.

Ecc 1:13  And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail [Experience of evil] hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised [Humbled] therewith.

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Jdg 18:16  And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate. 

The six hundred men standing by the gate implies a time of decision as was used in the following scripture when David had to decide whether to join the army in a battle against his son Absalom’s revolt or not.

2Sa 18:2  And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
2Sa 18:3  But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
2Sa 18:4  And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

The six hundred men were at a point to either serve another Jesus (carry Micah’s gods along) or the living God, just like the Israelites under Joshua’s leadership when he confronted the people to decide.

Jos 24:14  Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
Jos 24:15  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Unfortunately, they chose to have faith in Micah’s gods, or another Jesus instead of Christ. We also at a point in our lives chose to follow another Jesus while in Babylon instead of Christ.

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

From hindsight, we now know that all our decisions, even in those times, were of the Lord.

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. 

If Christ is not the King sitting in the throne of our hearts, then definitely the flesh ruled over us. In this case our choices are influenced by our flesh. The next two verses show us what we go for in Babylon.

Jdg 18:17  And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
Jdg 18:18  And these went into Micah’s house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye? 

We are represented here by the five men who took all the gods of Micah with the six hundred men in their journey to their inheritance. The number five means grace through faith. The negative aspect of this number is that we turn our Lord’s grace into lasciviousness based on our faith without works.

Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jas 2:14  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Now let’s examine the items they took. These items show us what happens to us in Babylon.

Graven Image – The first item we possess in Babylon is a graven image. A graven image is a carved idol made of wood which is used as an object of worship. Since this idol is made of wood, it represents our works which we adore or worship. In Babylon, we build on the foundation of Christ with our own acts of self-righteousness which are signified spiritually by wood, hay and stubble. So the graven image represents our self-righteousness, which is iniquity.

1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation [Jesus Christ] gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Eze 33:13  When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. 

Ephod: The next item that the five men took was an ephod, which is a sleeveless garment worn by Jewish priests. The ephod also symbolizes our own righteousness as shown in this scripture:

Psa 132:9  Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.

So what happens to us in Babylon is that we establish our own righteousness by wearing our own clothes.

Isa 4:1  And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Rom 10:3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Teraphim: They are idols or household gods. The teraphim therefore symbolizes the idols of our hearts. In Babylon, the false doctrine that we imbibe becomes our idols of our hearts which prevent the glorious light of the gospel from reaching us.

Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; 

Molten Image: It is an idol that is molded out of a substance such as gold or silver. We know that gold or silver represents the word of God. So a molten image to us signifies the half truths of the word of God or the false doctrines we imbibe in Babylon which become our idol of the heart just like the teraphim.

Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

When we leave Babylon, we carry all these idols of the hearts along.  However, God in His mercy starts to work on us to clear our heavens of all that offends. 

Jdg 18:19  And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? 

When we were in Babylon, we reasoned just like the priest here that it is far better to minister to a tribe and family of Israel than to a house of one man. Our reason for this is that we reasoned that because Jerusalem, which is in bondage with her children (Babylon) has many people, it suggests that they must be doing something right. This was what kept us longer in Babylon because we thought that the fact that existing Jerusalem has many people believing in man’s free will, eternal punishment, trinity of God, speaking in tongues, rapture, etc. means these doctrines are true. It was when we came into the company of the first born or the Jerusalem which is above that we realized the truth that many are called not to know the truth but few are chosen to know the truth.

Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Psa 73:2  But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

Psa 73:16  When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

Psa 73:17  Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

The truth of God’s word is that God has kept the church of the first born barren in this age while existing Jerusalem has many children. In the fullness of time, Jerusalem which is above, will have many children as we lead the whole of humanity to know the Lord. That is why we are admonished to rejoice in our barrenness in this life. Individually we can see that we are barren as we struggle with all kinds of challenges and weaknesses in this life. But let’s lift our heads high because this present suffering cannot be compared with the glory to be revealed.

Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

This truth about the existing Jerusalem having many children and the church of the first born being barren is portrayed clearly in the story of two women called Hannah and Peninnah who were married to a man called Elkanah. Their names speak a lot about their roles. The name Elkanah means God has obtained. Hannah means favored and Peninnah means contracted.

1Sa 1:1  Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
1Sa 1:2  And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

This issue of the present Jerusalem having many children and the church of the first born being barren is continued in the next verse as follows:

Jdg 18:20  And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people. 

When we are ruled by the flesh, we are joyful when we minister to many people thinking that this attests to our spiritual pedigree. I’ve heard many pastors in Babylon boast of the size of their congregation and the fact that they hold about two to three services every Sunday.  Paul said that all this boasting of the flesh amounts to dung.

Php 3:4  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Php 3:5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Php 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Jdg 18:21  So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.

In Babylon, instead of experienced and matured men of God leading us, we are led by children as we see here the little ones and the cattle and the carriage going before the men searching for their inheritance. Putting the cattle before them is another way of saying that we are led by the beast within, which is our flesh or old man. This is what happens to us when children lead us:

Ecc 10:16  Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Ecc 10:17  Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

‘Thy princes eat in the morning’ is another way of saying that we want all our blessings here on earth now!! This means we do not regard the joy set before us as something to die for.

Jdg 18:22  And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah’s house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan. 
Jdg 18:23  And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company? 
Jdg 18:24  And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee? 
Jdg 18:25  And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.

These idols of the heart that we have carried along from Babylon will result in conflict within us. This is what this conflict within is about:

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

We are admonished by James to resist the devil, and he will run away from us. This applies to what is within us which is in league with the devil.

Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We are not to resist evil outside.

Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 
Mat 5:40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Mat 5:41  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Jdg 18:26  And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house. 

Through the chastening grace of our Lord, we begin the daily dying process. As our old man continues to die daily and the new man continues to gain grounds in our lives, the old man, signified by Micah and those who went with him to pursue the Danites, realizes that the new man is too strong for him. This is similar to King Saul recognizing that surely King David will come and rule in his stead.

1Sa 24:16  And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
1Sa 24:17  And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
1Sa 24:18  And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
1Sa 24:19  For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
1Sa 24:20  And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

Jdg 18:27  And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

The old man, represented here by the inhabitants of Laish, is defeated with the edge of the sword, which is the word of God. The sum of the word of God suggests that this defeat of the old man is accomplished daily or throughout a lifetime.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Burning the city with fire is also another way of saying that the old man within is destroyed by the word of God which is fire.

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Deu 4:24  For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Deu 9:3  Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.

Jdg 18:28  And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.

As indicated in the previous review, our lives in Babylon give the Lord the occasion to come to us to destroy all that offends within us. The previous verse indicated that the people lived quietly and secure. This means that we were content and felt that we do not need anything.

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

In verse 28, we are told that there was no deliverer to save the people of Laish. This is because our Lord forsakes us momentarily as we go through this furnace of affliction. This also means keeping at bay all those who could have come to our aid in our moment of need until our trials run their course. However, with great mercies will our Lord gather us under His wings like an eagle.

Isa 54:6  For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
Isa 54:7  For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Isa 54:8  In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

The destruction of the old man is the birth of the new man. The building of a new city refers here to the birth and subsequent growth of the new man.

Jdg 18:29  And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.

The meaning of the name ‘Dan’ is Judge. The naming of the new city as Dan is therefore significant because the destruction of the old man and the birth of the new man is what will guarantee our inheritance of being judges of the world.

1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Jdg 18:30  And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. 
Jdg 18:31  And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh. 

In our journey to possess our inheritance, we are prone to err as a result of the baggage of idols of the heart that we carry from Babylon. This was what happened to the children of Dan as they set up graven and molten images of that which they carried from Micah’s house. Our Lord in His wisdom has admonished us through Moses that we should not allow anything that breathes in our heavens as we seek to put to death the enemies within. The reason for this is that what is within that is not destroyed may come to hurt us in our walk with Christ and can potentially derail us from the prize of the higher calling.

Deu 20:16  But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: 
Deu 20:17  But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:
Deu 20:18  That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.

As Paul puts it, a little leaven, leavens the whole lump.

Gal 5:7  Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
Gal 5:8  This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
Gal 5:9  A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

 

May the Lord help us by destroying any leaven found within our members so we can be presented as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Amen!!

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