Judges :: Week 5

Published: Oct. 20, 2013, 5 p.m.

b'The book of Judges is the continuing story of a God on mission to gather a community of worshippers, for Himself, from within an evil and rebellious world. The repetitive theme of, \\u201ceveryone did what was right in their own eyes,\\u201d not only sets the tone for the culture, but describes the attitudes of some of the darkest \\u201cheroes\\u201d in God\\u2019s story of redemption. We must all fight the temptation to \\u201cjudge\\u201d the judges for, in truth, we are no different. We are equally unfaithful and fully convinced of our own \\u201crightness\\u201d. In truth, when we read about the ever- rebellious Israel with its misguided leaders, we see ancient versions of our own present-day idolatry\\u2014individual and corporate. This story, and every story, is about God's grace.'