VANISHING VALUES
Text: Judges 17: 1-13
Introduction:
A) It is proven that history repeats itself.
1) God gave Israel strict laws and values.
2) By the time we reach Judges these values had vanished Vs 6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
B) America today is repeating history.
1) In a large scale “Right in his own eyes”
2) This “Religion” is called Humanism.
3) Impossible to define - No set doctrine
4) If you think it is right or wrong - That makes it right or wrong – NO Absolutes.
C) Text doesn’t say “Everyman did that which was wrong in their own eyes”
1) That’s what many are doing today
2) No matter what the crime it is alright - Example of Va. Tech – Schools are war zone
D) The Partial birth Abortion issue.
1) Many think it should be allowed.
2) Alright because the majority says it is
E) The majority is not always right.
1) Noah’s generation was destroyed - The Majority
2) Sodom & Gomorrah was destroyed - The Majority
3) Majority on Broad way that leads to hell.
4) Why do sinners reject God’s Word?
F) People do what is right in their own eyes
I) FAMILIES WHO HAVE NO FOUNDATIONS
A) TEXT TELLS OF A MAN NAMED MICAH
1) Stole 1100 Shekels silver from his mother
2) She had saved a little nest egg of money.
(a) Would have left it to him at her death
(b) She was upset, spoke curses on the thief
3) Micah became afraid & confessed
B) SOMETHING HAPPENED
1) When she was given back the money her disposition completely changed.
2) Forgot all the wrong Micah did to her.
(a) Amazing what the sight of money can do.
(b) No doubt money was the god she served and loved
3) She tells him why she became so angry Vs 3 I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.
(a) She said it would be given for her son’s benefit to make a house of god.
(b) Notice she only gave 200 shekels to the silversmith to make an image.
C) WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 900 SHEKELS.
1) She kept it for herself.
2) No wonder she would have such a son
(a) Many children today are a “Chip off the old block” Illus: A true story. I read of a preacher James. One day his 2 boys found a little dog and took it home with them. Preacher James asked them where they got the dog - They said they had just found him. – The preacher came up with a bright idea and said “The dog is cute, someone may be trying to find him, get some shoe black and paint some black spots on him” - The boys did as they were instructed. Not long after that a man came by asking if anyone had seen a little stray dog. – The boys asked what color his dog was and he told them it was white. – The little dog trotted about then and the man said “That looks like my dog” - The boys chimed in “You said your dog is white, this dog is black and white.” The man admitted they were right and he went on his way to search for his dog. The 2 boys were none other than Frank and Jesse James.
D) WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR HOMES?
1) Families used to Eat together - Talk together- Play together – Worship together
2) America is coming loose at the seams.
3) NO longer have families with good Moral Foundations or Spiritual Foundations
II) PREACHERS WHO HAVE NO PRINCIPLES
A) Vs 7-13 THE WICKEDNESS OF THE EMPLOYEE
1) This SORRY preacher is Micah’s Priest 18:4 And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.
2) He acknowledges that his money came from Micah and that he belonged to him.
(a) Money can buy a Politician.
(b) I hate it -money can buy some preachers
(c) Realize this - A church should take care of its pastor A workman is worthy of his hire
3) True Pastor is not a Hireling - He is called
4) Today we have to many Hirelings and not enough preachers that are called of God. Jn 10:12-13 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
5) Micah hire a “Preacher” the preacher said “I am his priest”
6) We no longer have “Prophets” we now have men of P-R-O-F-I-T-SB. SEE THE WICKEDNESS OF THE EMPLOYER Judg 18:5 And they said unto him, Ask counsel, {Inquire} we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.
1. Micah had the same mentality that many have in America have today.
2. They think that it brings you good luck to treat the preacher right. Judg 17:13 Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, {really bless me} seeing I have a Levite to my priest. {a genuine priest working for me!}
3. What he said may have sounded real Spiritual, but he was wicked in God’s Sight
Text: Judg 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.