In the sermon Pastor Allen Victor of Calvary Chapel West Jacksonville delves into Judges chapters 18 and 19, exploring the Danites’ departure from God’s guidance and the dire consequences of relying solely on human understanding. These chapters starkly portray the theft, idolatry, and use of force by the Danites, alongside the horrific events surrounding a Levite and his concubine, serving as powerful reminders of the dangers of moral relativism and the catastrophic results of straying from God’s path.

The narrative begins with the Danites, who lacked their own inheritance among the Israelite tribes, sending out five warriors to scout the land. These spies arrived at the house of Micah in the hill country of Ephraim, where they encountered a young Levite. After inquiring about his stay and receiving his confirmation of being well-treated, they asked for a divine blessing on their journey, which he granted.

The spies then traveled to Laish, a prosperous and peaceful land where the people lived securely, akin to the Sidonians. Seeing this as an ideal settlement, the spies returned to their tribe and urged them to conquer Laish, promising a land free from lack or danger.

On their way to Laish, the Danites stopped at Micah’s house and took his carved image, the ephod, household idols, and cast idol, convincing the Levite priest to join them. The priest agreed, seeing a greater opportunity to serve an entire tribe rather than an individual household.

When Micah realized the theft, he pursued the Danites but was threatened and forced to return home. The Danites then attacked and burned Laish, built a city, and set up the stolen idols for worship, appointing the Levite as their priest. The city was named Dan, and the idolatry persisted until the captivity of the Israelites.

This chapter vividly depicts the Danites’ quest for territorial identity and their descent into idolatry and moral relativism. The societal abandonment of Divine guidance is highlighted as the Danites establish a new place of worship with Micah’s stolen idols and the Levite priest.

In another part of the sermon, Pastor Allen Victor references a Levite from Ephraim who took a concubine from Bethlehem. After she left him and returned to her father’s house, the Levite went to retrieve her after four months. The concubine’s father welcomed him warmly, extending his stay multiple times with hospitality and urging.

Despite the father’s insistence to stay longer, the Levite decided to leave late in the day. On their journey back, they sought lodging in an Israelite city, believing it safer than a Jebusite city. However, no one offered them hospitality in Gibeah, a Benjamin territory, until an old man invited them in.

Tragically, immoral men from the city demanded that the Levite be brought out to them. The old man pleaded with them not to commit such a terrible act, offering his daughter and the Levite’s concubine instead. The concubine was mistreated throughout the night and sadly passed away at the doorstep. In a shocking response, the Levite divided her body and sent parts to each of the twelve tribes of Israel, underscoring the severity of the situation and the lawlessness in Israel.

Pastor Allen Victor emphasizes that the absence of a king in Israel led to moral decay, mirroring the present world when God is not acknowledged as King. The sermon concludes with a call to reflect on the destruction of the traditional family, a loveless society, sexual perversion, sacrifice of the innocent, and the prevalence of brutality and injustice when Divine guidance is forsaken.

Join us at Calvary Chapel West Jacksonville, led by Pastor Allen Victor, to delve deeper into these profound biblical lessons.

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