The book of Judges is the dark account which describes the moral failure of God’s people during their early inhabitance of the land of Canaan. Whereas in the book of Joshua the Israelites enjoyed one success after another, in Judges they are defeated time and again because of their idolatry and rebellion against God. The key phrase in the book that describes the spiritual condition of the Hebrew nation during the period of the Judges is found in 17:6 and 21:25: “In those days there was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes.” Lessons learned from the book of Judges are many. Consider:
1. The Ongoing Situation. There is a recurring cycle that occurs throughout the nearly four centuries spanned by this book. This cycle consists of the Israelite’s sin against God, the subsequent suffering brought about by the wrath of God, followed by Israel’s supplication to God, and then God raising up a savior to deliver them out of their bondage. All too soon however, the children of Israel slipped again into rebellion and idolatry and the cycle repeated itself.
2. The Objective Standard. Jeremiah states that it is “not in man to direct his own steps.” (10:23). Human beings cannot decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong. There has to be an outside objective standard. Obviously that standard is the Word of God. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in His way” (Ps. 37:23). “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9). The only way for man to sustain a life of godliness in the eyes of Jehovah is for his life to be governed by the law of the Lord.
3. The Obvious Solution. “All scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16,17). Does not this cover every area of life in which man needs a standard by which to be governed? Most people are going through life with no direction. The same solution exists today: follow the ways of God!