Day 19

The book of Judges ends with a really crazy account of lawlessness that almost ends with an entire tribe being wiped off the face of the earth. The heartbeat of Judges can be summarized in this verse which is repeated throughout the book "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." But it's much more than simply an earthly king; the people repeatedly forgot God altogether and began walking in their own ways. This is pretty ridiculous when you consider the great lengths God went through to give them a perfect abiding law. 

Anyway, I find the ending of Judges to be quite intriguing, especially when the prophet travels to Gibeah with his whore concubine. If you pay attention to the details it's as if the events that led up to Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction are being revisited. It's actually quite chilling if you stop to consider the implications. Here we read about God's holy people acting exactly like the Godless heathens who lived in Sodom and Gomorrah. So whats the point? Israel is no better than the Godless heathen.

Their wickedness is just as great as the unrighteous. They are guilty of the same wickedness, and without the grace of God there can be no righteousness. Overtime Israel began to look at the rest of the world and say "Thank God I am not like those heathens. I am so much better then they are." But this self-righteous view is fractured in so many ways.

We are not better because we are in Christ. It is by his grace that we have been made righteous. There is nothing for us to boast in. So please don't look down your nose at the Godless heathens. Remember, you are one too. When you start living in your own righteousness you will become like Israel who had "no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes" because you begin to set yourself up as king. Christ paid for your sin with his life and death; you contributed nothing. The next time the Godless offend you realize that if it were not for the grace of God you could not be saved, then go tell them about this marvelous grace we have in Jesus Christ.

Sola Gratia,

Jay Silvas