In those days

Just completed the book of Judges. It is rather shocking read, seeing how the Israelites were behaving in those days.

There was an account of rape, similar to the one described in Genesis of Sodom and Gomorrah, except that it was committed by Benjamites, a tribe of Israel, God's people. There were other unspeakable crimes following that story.

There were many accounts of men taking concubines, harlots, etc.

There were wars against nations, civil wars within Israel, as a result of sin.

There were people playing religion, for example Micah. He stole money from his mother. Returned the money. His mum blessed Micah then dedicated the money to the Lord but...She had the silver melted and made into a graven image to be worshipped. Micah made a shrine to worship that idol, hired his own Levite to be his personal priest, thinking that surely God will prosper him. Unimaginable.

How did the Israelites ended up in such a sorry state?

God's answer to me was found in the last verse of the last chapter of Judges.

Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Then the Lord showed me how many of us today are just like them.

Christians who are just as worldly, who did disgraceful acts, striving against brothers, playing religion, treating God as a a genie, while worshipping idols.

I shudder to think that we are like that.

Yet I dare not say otherwise.

God help us.

To enthrone You as King over our lives; lest we do things right in our own eyes.