Judges 17-18

“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (17:6). The lack of leadership in Israel caused sin to run riot. Worship of God was splintered and privatized in ways that led to utter confusion, such as when Micah, who believed in God, tried to manipulate spiritual power by making an idol and hiring his own private priest (17:3). Ironically, the idol and priest were stolen from him by other Israelites (ch 18).

“In those days Israel had no king” (18:1). The Israelites’ freedom to do what they wanted caused them to discover that they were their own worst enemies. God desires to rescue us not just from the evil “out there” but from our own sinfulness.