Right in our Eyes
Judges 13:1 (ESV) And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
This is the last time God will raise up a judge in Israel during the period known as the "Judges." Here we have a few striking components of what has become a sort of rhythm for Israel during this dark period. First we should be aware that this length of subjugation is twice as long as any other in the Judges period (before Deborah/Barak was 2nd longest at only 20 years!). Now forty years Israel is subjected to the Philistines. But the more stunning aspect of this passage is the lack of prayer from Israel to God for deliverance from their oppressors. Unlike any of the other times in Judges, Israel is handed over to their enemies and they do not cry out to God. This is intended to shock the reader of the book to pay attention.
What is going on? Israel has become desensitized to their slavery which is a consequence of their sin. This is the sad reality of many people and nations who have seen God's goodness so much they do not even have a category for understanding how bad it can get without Him. I fear that is the place America finds herself in now. Why are people walking away from Biblical faith in this country? Because they do not have any idea how dark a country can get when God is ultimately and systemically rejected. Israel will get there after Samson, but this passage shows that even now they are oblivious to their dangerous trajectory.
So what is the problem for Israel that she keeps finding herself in this mess? It is there in the first sentence. "Israel ... did what was evil in the sight of the Lord."
Herein lies the problem of sin. Sin is doing what we think is right in our eyes but ultimately evil in God's eyes. The serpent convinced the woman her view of the fruit was right and she ate and gave to her husband. The scripture makes it clear, they were doing what they perceived to be "right" even though it was evil in God's sight. How often we do the same.
This is why regular study of scripture with a high regard for the Holy Spirit's inspiration is so essential to a healthy and productive life. No matter who we are or how wise we think we are, we are never as wise as we believe. We always need a Godly source of wisdom that confronts our own ideas of right and wrong. Even little disobediences that we think we are "getting away with" will have long term consequences that we currently do not see. Our problem is doing life right "in our own eyes." It may well be evil in God's eyes!
Consider how the Proverbs are constantly challenging those who THINK they are wise.
Proverbs 3:7 (ESV) Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
This is the last time God will raise up a judge in Israel during the period known as the "Judges." Here we have a few striking components of what has become a sort of rhythm for Israel during this dark period. First we should be aware that this length of subjugation is twice as long as any other in the Judges period (before Deborah/Barak was 2nd longest at only 20 years!). Now forty years Israel is subjected to the Philistines. But the more stunning aspect of this passage is the lack of prayer from Israel to God for deliverance from their oppressors. Unlike any of the other times in Judges, Israel is handed over to their enemies and they do not cry out to God. This is intended to shock the reader of the book to pay attention.
What is going on? Israel has become desensitized to their slavery which is a consequence of their sin. This is the sad reality of many people and nations who have seen God's goodness so much they do not even have a category for understanding how bad it can get without Him. I fear that is the place America finds herself in now. Why are people walking away from Biblical faith in this country? Because they do not have any idea how dark a country can get when God is ultimately and systemically rejected. Israel will get there after Samson, but this passage shows that even now they are oblivious to their dangerous trajectory.
So what is the problem for Israel that she keeps finding herself in this mess? It is there in the first sentence. "Israel ... did what was evil in the sight of the Lord."
Herein lies the problem of sin. Sin is doing what we think is right in our eyes but ultimately evil in God's eyes. The serpent convinced the woman her view of the fruit was right and she ate and gave to her husband. The scripture makes it clear, they were doing what they perceived to be "right" even though it was evil in God's sight. How often we do the same.
This is why regular study of scripture with a high regard for the Holy Spirit's inspiration is so essential to a healthy and productive life. No matter who we are or how wise we think we are, we are never as wise as we believe. We always need a Godly source of wisdom that confronts our own ideas of right and wrong. Even little disobediences that we think we are "getting away with" will have long term consequences that we currently do not see. Our problem is doing life right "in our own eyes." It may well be evil in God's eyes!
Consider how the Proverbs are constantly challenging those who THINK they are wise.
Proverbs 3:7 (ESV) Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 12:15 (ESV) The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 26:12 (ESV) Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Or consider how Proverbs makes it clear what we "see" as the right way ends up in the wrong place:
Proverbs 14:12 (ESV) There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Proverbs 16:25 (ESV) There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
It even says:
Proverbs 21:2 (ESV) Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.
Proverbs 16:2 (ESV) All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.
Ultimately, Judges is marked by this one sad epigraph after the Samson episode:
Judges 17:6 (ESV) In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Like Israel we are human. We have limited understanding. We need wisdom from above, the One who is fully above us and knows us better than we know ourselves.
The Israelites, without asking for one, are going to get a deliverer who will in many ways reflect themselves back to them. Samson will sure he's right about what he wants and then find his wants consuming him and ultimately destroying him. This is the final warning before the bottom falls out.
So too in our lives, God will mercifully reveal our own foolishness so that we stop thinking we know better than Him. The question is always, will we have ears to hear and eyes to see as He wants us to?
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