What an unmitigated disaster! This final section in Judges is one of the most outrageous, maddening, sordid accounts in the entire Bible. Look what you have recorded here: sexual perversion of the type associated with Sodom (19:22); self-preservation to the point of callous indifference (19:25-26); civil war and self-destruction that was intended for the pagan Canaanites only (20:8-12, 48); despicable acts to preserve the tribe of Benjamin at the expense of others (21:11-12, 16-22). How can this kind of conduct out of God’s people be explained? Judges 19:1 opens with these words: In those days when there was no king in Israel; and then the section closes with these words: In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him (Judges 21:25). These chapters are filled with disgusting characters and despicable conduct reflecting the depravity of man and the confusion that results when we all choose to follow our own path. Reading this passage, we join Israel in longing for a righteous king, the king that would later be provided in David, the one who was a type and shadow of the true righteous king to come (Jesus).
Beloved, left to our own path, without submission to God, mankind is destined to unrighteousness and utter moral chaos. Just look at Romans 1:18-32! The answer to this predicament is not an earthly ruler; it is submission and obedience to our heavenly King.
I would like to share a couple of parting points as we conclude in Judges. First, when we are outraged by the conduct of God’s people recorded here, just imagine how God sees us when we live in open defiance to his ways. But notice that God didn’t give up on Israel in spite of their hideous immorality, and if we belong to him, he won’t give up on us either. As we consider God’s amazing grace to us in Christ, may we be driven to true repentance and also long for the final return and establishment of the ultimate reign of our King. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!