When Men Are Right In Their Own Eyes

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Judges 21: 25

This is the very last scripture to close out the Book of Judges. It is probably one of the saddest scriptures in the Bible. The children of Israel had strayed very far from the time that Joshua was their leader. They strayed very far from the God who had delivered them from the hand of the Egyptians in Moses’ day. These very ones would serve God one moment then turn their backs on him oftentimes to serve the gods and idols of the land in which they dwelt. They would be defeated by some enemy only to cry out to God for deliverance. God would raise up a Judge to deliver them and not to long afterwards they would go back to the idolatry that He would deliver them out of. This became a vicious cycle. It was a cycle that continued to spiral downward and out of control. The very abominations that Joshua forewarned them to stay away from began to creep in little by little until those abominations became commonplace among a people that once had power and victory with God. At the closing of this book, these people were so far away from God that no one could lead them and therefore they did that which was right in their own eyes.

There are a lot of similarities between that day and today. The abominations of that day have not only crept into our society but in many instances they have bulldozed their way in to the point that many people are calling good evil and evil good. In America, every man seems to think that their way is right. Just listen to the issues of the day. People take such strong stances on opposing views. You can listen to conservative talk radio on an issue and be fully persuaded that the position being taken is absolutely true or even the truth. However, you can listen to the same issue through liberal media sources and listen to a compelling argument taking the exact opposite viewpoint. Both sides are absolutely convinced that their way is right. Both sides are convinced that they are telling the truth. Both sides will in turn act upon the “truths” that they believe in and feel very justified in their actions. Thus every man or group does that which is right in their own eyes.

Unfortunately, this divisive approach to issues has also crept into the church. There seems to have been a consistent movement to divide over the last half century or so. Just like in the world, persuasive arguments have crept into our assemblies to the point where men and women have been torn and compelled to take sides. Some people have separated over doctrinal issues. Each side believing that their interpretation of the scriptures is absolutely correct. Some people have separated because of persons or personalities. Either someone has persuaded a group to separate and follow them or someone or “someones” have become bitter over the actions of those that have disappointed them in the faith and off they go. Whatever the issue is each man or group not only believes that they are right in their own eyes but they go on and do what is right in their own eyes. Paul in the Book of Philippians speaks of a ministry that were preaching Christ but from different motivations:

Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some of good will:

The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add afflictions to my bonds:

But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.

What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea and will rejoice.

Phillippians 1: 15-18

Paul seemed to be able to break through the divisiveness to see Christ in the midst of both motivations. Both sides were preaching what they thought was right in their own eyes. However, Paul calls out the one side as not being sincere. One side preached Christ to uplift and further the gospel. The other side preached to add to Paul’s afflictions. Both sides were convinced that they were right. However, Paul saw the right in one side and the wrong in the other. However, he also was able to see through spiritual eyes that whether in pretense or in truth, it was Christ that was being preached and therefore being lifted up regardless of the motivation.

Is There Not A Cause?

On September 11, 2001, the world was thrown into turmoil due to a series of terriorist attacks on three prime targets within the United States of America; the most egregious of those attacks came on the World Trade Center Towers in New York City that subsequently caused both towers to collapse. On September 12, 2001, a resolve came over the citizens of America. We, for that time, were not a divided country. We transformed into that which our forefather’s envisioned as citizens united under a common cause to uphold the dictum that this country was built upon … one nation under God. Because of these coordinated abominable acts, more American citizen’s were “turning” to God like what had not been seen in many years. Church attendance had grown exponentially. The very things that divided us now seemed trivial in light of what the entire nation was facing. There seemed to be a united cause.

And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

1 Samuel 17: 29

David said these words in the midst of very challenging odds. The nation of Israel was under verbal assault by the Philistines and their champion Goliath. The nation was at stake. Goliath challenged a single Israelite to a “fight to the finish.” If Goliath won then the Israelites would become slaves to the Philistines. However, if a chosen Israelite won then the Philistines would become enslaved to the children of Israel. The most obvious challenger from the Israelite camp would have been the King, Saul. He was said to have been head and shoulders above any of his own people (1 Samuel 9: 2). He however did not raise to the occasion. As he lost the anointing of God, God was ready to raise another who would be king. One who was single-focused on serving his God. That one would be David.

When David uttered the words, “Is there not a cause”, he uttered those words with pure conviction and confidence in the God who had delivered him from the lion and the bear (1 Samuel 17: 34-36). The key difference between David and Saul was the single-focus that David had in God juxtaposed against the worldly perspective that Saul possessed. Saul represented the same worldly vision that those during the end of the time of the Judges had. They were right in their own eyes. There was no vision of God. And because of that when the time of tribulation came, they had nothing to stand on and no one to turn to for help. They could not rely on self because there was a “self” that was bigger and stronger than any one of them … including Saul. During the time of the Judges, the children of Israel had continually and progressively intermingled with the worldly views that the society around them espoused. They increasingly mixed their view of God with the worship of the idols of the nations that God himself told them not to mix with. They not only “mixed-in” idolatrous worship, they also took on the worldly customs and practices of the people that God wanted to deliver them from. It came to the point where their mixing had pushed God completely out of their hearts and minds (Judges 19: 1-30). They traded in God’s righteousness for their own righteousness until it lead them to utter destruction (Proverbs 14: 12).

David, on the other hand, wholly trusted in God. He had a clear vision of God and His ability to deliver. Instead of being fearful at the sight of Goliath, his vision looked past Goliath to see a God who was greater than Goliath (Psalm 121). David did not entangle himself with the worldly views and customs of the surrounding nations. He simply and earnestly trusted in his God. When faced with trials, David learned not to lean upon himself. Rather he learned to lean upon the One who could bring complete victory; whether from a lion, a bear, or a giant. David recognized a “cause” in the midst of an Israelite camp that could only see was their own demise and ultimate destruction. David’s vision was heavenly. Saul and the children of Israel’s vision was worldly; caused by a defeated religion that was mixed with a worldly view.

A Fight To The Finish

We live in a time of where there are many Goliath’s in the land that are challenging us to a “fight to the finish.” If we continue to face those giants in our own strength and with our own viewpoints or self righteousness, those giants will never fall. Our “Sauls” or governments will never be the solution. We, in many instances, cannot rely on our religious leaders to bring forth the deliverance that we stand in need of in our time of help. Don’t get me wrong, I am not against the help that a God-sent ministry can bring to a people. However, we cannot place all of our trust in the ministry to fight against our giants. Unfortunately, there remains many religious voices and systems who have mingled with the views and customs of the world that in the end will lead to death. Our only hope against modern-day Goliaths is in the same God who David trusted in. That same God sent his son Jesus Christ to be our Salvation and our Deliverer. It is the same Jesus Christ that Paul spoke of being preached. It is the same Jesus Christ that will help deliver us from our own righteousness to accept His righteousness. When we receive Christ and his righteousness, we are transformed from what is right to who is right. We cease to compare our righteousness amongst ourselves and take on the only and true righteousness of Jesus Christ. As we surrender our righteousness individually, we will become like David and see that there is a cause. We will also see that that cause is worth fighting for “to the finish.”

September 12, 2001 unfortunately was not sustained in the United States of America. Many US citizens lost their vision of the “cause.” Currently, we do seem more divided than ever. Our churches seem to be in the same shape as the nation. Goliath is spewing out his insults. When are you and I going to rise up like David and stop affixing our eyes on the world and each other and lift up our eyes seeking out our Deliverer and joining His cause?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14: 6