The book of Judges describes a nation sliding into chaos—In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

The phrase first pops up to describe a man who paid for a silver idol, which was then stolen by a group of armed raiders and placed at the center of their new city after they slaughtered the inhabitants of the old one. Thus, the founders of Dan laid an adulterous foundation for their new capitol.

Doing whatever seems right in my own eyes remains completely modern. Our society promotes a fierce determination to make ourselves into whatever we want. We promote ourselves and demand others celebrate our choices with us.

But as we see from Judges, this impetus lies deep among the roots of our hearts. Take what I want, place myself at the center, and make decisions best benefiting me. I nod to a higher power for a blessing, like one rubs a lucky charm. But I shy away from the living God who demands surrender.

It’s easy for me to view these Danites with superiority, but am I not tempted in the same way each and every day?

Watch your step. The allurement of living in whatever way seems right in our own eyes never fades. Neither does the suffering that eventually comes with it.

Judges 18 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Road Trip with Raj