Today’s reading: Judges 17:1-18:31; Jeremiah 17:9-10
We’ve arrived at the final few chapters of Judges, and I must say, what we are going to read and consider over the next week or so isn’t pleasant. Chapters 17 and 18 start off poorly, and things continue to decline through the end of the book. Several times in these chapters we will see this revealing statement: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6).
Moses and Joshua were both strong and remarkable leaders who put in place administrative and spiritual structure and guidelines for the proper functioning (on all levels) of the tribes of Israel. Yet only a few hundred years after their deaths, the people have completely turned away from God and the structure and systems He had put in place after their exodus from Egypt. As I read about Micah, the Levite and the men from Dan in chapters 17 and 18, the internal problem of our sinful nature and the wickedness of our hearts stood out prominently and brought to mind these words from God found in Jeremiah:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? ‘I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)
No question for us to answer today. I only ask that you spend some time thinking about our sinful natures that, even as Christ followers whose sins have been forgiven, we will never be rid of as we live on earth. Our sin nature is constantly trying to pull us off course to “do what is right in our own eyes.” But with God’s power within us, we can resist and do what we know God wants and tells us is right. Thank you for being part of Powered by 4. I enjoy taking in, considering and learning from God’s Word along with you! Tami
Source: Tami’s Blog
