Judges 17-21  These last chapters of Judges show the depths of sin that had filled the land of Israel.  Over and over again we are reminded of this, " At that time there was no king in Israel; a man simple did whatever he thought was right." (17:6; 21:23) But, God said, "You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, even man doing what is right in his own eyes."  (Deuteronomy 12:8)

They had turned to idols.  They had forsaken God.  They had forgotten that their Lord, Adonai, was their only true King.  They totally failed to do what He commanded.

In chapter 17 we read that a man named Milkah created his own "house of God";  hired his own priest; and set up his own altar, made his own god.  But, God said, "You shall not make for yourself an idol.. you shall not worship them or serve them..." Exodus 20:4-5

In chapter 18 we read the the tribe of Dan decided to go take over some land for themselves; stole the idols, took the priest; and attacked a quiet, peaceful town, and established their own city. But, God said, "You shall not steal" and "You shall not covet.." Exodus 20:15; 17

In chapter 19 we read about a Levite man who took a woman from Judah to be his concubine.  When she was unfaithful and ran back to her father's house, he went to get her.  After being delayed by the father, they finally head home.  However they ended up in a town in the territory belonging to the tribe of Benjamin.  Here some "good-for-nothings" come after the man as he stayed in the home of an old man from that city.  They acted like the men from Sodom at the time of Lot.  The man, lets them have his concubine.. and she is raped, abused, and killed.  He sacrificed his own wife.. he was just as bad as those who came after him...    He takes her home, cuts up her body and sends a piece of her to each tribe in Israel.  "Everyone who saw it said, 'From the day the people of Israel came up from Egypt until now, never has such a thing happened or been seen.'"  God said, "You shall not murder."

In chapter 20 we read that all of Israel gathered to get the facts about the situation.. which the Levite calls a "shockingly obscene and degrading crime in Israel."  A battle between the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of Israel begins.  Eventually, Benjamin is defeated and the town where the wickedness happened was destroyed.

In chapter 21 we read how the people of Israel twisted things around so that the remaining men from Benjamin could have wives and remain as a tribe in Israel.

They were doing what was right in their own eyes. And it was horrible! Abuse, murder, idolatry, immorality, perversion... the complete opposite of what their God had called them to be.. "Be holy" He had said.  "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice and by holding fast to Him, for this is your life and the length of your days that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your 
fathers..." ( Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

They chose death.  They chose the curse. They had sunk to the depths of the nations that God had judged and delivered them from.

Today, as we read and watch the news, we cannot help but observe that our country is falling into the same sins as Israel did those many years ago.  Our nation is choosing death.. choosing immorality.. choosing false religions and evil ideologies.  We will not escape the judgement of God.

 Romans 1:25-32 makes it so clear, "For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason, God gave them over to degrading passions... and just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustful, unloving, unmerciful.... " 

Father in heaven, holy and infinite God, the only God- who rules over all of heaven and all of the earth, we praise and hallow Your Name.  We, who call on Your Name, choose life and blessing, through the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Heal our land, forgive our sins, bring repentance and revival to this nation.  Deliver us from those bent on evil.  Close the abortion mills. Stop those who traffic in sex slavery.  Change the thinking of those who promote immorality and cleanse us!  We see all too many who believe that it is ok to do what is right in their own eyes and have no idea that You even exist.  Lord God, let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Help us we pray..  in Jesus' name. Amen.