Sun 1 Mar

There is no denying it. Bad things happen. Pick whatever century you like and bad tings have taken place. Look at the many who have lost their lives in the many wars the world has been embroiled in. Or think of the actions of terrorists. Consider the carnage that drunk and drug affected drivers do. Or the loss of life in domestic violence.

We begin to ask the question will such bad things ever stop? Even the apostle Paul confessed that he was the worst of all sinners. Being a religious terrorist he knew how many Christians had suffered at his hands. He knew how many he had thrown into gaol for simply proclaim the good news of Jesus.

Bad things happen and as we come to the concluding chapters of Judges we discover that bad things take a turn for the worst. We see immorality on a scale never seen before among God’s people. We see rape and murder and kidnapping occurring. And all this being committed by God’s own people.

Why are such bad things taking place? The last verse of the Book of Judges tells us why such bad things are taking place. “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” Or everyone did what was right in their own eyes. When people turn their back on the one true king, they are left to their own devices and they do what they like. The next time something bad happens, ask: “Is it because they are doing what is right in their own eyes instead of following Christ?”