Judges 21:25 – The Underlying Problem
The disturbing events at the end of the Book of Judges show us just how low the Israelites have sunk in this period. Idolatry has become prevalent. The Levites are not supported by the tithes of the people. At least one Levite, Jonathan, is willing to engage in false religion for profit. The men of Gibeah act like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1-11) whom God destroyed for their great wickedness. Rather than bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice, the people of Israel nearly destroy the entire tribe of Benjamin. Remorseful at their acts and seeking a way around their rash vows, they force 600 women into marriage with the surviving Benjaminites. Clearly the Israelites of every tribe have acted foolishly and sinfully.
These sins are disturbing, individually, but there is a serious underlying problem. That problem is restated in today’s Scripture: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” In Jeremiah 17:9 we learn that the heart of man is wicked and deceitful. If we do what is right in our own eyes, and our hearts are wicked and deceitful, then that which seems right to us will often be evil.
Through these events, the LORD has exposed the foolishness of rebellion against Him. When we think that we can and should do what is right in our own eyes, rather than doing what He has revealed to be good, disaster upon disaster will be the result. Rejecting God’s Kingship brings about a downward spiral of depravity that eventually creates such instability in society that heinous acts, strife and bloodshed become the norm. May we honor God’s right to rule us and seek to live in obedience to His Word, and not do that which merely seems right to us.
Questions
- What kinds of sins do we see at the end of the Book of Judges?
- What is the real underlying problem?
- What has the LORD exposed through these events?
Prayer Points
- Thank God that He has exposed the foolishness of doing what is right in our own eyes.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.