A Sad Summary of a Sinner’s Life

The book of Judges is no fairy tale. The only redeeming factor in the book is the relentless grace of God showing compassion over, and over, and over again to those who deserve it least of all. The worst of the judges have their names recorded in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, but reading about their lives in the book of Judges, we ought to heed the warning of how sin and self-will destroyed the lives of even great men of faith.

But it is the eerie echo of the book of Judges that is the sad summary of that entire period of Israel’s history. This eerie echo is indeed the sad summary of every sinner’s life.

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Judges 17:6

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Judges 21:25

This should never have been said of God’s people. Neither should it one day be the epitaph of your soul. We serve the living God. We imitate the Lord Jesus. We walk by the Holy Spirit. We have the Holy Scriptures.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 3:7