Study Questions:
1. How do you think God feels about false forms of worship? Lev. 19:4
2. Can our form of worship ever be unacceptable to God? Matt. 15:8
3. How can we allow Jesus to reign in our lives? John 15:8-10
Commentary and Reflection:
The accounts of Judges chapters 17 and 18 are filled with ironies, comedy, poetic justice, and injustice. It’s the stuff that movies are made of today. A son steals money from his own mother, only to find out that she has cursed the thief. He then confesses and returns the money; she forgives him and reveals her pledge to the Lord. But the funds are then used in the establishment of false worship, which was assumed to be accepted by the God of heaven. Priests are dedicated to lead in the worship of idols, and an unqualified Levite is eventually hired as priest. But the Levite betrays his employer for a “better” deal; he joins an army of Danites who convinces him to be their priest; they conquer a defenseless tribe of people; burn their city and take their land.
People who were supposed to be followers of God were worshiping Him in whatever way they chose to. They were just “doing their own thing”. And what’s evident is that their own manner of worship, doing what they felt was right, did not lead to good outcomes.
There is an interesting observation by the author of Judges that is repeated in both chapters, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 NKJV). “In those days there was no king in Israel” (Judges 18:1 NKJV). Without a governing ruler; without a king, no one was held accountable for their actions. The question for us is, is there a King in spiritual Israel today? Is there a King in your life today? Another interesting point is that when kings eventually ruled in Israel (in Old Testament times), they led the people into the same false worship that we find in our Bible reading, and the outcome was also not good. But the Old Testament provides a vision of a new King, called “the anointed one,” or “the Messiah” in Hebrew. Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the Old Testament promises of a perfect King. And whenever believers follow the Lordship of Jesus, He is exercising His ruling or kingly function. Is there a King in our lives today? Are we following the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Or are we practicing a “do it yourself” type of religion that we see in our reading today? If so, the outcome will always be the same.
My prayer is that you would allow Jesus to be the King of your life today; allowing Him to reign supreme in your life. I pray that you will allow Him to lead and guide you in all that you do, so that both today’s and your final outcome will be favorable. “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17 NKJV)
