In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. [Judges 17.6]
This verse and one very similar to it in chapter 18 verse 1 reveal a time in Israel where there were a lot of questionable practices.
First, the fact that "the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes" hardly seems "right" in the case of Samson. How in the world did it seem ok to visit a prostitute? And, what was he doing with Delilah anyway? And furthermore, what ever possessed Samson to allow Delilah to bind him first with bowstrings then with rope? Could it be there was an element of "bondage" being experimented with (in a sexual manner)?
Next, in the case of Micah and the cast idols... What? Yes, idols were being used and, in the context of the story, it appears they were being used in the worship of the LORD. Question: how do you worship God through the very practice of things He specifically said not to do ("Make no graven images")?
The instances discussed here reveal just how vulnerable mankind is to deception. Left to our own devices, we will turn away from God. Shortcuts, indulgences, and allowances will eventually remove any resemblance of true worship and devotion of God from our lives.
It begins at this point to make sense that God laid out very specific rules and it furthermore makes sense that people truly devoted to God were very particular in abiding by covenants and spoken commitments.
So, where is Christianity today? Do we effectively represent the LORD in purity and holiness? Or, have we allowed the world and its ways into our lives to the extent that we look and act no differently than the world? I think the latter applies more than we dare admit. What we "allow" usually separates us from God.
Father, forgive me for making allowances for myself that do nothing but separate me from You. Help me particularly as this pertains to allowing myself to NOT walk by faith...
No comments:
Post a Comment