During a time in Israel’s history, there was a common theme in the nation. It was that everybody did what they thought was right.
In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Judges 17:6
Can I ask you to think about something for a moment? – If everybody thinks they are right, would that cause problems?
We all should have the ability to decide what is right for us in our personal lives, like what style of clothing we wear, what foods we want to eat, and so forth. When it comes to morality, we need to proceed with caution because our moral decision affects everyone.
In Rwanda, during 1994, the Hutu people killed between 500,0000 to 1,000,000 Tutis people in just three months. Evil can happen with either one individual or a whole group of people when they decide that they know what is right. I think everybody has experienced injustice at the hands of someone in power.
Another way to look at this, in an audiobook called “Jesus Among Secular Gods,” they explain it as playing a game. Imagine you find yourself participating in a game and you had no idea when the game started, you did not know the rules of the game, the objective, or when the game would end. You asked the other players if they knew the rules and some said they did not know and others were angered that you had asked. You then looked to the coach/referee for help but they could not give you an answer. How would you feel about playing this game? The truth is this is how people play the game of life. It does not need to be this way.
The quoted verse up above states that everyone did what they believed was right because there was no king. Israel had plenty of kings after this period, and while some were better than others, not one of them was perfect. What we learn from the Bible is that any hope for there to be justice and good in the world, it would have to come from God, our true King. He is the creator of all. God decided to create the world, and He will undoubtedly choose what to do with it. We have to trust that God is just and will set things right by His timing.
The Bible story is about humanity’s inability to do the right thing all the time. Our failures, small or large, cause heartaches for others. There is only One who truly knows and does what is right. Jesus was a perfect man who promised to bring perfect peace to people who are willing to call Him LORD. Meaning they acknowledge Him as the final authority. Turning your life over to someone who truly knows what is best and does what is good, that is the right thing to do! His promise is too good to miss out on.
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 22:1-5