In Whose Eyes?

In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:6, NASB 1995).

My Musings – “In those days...what was right in [their] own eyes” was no different than the nations that Israel was supposed to drive out. “Not because of [Israel’s] righteousness or [its] integrity…but on account of the wickedness of [those] nations…[and] to accomplish what God swore to [the patriarchs].” (Deuteronomy 9:5, NIV 1984). The sad part is that Israel knew what was right in God’s eyes, because He had selected them to receive it. In order to know the difference between the “wickedness” of the world and the “righteousness” of God. Yet, time and time again, they chose “what was right in [their] own eyes”

What they knew, and what they did were not the same. “For it is not those who [know] the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” (Romans 2:12–13, NIV 1984). So, “in [these] days,” God has revealed that “no one will be declared righteous in [God’s] sight by observing the law…for all have sinned and fall short of the [righteousness] of God.” (Romans 3:20, 22–23, NIV 1984). But all is not lost, because we also know that “this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (Romans 3:21–22, NIV 1984). Just as the first patriarch, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3, NIV 1984).

The saddest part is that “in [these] days…[everyone believes] what [is] right in [their] own eyes.” Too few believe that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NIV 1984). Sin has been redefined to exclude “what [is] right in [the culture’s] eyes.” It seems that “the time [has] come when men will not put up with [what is right in God’s eyes]. Instead, to suit their own desires, they [believe what is right in their own eyes]. They [have turned] their [eyes] away from the truth and [turned] aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3–4, NIV 1984). Myths with no wages to be paid, and no gift that is necessary.

My Advice – There is, nonetheless, a King on the throne. And “[God] has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed.” (Acts 17:31a, NIV 1984). The Man He appointed to pay the wages of sin for all who believe. “He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31b, NIV 1984).

What is right in our eyes doesn’t count unless it is what is right in His eyes. And that is to believe.