The book of Judges in the Bible has always struck me as one of the most crazy and difficult to interpret. I just finished it this morning in my reading through the Bible in this new year, and once again I was struck by the terrible accounts of brutality in the closing chapters. It is not for the faint of heart. But it is a book that makes sense of life in this fallen world. I say that it makes sense because right in the book is the key to understanding what in the world is going on with people crafting idols of silver, others stealing those idols, gang rape, dismemberments, near annihilation of an entire tribe, and even a priest of God who turns into a pagan priest.
The phrase that makes sense of all of this is, “There was no King in Israel, everyone did what was right in his own eyes!” When we are looking at the events of the book of Judges we are getting an onslaught of humanity doing whatever they “think” is right. Goodness! Let me warn everyone, that we are getting closer to this as a societal norm every day!
The undercutting and constant eroding of the foundations of Truth are nearly fully under us all now. We do not, as a culture, know where to turn for any authority: for any TRUE truth. And so we are inching closer and closer to a time where everyone does what is right in their own eyes. Want stuff for free? Then walk into a store in broad daylight and take the stuff and walk out. Need drug money? Kill someone with a wallet. Feel like your spouse who gave you those babies is getting boring? Walk away.
As a society, the rock bottom is not here, but I think it is increasingly coming into focus as we fall. And does this give me fear? Does this blog serve as my “sky is falling moment”? Not at all.
For anyone reading this that may not know true Truth, let me encourage you to honestly, openly, and with genuine interest pursue an understanding of Jesus Christ and the good news He came to bring to this fallen and falling world.
For anyone reading this who is already firmly in the grip of God’s love through the cross of Jesus Christ, let this be a wake up call . . . Not to fear . . . but to GOSPEL ministry! Where are the people bringing the light into the darkness? Where are the people running to the hurting and broken and fear-torn? Where are the people who will rise up out of their self-centeredness to PROCLAIM the true Truth to the world increasingly hungry for a solid foundation. It will start with our love but it will not end with those kind deeds. Whatever we do, it must culminate in the proclamation of Truth!
Let’s get busy, church! Who needs the good news in their life? Identify them. Love Them. Proclaim the Truth to them! Let’s GO!