[One-Verse Meditation]

Judges 17:12 (NIV) “Micah installed the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house.”

[Meditation]

When a young Levite looking for a place to live arrives at Micah’s house, Micah offers him the position of being his household priest. The terms were exceptional: ten shekels of silver a year, plus clothing and food. The Levite was satisfied, and Micah was also quite pleased to get a Levite priest, saying, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me” (v. 13). Both willingly joined hands for the sake of ‘my’ own benefit and satisfaction.

The Bible records that “Micah installed the Levite” (or, consecrated him). The Levite probably recited the law and offered sacrifices just as before. However, he was no longer holy. This was because all his religious acts were no longer for God, but to satisfy Micah who paid his wage and to fill his own stomach. His work was not good, but evil.

Here, we rethink the essence of ‘holiness.’ Holiness is not a matter of action, of ‘what you do.’ Even the same worship and prayer can be judged as holy or profane based on ‘in whom’ it is done. To be in God is to acknowledge and enjoy His kingship in our lives. It is not being fixated on our own circumstances, but to rejoice and be glad in the LORD, the King, Himself. In other words, it is to see the fulfillment of His faithful promises in our lives. To enjoy the kingship of the Lord and to stand by His side—that is the state the Bible calls ‘holiness.’

[Prayer]

King Jesus, I confess that I am made holy not by any act I perform, but only by being in You. Help me today to live as a holy person who rejoices not in the conditions of the world, but in Your unchanging kingship. And so, let it be a blessed day where You are fulfilled in my life. Amen.
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[Daily Reading]

Judges 17:11-18:13