Judges chapter 18 verse 1 (NIV)
In those days Israel had no king. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking a place of their own where they might settle, because they had not yet come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.
Judges chapter 19 verse 1 (NIV)
In those days Israel had no king.
The first verses of both these chapters in Judges are the same. But the fact that they had no king like the other nations around them was no excuse for their behaviour. They had God as their ruler and king. That’s what God had intended so that they could be an example, and indeed a blessing, to the other nations. But the people chose to disregard God’s laws and instructions and do their own thing, and as long as they did, chaos reigned, due only to their own actions. The first verse of chapter 18 also tells us that the Danites hadn’t even, over many years, taken possession of the inheritance that God had given them. That made me wonder if we too make excuses for not walking the path God has given us and claiming our own inheritance. After all, we are without excuse –as followers of Christ we have the Holy Spirit within us to guide us direct us!
Dear Lord,
I ask for Your forgiveness for the times when I make excuses for not doing Your will. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.