These last few chapters of Judges can be understood as a commentary on what has happened to the people. We see this refrain, over and over throughout the book, the people did what was right in their own eyes. We see in these two chapters how the people are seeking to bend their faith and their religion to their own desires. They are doing things like asking God to bless an idol! And having a Levite priest lead people in worship, all in the name of God! The people have lost their way to the point that they are corrupting their religion to their desires, instead of having their religion hold them accountable. We need to be very careful when there is no one in our lives who will hold us accountable. That is what has happened here.

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Well, good morning! I’m glad to be with you today as we dive into the book of Judges. For those of you following along, I’m using my Bible, which is the NRSV. When people ask me which Bible version to read, I say to choose the one that speaks to you. Everyone has their favorite translation, and I like the NRSV because it’s what I’m used to from my church and my studies.

Today, we’re looking at chapters 17 and 18, and tomorrow will be chapters 19 to 21. These chapters show how things got worse in Israel. Before we discuss the judges, the beginning chapters give a background on how the people didn’t follow God’s commands, which led to trouble.

Samson is the last judge mentioned, and while God used him, we can see that he wasn’t a great example of character. The chapters we’re focusing on today highlight that Israel’s situation is getting worse, both in their faith and their morals. It reminds us that a lack of strong leadership leads to chaos.

In chapters 17 and 18, we meet Micah and a Levite. Micah takes silver from his mother and uses it to create an idol, which goes against God’s commandments. He even hires a Levite priest to help him in this idolatry. Similarly, the Danites take this priest for their own purposes, showing how people are twisting their religious beliefs to fit their desires.

Today’s world often hears phrases like “I’m spiritual, not religious.” But as one of my professors said, it’s funny how often, when it’s just me and Jesus, He seems to agree with me. We need community around us to guide and challenge us.

If our faith isn’t pushing us to grow and improve, we might be missing the point. God isn’t just there to grant our wishes; He is our master. The Israelites lost their way by doing what was right in their own eyes and bending their faith to meet their wants, which led to their downfall.

As we move forward, let’s be mindful to ensure we’re on God’s side, not trying to make God on our side. Let’s commit ourselves to following His way instead of twisting our beliefs to serve our desires. Tomorrow, we’ll look at chapters 19 to 21, where we’ll see more about their moral decline. Thanks for joining me today!