神的子民继续做他们自己眼中看为正-但在神眼中却看为恶-的事，士师记最后几章（17-21）显示，他们的状况变得越来越坏。百姓把头栽进一个每况愈下的境地，在宗教上带来一片混乱。
神早已设立了领导祂的子民的制度，祂任命祭司在敬拜中负责事奉（出埃及记40:12-15）。那时，祭司只在会幕事奉-会幕是神在示罗的殿（士师记 18:31），后来他们也在耶路撒冷的圣殿事奉（列王纪上 5-6）。
然而，在今天的经文中，我们看到米迦为他自已的神造了一个神堂，又分派他的一个儿子作祭司。跟着，更坏的事发生了，一个从别处来、曾被按立在会幕事奉的利未人（民数记 3），竟然答应做米迦的祭司。
在这些事上，百姓和他们的宗教领袖们败坏了以色列民的领导制度，他们行自己眼中很来似乎是对的事，又或者像提摩太后书所说的，百姓为自己安排只传讲他们喜欢听的话的师傅。
直到今天，这样的败坏仍然在玷污圣经所教导的信仰。今天，我们有教导自尊和成功神学的传道人－还有很多其他人，在宣扬某些违背神在基督里的教导的政治立场。耶稣怜悯我们，若要检视一下我们的眼睛最热爱看什么、我们的耳朵最渴望听什么，现在就是最适合不过的时候了。
主啊，我的眼睛和耳朵都厌烦受到诱惑。求你因耶稣的缘故，把你的光和救赎的话语赐给我。阿们。
士师记 17
1以法莲山地有一个人名叫米迦。
2他对母亲说：“你那一千一百舍客勒银子被人拿去，你因此咒诅，并且告诉了我。看哪，这银子在我这里，是我拿去了。”他母亲说：“我儿啊，愿耶和华赐福于你！”
3米迦就把这一千一百舍客勒银子还他母亲。他母亲说：“我分出这银子来为你献给耶和华，好雕刻一个像，铸成一个像。现在我还是交给你。”
4米迦将银子还他母亲，他母亲将二百舍客勒银子交给银匠，雕刻一个像，铸成一个像，安置在米迦的屋内。
5这米迦有了神堂，又制造以弗得和家中的神像，分派他一个儿子做祭司。
6那时以色列中没有王，各人任意而行。
7犹大伯利恒有一个少年人，是犹大族的利未人，他在那里寄居。
8这人离开犹大伯利恒城，要找一个可住的地方。行路的时候，到了以法莲山地，走到米迦的家。
9米迦问他说：“你从哪里来？”他回答说：“从犹大伯利恒来。我是利未人，要找一个可住的地方。”
10米迦说：“你可以住在我这里，我以你为父，为祭司。我每年给你十舍客勒银子，一套衣服和度日的食物。”利未人就进了他的家。
11利未人情愿与那人同住，那人看这少年人如自己的儿子一样。
12米迦分派这少年的利未人做祭司，他就住在米迦的家里。
13米迦说：“现在我知道耶和华必赐福于我，因我有一个利未人做祭司。”
“To suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” - 2 Timothy 4:3
The closing chapters of Judges (chap. 17-21) show how things go from bad to worse as God’s people keep doing what is right in their own eyes—and what is evil in God’s eyes. The people fall headlong into a downward spiral leading to religious chaos.
God had set up the leadership of his people, appointing priests to serve in worship (Exodus 40:12-15). In those days the priests were to serve only at the tabernacle, the house of God in Shiloh (Judges 18:31)—and then later at the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 5-6).
We read today, however, that Micah made a shrine for his own gods and installed one of his own sons as his priest. Then, even worse, a traveling Levite, who was ordained to serve at the tabernacle (Numbers 3), agreed to be Micah’s priest.
In all of this, the people and their religious leaders corrupted the system of leadership in Israel, doing what seemed right in their own eyes. Or, as we read in 2 Timothy, people set up teachers around them to say only what they wanted to hear.
Corruption like this stains biblical religion to this very day. Today we have preachers of self-esteem and prosperity—and many others who make political statements that defy the teachings of God in Christ. For Jesus’ sake, there’s no better time than now to evaluate what our eyes are eager to see and what our ears are itching to hear.
My eyes and ears are weary of seduction, Lord. Give me your light and saving words, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
