September 1st, 2023

Author: Pastor David Miner
September 01, 2023

Reading: Judges 17 Optional Reading: Judges 18 - 21
^“6 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” (Judges 17:6)

In the 1960’s the motto was to do your own thing. If it makes you feel good, go ahead, and do it. Or you may have said, “No one tells me what to do.”
Ever hear people talk like that? Probably all of us have said such things at one time. Millions of people throughout history have lived according to those statements too. You know what happens in a world like that?
It goes crazy. People hurt each other because they are doing what they want to do. People slam each other around because everyone is doing their own thing. That was what happened in the land of Israel in the time of the judges. Everyone “did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” No laws. No rules. Every person is out for themselves.
When Israel lived like that, plenty of problems arose. Sin happened everywhere. God disciplined them by sending enemies into their country to make them slaves and take their food. God cannot let people live by their own rules. Why? Because the stronger people always take over the poorer and weaker people. If you are poor or weak, you get trampled on. God cares enough about the poor and weak not to let that continue. Are you living by your own rules? Are you making it up as you go along?

Watch out. God may send you a wake-up call soon.

Jesus, help me always to live the way you want me to live. Amen.

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