Judges 17:1-18:13
Things are not going well - ‘every man did that which was right in his own eyes’(17:6). People were doing what suited themselves. Micah was trying to ‘get the best of both worlds’. He was worshipping idols (17:4-5). He was trying to keep on the right side of the Lord - ‘Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, because I have a Levite priest’(13). Micah’s priest was a ‘Yes’ man. He told Micah what he wanted to hear. Many people ‘refuse to listen to the truth’. They prefer to listen to those who ‘tell them what they want to hear’(2 Timothy 4:3-4). Many are ‘lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God’(2 Timothy 3:4). We must not fall into the trap of ‘trying to please all the people all the time’. Seek to be like Jesus - ‘I seek not My own will but the will of Him who sent Me’(John 5:30).
Judges 18:14-19:30
‘Keep quiet’- There is a guilty silence which comes from disobedience (18:18-20). When God’s people remain silent, things go from bad to worse - ‘Where there is no prophecy the people cast off restraint’. We must not be ‘disobedient to the heavenly vision’(18:30; Proverbs 29:18; Acts 26:19). Chapter 19 warns us: Sin brings judgment. God cannot stand sin. He punishes sin (Habakkuk 1:13; Numbers 32:23). Sin must be taken seriously. God takes it seriously (Hebrews 10:29-31). It is not easy to see the hand of God in the sinful and shameful events of chapter 19. We must keep on believing that He is present, even when He is ‘most invisible’(Church Hymnary, 670). Sometimes, He is present as our Judge. Judgment is not always immediate. There may be ‘peace’ before the storm. ‘Consider’- and learn (19:20, 30)!
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
Things are not going well - ‘every man did that which was right in his own eyes’(17:6). People were doing what suited themselves. Micah was trying to ‘get the best of both worlds’. He was worshipping idols (17:4-5). He was trying to keep on the right side of the Lord - ‘Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, because I have a Levite priest’(13). Micah’s priest was a ‘Yes’ man. He told Micah what he wanted to hear. Many people ‘refuse to listen to the truth’. They prefer to listen to those who ‘tell them what they want to hear’(2 Timothy 4:3-4). Many are ‘lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God’(2 Timothy 3:4). We must not fall into the trap of ‘trying to please all the people all the time’. Seek to be like Jesus - ‘I seek not My own will but the will of Him who sent Me’(John 5:30).
Judges 18:14-19:30
‘Keep quiet’- There is a guilty silence which comes from disobedience (18:18-20). When God’s people remain silent, things go from bad to worse - ‘Where there is no prophecy the people cast off restraint’. We must not be ‘disobedient to the heavenly vision’(18:30; Proverbs 29:18; Acts 26:19). Chapter 19 warns us: Sin brings judgment. God cannot stand sin. He punishes sin (Habakkuk 1:13; Numbers 32:23). Sin must be taken seriously. God takes it seriously (Hebrews 10:29-31). It is not easy to see the hand of God in the sinful and shameful events of chapter 19. We must keep on believing that He is present, even when He is ‘most invisible’(Church Hymnary, 670). Sometimes, He is present as our Judge. Judgment is not always immediate. There may be ‘peace’ before the storm. ‘Consider’- and learn (19:20, 30)!
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
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