In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25 ESV)
This is a sad but poignant passage of scripture that describes a time in history where the people followed after their own heart because there was no king in Israel. It is the fourth time this passage is used in this way - Judges 17:6, 18:1, 19:1 and 21:25.
One could look at this passage in terms of HISTORY but a person should really look at this passage in terms of OUR HEART.
In regards to HISTORY - things were pretty bad for the people of Israel during this season of history. They were often attacked and oppressed by foreign armies. Certain people (Judges) would rise up and get Israel back on track but then they would go back to their old ways of living a life of sin. Progressively, they got worse and worse. Sin became more and more perverse. And, hat used to bother them before was no longer an issue to them.
But there is another way that we need to look at this passage - it is in terms of OUR HEART. As Israel was king-less-ness in regards in terms of history - they were also king-less-ness in regards to their hearts (which really describes many of our lives) right now.
Have you noticed how so many people are doing their own thing in life and living their lives with no moral compass. I'm sure you've heard something like that before: "Hey, whatever works for you." "Well, if you feel it's okay..." "That may be wrong for you, but I feel it's right for me." “You’ve got to do what’s right for you.” "Who are you to judge me, who are you to tell me what I should do?"
You see, while we still have laws that govern our civic life, more and more, when it comes to the broader category of moral absolutes, "there [is] no king" on the throne. And when there is no king, when the idea of absolute right and wrong is dethroned, when their is no authority over us, our default belief is that everything should be under us.
Do you know what God's word says about our "own eyes", about doing what is right in our "own eyes"? Instead of building a temple around my opinion, and enshrining my personal judgment, the Bible speaks about the quicksand, the visual impairment of my "own eyes". The book of Proverbs expresses God's assessment very clearly in many places:
Proverbs tells us that:
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. (16:2)
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. (21:2)
So if our default is to justify all of our actions and attitudes, what does the Lord tell us, the one who weighs the heart. He tells us that:
There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. (30:12)
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. (26:16)
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (12:15)
The morally impure, the sluggard, the fool, all of them believe they are 'a-okay', when in fact God calls "a spade a spade" and reveals what they really are. Our "own eyes" are incapable of seeing what is spiritually true. That's why Proverbs asks:
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (26:12)
It's for this reason that God says through Solomon in Proverbs 3:
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (3:7)
Wisdom according to our "own eyes" always seems to be connected to evil. Do you see that? The Bible is very clear, God is very clear about our true condition "when there is no king". We are blind. We are deluded. Spiritually we are impaired and incapable and incapacitated.
In those days there was no king in Israel. And what happened when there was no king? What happened when human beings were living according to our 'default belief'? Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
King-less-ness in terms of the heart always means me setting myself up as the ultimate judge. But without God, my judgment is always corrupted, my perspective is always off.
So what am I supposed to do? What are we supposed to do?
It is interesting that Israel was crying out for a king to rule over them. The problem was that they were desiring the wrong king. They wanted a ruler, a monarch but in essence what they needed was a king over their hearts.
Think about different aspects of your heart - Are you willing to forgive? Are you willing to be obedient? Are you willing to submit to God's leading? Are you willing to walk away from the sin, that lust, that pride? Are you willing to bring your finances under the lordship of Jesus? Or... are you doing what is right in your own eyes?
Listen to how an old Puritan prayer embraces and expresses this need: O God of the highest heaven,occupy the throne of my heart,take full possession and reign supreme,lay low every rebel lust,let no vile passion resist thy holy war;manifest thy mighty power,and make me thine forever.Thou art worthy to bepraised with my every breath,loved with my every faculty of soul,served with my every act of life.
Is that your prayer? Is that what you desire each day? Well, there is an incredible difference between those who were crying for a king in the time of the judges and those who cry for a king today. God has provided for our greatest need in the person of Jesus Christ. He wants to be KING AND LORD OF YOUR HEART. You need a king - and yes, His name is Jesus.
(Original thoughts from a sermon by Bryce Morgan)
No comments:
Post a Comment