These Are Those Days

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. [Judges 21.25]

It is worth repeating here because it was worth repeating in the Bible that the events described in the context of this statement were neither normal nor acceptable.

I am glad this statement continued to be repeated in this part of the Bible because it serves to remind us that the events described in today's OYCB reading are just plain disgusting.

The first part of today's reading that told the story of the Levite and his concubine is appalling on every level. Not only were the actions of the men of Gibeah remarkably perverted, but also the actions of the Levite himself in giving his concubine to be raped all night long. Is it any wonder the concubine had left this guy? I mean, judging by the Levite's actions toward his concubine in this story, he no doubt had a role in her leaving him in the first place! I won't elaborate on the old man offering his virgin daughter as well.

Here is what is wrong with doing what is right in our own eyes:

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? [Jeremiah 17.9]

It matters not what we think about our motives - our heart. What matters is that our hearts are most deceitful and desperately wicked - they simply cannot be trusted. We need God's Word. In the case of Israel, they needed a leader because it was their leaders who maintained civil compliance with God's Word.

Can you imagine the Levite thinking it was okay to push his concubine out to the perverts of Gibeah?

Before we get too self-righteous though, we should consider that in the USA, we have embraced and even celebrated the same sexual perversion that led to this incident recorded in the Bible! And, before we get too judgmental of the Levite pushing his concubine out the door, we should consider the thousands of school children we push out the door into the perverted hands of a system that teaches that perversion is not only acceptable, but to be embraced and celebrated.

In those days...  These are those days!

Father, forgive us for ignoring Your Word and instead trusting our hearts and getting ourselves into the tangled web of deception and perversion we are in today.