Re:Verse reading–Judges 17:1-6; 18:1; 19:1; 20:1-7; 21:25 (day seven)
“In those days, there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.”–17: 6
Most scholars think that Samuel wrote the book of Judges. Years later, he was the historian who reflected on the lessons of this unproductive chapter and recorded them as a warning.
Authority is good. (The Spirit, government, parents, pastors–see Romans 13). Samuel will later struggle with the idea of a human king for Israel (see 1 Samuel 8) , but even he concedes that unrestrained personal freedom is an unworkable system.
Haven’t we come to the same place? Headed there? Challenging any authority outside of self? Don’t we (apart from the influence of Christ) resist leadership too?
“I am a man under authority” said the Centurion who so impressed Jesus. (Matthew 8:9) For Jesus, submission is a virtue. Like Samuel, He warns those who recognize no king but self and its thoughts, “You are on an unwise path”.
