Judges 17-The Power to Wander
Read Judges 17:6
Today’s Truth
Here, this verse is far more encompassing of everyone. That word, everyone among God’s people did what was right in his own eyes and the effects of everyone doing what was right in their own eyes were unimaginably disastrous, and deadly, and sobering, and serious.
Everyone was living according to their own authority. That’s what’s interesting about the phrase right before this in Judges 17:6 when it says in those days, there was no king in Israel. And who was the king supposed to be? God. They were supposed to be living under the authority of God, their king. And yet they had all, everyone had rebelled against God as king.
Discussion Questions
- What does Judges 17:6 mean when it says, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit”? How does this statement set the tone for the chapter?
- The Levite in this passage was willing to compromise his calling for personal gain. Have you ever been in a situation where you were tempted to compromise your faith for convenience, approval, or material benefits?
- Micah sought blessings from God without true obedience. How can you ensure that your relationship with God is based on faithfulness rather than selfish desires?
Application
We are all prone to turn from God to our own ways and to do what is right in our own eyes. And as a result, they were living under their own authority. We are all prone to turn from God and his ways to our own ways, to do what is right in our own eyes. This is our sinful nature. And as a result, what we most need is a savior, a savior king who will make a way for us to be forgiven of our sin, freed from sin, reconciled to relationship with God. That we might live and experience life to the full under the kingship of the one who created us and knows what is best for us. And Jesus is this savior king.
