When We Become Our Own Judge

A couple of weeks ago I preached from a very dark passage of scripture, Judges 19-21.  Here are some thoughts that continue to haunt me from that text:  

First, when everyone does what is right in their own eyes the ones who suffer the most are those without power.  The judgement that is repeated near the end of Judges is that everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes.  Then in the last few chapters we see the consequences of this way of life--abuse, neglect and violence, mostly toward women.  The Levite's concubine is raped, then cut into pieces.  Then a town is destroyed and girls are abducted from Shilo to provide virgins for the Benjaminites.  It's those without power who suffer the most when everyone does what is right in their own eyes. 

Second, the lies of the Levite sustain the chaos of the text.  Read it for yourself.  The Levite is less than honest as he recounts what has happened:  He doesn't assume responsibility; after all he is the one who handed his concubine over to be raped.  He claims the leaders of Gibeah are the perpetrators when in reality it was some wicked men.  He also says, they wanted to kill him, which is not true either.  His speech is inflammatory.  It provokes a violent response.  Words matter.  We must take heed.     

Thirdly, Israel is so far gone that even when they try to put things right, they make a mess.  Israel resorts to violence to solve the problem that their own violence has created.  It's as if they can't imagine another way of life.  They use violence to provide wives for the 600 remaining Benjaminite men.  It's a mess.  Even when Israel tries to make things right, they create more chaos.  It's as if they have no other paradigm than that of force, pragmatism and expediency.    

All of this makes me long for Gods kingdom.  This is our hope, the gospel Jesus preached:  "The Kingdom of God has come near, repent and believe the good news" (Mark 1:15).