Messed Up

One day Samson went to the Philistine town of Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute. [Judges 16.1]

I thought at first to write these words, "I just don't get it..." regarding Samson's story and then Micah's story following that. But then, I remembered that Israel's story is really indicative of the Church...

As much as we tend to look at these stories and say, "Israel was messed up!" it is quite short-sighted of us not to realize we are much in the same position today if we ignore the Word of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit.

There is really nothing Israel did that we cannot find some similar account in modern times - yes, even in the Church.

Samson's visit to a prostitute, shocking as it may sound, is not a surprising report to hear among "God's people" today.

Micah's idols, appalling as they may have been, are no different than all the "stuff" idolized by "the Church" today.

People without direction from God are bound to sin. In fact, "judgment" is the default condition of humanity:

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. [John 3.17]

Without faith, whether in OT times or in NT times, it is impossible to please God.

Father, help us to believe... Help us to see our lives delivered from the messed up situations of fallen humanity so that we might glorify You.