Micah hires a Levite to be his priest, but he was never God's priest. Restless souls can receive peace thru an intimate fellowship with the Lord.

1. To be religious or spiritual is not the same as having a relationship with Almighty God. August 8, 2010 There is One God, The True and Living God, The God of the Bible. We must serve and worship Him in the Power and Anointing of His Holy Spirit, According to the Word of God.

2. An Israelite named Micah stole 1100 shekels of silver from his mama. Judges 17 "may whoever stole my money die with the foot rot" Or something like that. Micah had turned his home into a temple, supposedly worshipping God, but using idols and religious artifacts . He appointed his son as priest.

3. 7 And there was a young man out of Bethlehem-Judah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. 8 And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehem-Judah to sojourn where he could find a place : and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed. This young Levite was Jonathan , the grandson of Moses, through Gershom. He was of the Tribe of Levi, but not eligible to be a priest; they had to be descended from Aaron .

4. He was a traveling man , living with the clan of Judah in Bethlehem for a while, But now on the road again , and looking for a job. There have always been restless souls , seeking contentment but finding none. The only contentment to be found is found in a right relationship with the Lord Almighty , Through His Son , Jesus Christ.

5. 9 And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehem-Judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place . He was looking for his place , but would never find it outside of the Will of God. They don't know it , but every restless soul is looking for his place in God's Plan .

6. 10 And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in. Room and board, nice clothes, plus ten shekels of silver per year. What more could a man want! He found his place, because that's all he was seeking. He didn't know or love God .

7. A comfortable living will not bring contentment, until we are doing what God had gifted us to do. People suppose that gain is godliness ; In other words, that if they are making money and have plenty , God is blessing them . "I work and pay my bills; I'm a godly man ." But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:3-8

8. When we are walking in God's Will: 2 Corinthians 5 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We will have God's blessing of true contentment .

9. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His Good Will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. This kind of Christian living will cure a restless soul.

10. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, But His smile quickly drives it away; Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly repay; Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, But is blessed if we trust and obey.

11. But we never can prove the delights of His love Until all on the altar we lay; For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, Are for them who will trust and obey. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet. Or we’ll walk by His side in the way. What He says we will do, where He sends we will go; Never fear, only trust and obey. Words: John H. Sammis, 1887. Music: Daniel B. Towner http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/r/trstobey.htm

12. 11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons. 12 And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. Micah set Jonathan aside as his priest, But he was never God's priest. Never lose sight of the difference! We will see in chapter 18 that his contentment was not a lasting peace. He got a better offer, became a thief, and left.

13. 13 Then said Micah, Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest. A false priest in a false temple, And Micah thinks God will bless him for it. This was not long after the death of Joshua , and look how far the Israelites have strayed from God. Drawing nigh to God may take a lifetime, But backsliding doesn't take long at all.

14. Micah was spiritual , but he was not a godly man. He wanted a temple with priests . When a Levite came along, he hired him, Like a good-luck charm . So are all people who worship false gods. Whatever they seek and follow after , They would credit their god with their success.

15. We must always be wary of superstitions that get mixed with Christianity. Material things do not have Power from God in them. Splinters from cross of Christ Bones of saints Holy grail

16. "Send us money and God will make you rich ." "Send us money and we will send you a hanky that heals ."

17. My point is this: John 4 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth : for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth . 25 The woman saith unto Him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He .

18. During the time of the Judges, Israel strayed far from God through disobedience. We must know the Scriptures and walk in Them, in the Power of God's Holy Spirit. There is nothing more, and we must settle for nothing less. This is God's Best . John 17 17 Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth. Jesus prayed for us: