Judges 17

How do you live faithfully when it feels like everything in the world around you is turned upside down? Remember that the events that surprise and disappoint us so deeply were well-known to the Lord of glory before the foundation of the earth. Since the time of the Roman Empire when a man died on a cross outside the city gate of Jerusalem a new kingdom has been growing that will overwhelm all the kingdoms of the earth. The Man who died on that Roman cross is the reigning Son of God. All hail King Jesus!

But why is His church in such trouble and disarray? Why are people draping evil in a cloak of holiness? Where is our Savior?

During the period of the judges, things were not going well in God's special nation. Confusion seemed to reign. That point is reinforced at the end of this book with several troubling and perplexing stories, beginning with the account of a man named Micah.

Micah had a passion for religion. Why then was he presiding over a false shrine with an idol? He was especially pleased when a real Levite came from Bethlehem to be his hired religious professional. Now the Lord would prosper him! After all, he had gone to great lengths to be so holy. Yet He violated the Law in ways that were almost comical.

What can we conclude? “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Many years later, a child was born in Bethlehem of Judah. That child died and rose again. He is the true Savior and the King of the Kingdom. He will judge the living and the dead.

This Jesus obeyed the Word of God. He has established a Kingdom that will never end. We need to follow Him today in spirit and in truth and receive the divine benediction that comes to us from His grace.