The People did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.. Judges17

Micah seemed to be good and moral and may have sincerely desired to worship God, but they disobeyed God by following their own desires instead of doing what God wanted.

Similar to today's prevailing attitudes. But God has given us standards. HE hasnt left our conduct up to us and our oponions. 

We can avoid conforming to society's low standards by taking God's commands seriously and applying them to life. Independence and self-reliance are positive traits, but only within the framework of God's standards.

Today, everyone seems to put his or her own interests first. Time has not changed human nature. Most people still reject God's right way of living. The people in Micah's time replaced the true worship of God with a homemade version of worship. As a result justice soon replaced by revenge and chaos.

Ignoring God's direction led to confusion and destruction. Anyone who hasnt submitted to God will end up doing whatever seems right at the time.

The tendency is present in all of us. To know what is really right and to have the strength to do it, we need to draw closer to God and HIS Word.

Sin Keep Us Away From Feeling Like Praying.. Judges16

In spite of Samson's past, God still answered his prayer and destroyed the pagan temple and worshipers. God still loved him. HE was willing to hear Samson's prayer of confession and repentance and use him this final time.

One of the effects of sin in our lives is to keep us from feeling like praying. But perfect moral behavior is not a condition for prayer. Dont let guilty feelings over sin keep you from your only means of restoration. 

No matter how long you have been away from God, HE is ready to hear from you and restore you to a right relationship. 

Every situation can be salvaged if you are willing to turn again to HIM. If God could still work in Samson's situation, HE can certainly make something worthwhile out of yours

How can you keep desire for love and sexual pleasure.. Judges16

Samson was deceived because he wanted to believe Delilah's lies. Although he could strangle a lion, he could not smother his burning lust and see Delilah for who she really was.

How can you keep your desire for love and sexual pleasure from deceiving you? 

1) you must decide what kind of a person you will love before passion takes over. Determine whether a person's character and faith in God are as desirable as his or her physical appearance.

2) because most of the time you spend with your spouse will not involve sex, your companion's personality, temperament, and commitment to solve problems must be as gratifying as his or her kisses.

3) be patient, time and observation often reveal what is beneath the pleasant appearance and attentive touch.

Revenge is an Uncontrollable Monster.. Judges15

Samson reply tells the story of this chapter "i only did to them what they did to me" Revenge is an uncontrollable monster. Each act of retaliation brings another. It is a boomerang that cannot be thrown without cost to the thrower. The revenge cycle can be halted only by forgiveness.

The Lord's strength came upon Samson, but he was proud and boasted only of his strength "with the jawbone of a donkey (instead worship God).. I've killed a thousand men!" He said. Pride can cause us to take credit for work we've done only because of God's strength.

Special Gift Wasted for Selfish Purposes.. Judges14

Because Samson wasted his strength on practical jokes and getting out of scrapes, and because he eventually gave it up altogether to satisfy the woman he loved, we tend to see him as a failure. We remember him as the judge in Israel who spent his last days grinding grain in an enemy prison, and we say "what wasted potential"

Yes, Samson wasted his life. He could have strengthened his nation. He could have returned his people to the worship of God. He could have wiped out Philistines. But even though he did none of those things. Samson still accomplished the purpose announced by the angel who visited his parents before his birth. In his final act, Samson began to rescue Israel from the Philistines.

Negative Thinking Often Cost Dearly.. Judges12

Israel had just won a great battle, but instead of joy , there was pettiness and quareling. The tribe of Ephraim was angry and jealous that they were not invited to join in the fighting (although Jephthah said he had invited them).

The insults of the Ephraimites enraged Jephthah, who called out his troops and killed 42000 men from Ephraim.

Jephthah usually spoke before he acted, but this time his revenge was swift. It cost Israel dearly, and it might have been avoided. Insulting others and being jealous are not right responses when we feel left out. But seeking revenge for an insult is just as wrong and very costly.

Great Potential is Wasted Because of Prejudice.. Judges11

Circumtance beyond his control forced Jephthah away from his people and into life as an outcast. Today both believers and nonbelievers may drive away those who do not fit the norms dictated by our society. Often, as in Jephthah's case , great potential is wasted because of prejudice--a refusal to look beyond ill-conceived stereotypes. Look around you to see if there are potential Jephthah being kept out due to factors beyond their control.

As a Christian, you know that everyone can have a place in God's family. Can you do anything to help these people gain acceptancefor their character and abilities? 

Jephthah sent messenger to the Ammonite king wanting to know why the Israelites in the land of gilead were being attacked. The king replied that Israel had stolen his land and he wanted it back.

Jephthah sent another message to the king. In it gave three arguments againts the king claim's;

1) Gilead was never the king's land in the first place because Israel took it from the Amorites, not the Ammonites

2) Israel should possess the land given by Osrael God , Ammon should possess land given by Ammon's god

3) No one had contested Israel's ownership of the land since its conquest 300 years earlier.

To Jephthah's credit, he tried to solve the problem without bloodshed. But king of Ammon ignored his message and preparedhis troops for battle.