What is the meaning of Judges 18:5? Then they said to him • The five Danite scouts (Judges 18:2) turn to the Levite serving in Micah’s house. • Their immediate instinct is to seek spiritual counsel before advancing, echoing earlier patterns where Israel sought direction—such as when Judah asked, “Who shall go up first?” (Judges 1:1). • Though their setting is compromised by idolatry (Judges 17:5), the desire to hear from God reveals a lingering recognition that ultimate guidance belongs to the LORD (Proverbs 3:5-6). Please inquire of God • The men assume the Levite can mediate, mirroring how priests consulted God for Israel through the Urim and Thummim (Numbers 27:21) or through direct prayer (1 Samuel 23:2). • Their wording, “Please,” shows humility on the surface, but it also exposes a transactional view: they want a quick answer without addressing the sin in Micah’s shrine (Exodus 20:3-4). • God’s willingness to speak in Scripture never negates His demand for wholehearted devotion (Psalm 24:3-4). Here, the request spotlights the tension between formal religiosity and genuine obedience. to determine whether we will have a successful journey • “Successful” translates the desire for God-given prosperity, reminiscent of Moses’ prayer, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up” (Exodus 33:15). • The journey’s aim is territorial expansion (Judges 18:6-10), aligning with the original allotment for Dan (Joshua 19:40-48), yet the method—raiding unsuspecting Laish—reveals moral drift (Judges 18:27). • Scripture records both the request and the answer (Judges 18:6) without endorsing every human motive, teaching that God’s sovereignty can coexist with human compromise (Genesis 50:20). summary Judges 18:5 captures a conflicted moment: Israelites steeped in mixed worship still recognize their need for divine direction. Their polite, urgent plea to a Levite echoes legitimate biblical patterns of seeking God, yet it also exposes a heart that wants success more than sanctification. The verse therefore invites us to pursue guidance with repentant, obedient faith, trusting the LORD who alone grants true success (Psalm 37:5). |
    |