Judges 17 - By Whose Authority?

We abruptly leave Samson behind and suddenly in Judges 17 find ourselves in a new setting meeting new people.  In particular we have the story of Micah and his idol.  As has been the case throughout the Book of Judges, it's a seesaw, with periods of peace and faithfulness followed by periods of anarchy and idolatry.  Micah lived in one of the latter periods, and decided to make his own domestic god.  It's a short chapter but one with a pretty poignant lesson.  Micah makes his personalized religion in the likeness of the true religion.  He makes his son a priest (in violation of Levitical law).  He makes an ephod and theraphim.  And then eventually meets an actual Levite who he "hires" to be his priest (possibly in an effort to legitimize his endeavor).  It's interesting to note what is said in Judges 17:6:  "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every one did that which seemed right to himself."  Without a strong religious authority, a central governance, like that established by Christ and placed upon Peter the Rock, anything goes.  But it's made clear in the Old Testament that the true religion must adhere to predetermined and divinely designed rules (as was meticulously described throughout the Torah).  We've already seen what happens when men take it upon themselves to worship according to their own rules (cf. Nadab and Abiu, Aaron's sons, who used strange fire during a sacrifice in Leviticus 10).  And Jesus is even more clear when he utters, "Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many wonderful works in thy name?  And then will I profess unto them: I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23).