I’m near the end in my reading in Judges. After the last judge, Samson, the final few chapters really encapsulate how far down Israel has spiraled.
The cycle of God providing a leader followed by the people forgetting God followed by Israel needing deliverance followed by God delivering them with another leader just keeps happening. But each time this cycle occurs it gets worse.
So after Samson we see what really is a summary of the situation: religious corruption and moral/societal corruption. This is best captured in a phrase used four times in these last few chapters:
In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes. 17:1. See also 18:1, 19:1, 21:25
The people have been continually turning their backs on God, and we can see where this leads. Absolute chaos!
Whether it is in our personal lives or our societal lives, “forgetting” God and becoming complacent in our walk with God will lead to religious and moral decline. I have felt that more times than I want to admit. And on a societal level, just look around where evil and moral corruption is not just tolerated, it’s celebrated!
What is the solution? We need a true Deliverer. A righteous King. Judges shows us that we simply cannot govern ourselves. Thankfully God does deliver and we see in the next book, Ruth, just such a deliverer and righteous King mentioned.
“Lord help us to repent of “doing what is right in our own eyes.” We so easily slide right back into self governing. We think we know better. And really when things go smoothly, we easily forget about you. May we look daily to our true King and Deliverer, Jesus, and seek to love and walk in His ways. Amen”
