The death of Samson in Judges 16 brings about the end of the judges raised up to lead the tribes of Israel.
In Judges 17 we meet a man named Micah. This is a specific example of what was wrong in Israel during the time of Samson and Gideon. He steals money from his mom. He steals a LOT of money from his mom. Then when he hears her call down a curse on whoever stole the silver, he returns it to her.
He doesn't return the money out of guilt. He doesn't feel convicted to do the right thing. He merely wants to avoid being cursed.
In response, his wealthy mother dedicates the money to the Lord. However, she doesn't fill out a pledge card at First Presbyterian Ephraim or commit to the building fund at her local church. No, she uses the silver to make a small idol, proably a small 5lb idol. This small figure is set in his own home with a shrine of other small idols.
This is a clear violation of Commandment #2 of the 10 Commandments.
Further, Micah has his son ordained to be his priest, until a traveling Levite arrives in town. Micah offers the Levite money, clothes, and a place to stay if he will be his own personal priest. This litany of religious practices forbidden by the Lord culminates at the end as Micah tells himself that surely the Lord will bless him now that he has a Levite priest.
This short story reveals all that is wrong in Israel.
People like Micah and his mother are not following the Word of God as it was revealed to Moses. They are following God and worshiping him based on convenience (having their own in-home shrine) cultural norms (worshiping idols), and individual preference.
Judges 17 points to the total lack of obedience to God and his Word among his own people.
That applies today for God's people.
We cannot value convenience, cultural norms, and personal preference when it comes to knowing and following the Triune God. God has given us his Word which communicates to us who he is and how we should worship him.
Samson and Gideon demonstrate the sin of the rulers in Israel; people like Micah and his mother reveal that everyday Israelites were also living in sin and rejecting the Lord as well.
As we prepare for Christmas, let's remember to follow and worship the Lord according to the Word of God. The Triune God is a king, in fact he is the only King, and he demands that we know and worship him in a way that brings him honor and glory. We do that when we reject the idols of convenience, cultural trends, and personal preference and obey his Word - even when it's not convenient, politically correct, or preferable.