Judges chapter 21 and verse 25 for our text. We read here, in those days, there was no king in Israel. Every man did that which was right in his own eyes. In those days, there was no king in Israel. Every man did that which was right in his own eyes. We've come to the end of our study in the book of Judges, and we have maintained that this book was written to justify the need for the judges and also to justify the need for a king, a king ruling under the fear of God. And we know as we looked at the judges, they were successful to a certain amount, but they never really fulfilled what they should have done. And there was always an inclination that we needed something better. And the better thing was for a king to be appointed over all the house of Israel, who would rule under the fear of God. And we are of the opinion to believe that this book was written around the time when David began to reign towards the end of Saul's reign. or maybe even Saul by this time was dead and David had reigned over part of Israel, but he was facing opposition before all the other tribes accepted him as king. So it's probably around that time that this book was written, we believe. And that's what makes sense of this text then. In those days, there was no king, implying that when the book was written, there was a king. But the events in this book all happened when there was no king, and when the judges had to come, and when they ultimately failed, then the king would have to come. So we do believe that this book is a book that in some sense promotes David, who came from the tribe of Judah, and it seeks to disown Saul, who came from the tribe of Benjamin. And this book clearly seeks to point to David as being the king of God's choice for Israel at that time. Last week we looked at chapter 20 and we saw Israel involved in a tremendously bloody civil war that caused a lot of death And it left the tribe of Benjamin with just 600 males who were in a cave in a place called Rimmon. And chapter 21 deals with the aftermath when the people of God began to realize what they had done, that virtually a tribe was missing. And they sought about to do what they could to restore the tribe of Benjamin. As we said, there were 600 soldiers, 600 males in a cave, but there was no females because the people of God had slaughtered all of them but this 600. So what was going to happen? Where were these 600 Benjamites going to get wives and procreate? They couldn't possibly get wives from the people of Israel because the people of Israel had taken a vow that they would not give their daughters to marry the Benjamites. And they'd also taken another oath or they had sworn before the Lord that any tribe that did not come with Israel, with united Israel, and who would fight against the Benjamites, that that tribe that wouldn't come would also be destroyed, that they would be put to death. And obviously this was a time when lots of oaths and things were said rashly and hastily things that were done, were overdone, and it seems to be a period of excess. And this period that we're looking at from chapters 17 to chapter 21 of this book is a period marked by rashness and hasty decisions. You might say that Israel was operating on the hoof. They would legislate to do something. They would take an oath or swear before the Lord to do something. Then they had to do something else to counteract the effects of the first oath or whatever they promised before God to do. It does seem that they were making up things on the way. that they were adding one law to counteract the outcome of a previous law or enactment. We might say it was government on the hoof. It was like what has been leveled against Western governments. It's like going to war and not having an exit strategy. They want to do something, but they haven't fully considered the full implications of what will be the final outcome of their actions. Really, friends, in short, we have here the people of God abandoning the rule of God and living as they please. And what is the result? It is absolute chaos. That is what the result is. And that's what our text is telling us tonight. In those days, there was no king in Israel. Every man did that which was right in his own eyes. And as we look, and as we seek to draw lessons from this period in Israel's history, we can surely see parallels in our own society. What was Israel's downfall? Israel's downfall was first of all, idolatry. And Benjamin tolerated it, but so did the other 11 tribes. They tolerated idolatry as well. And what followed after idolatry was immorality. And what followed after that, but civil war and anarchy. And it can all be traced back to this golden rule that they broke. They replaced God's law and God's standard and God's way with their own. And it ended up in complete and utter chaos. In those days, there was no king in Israel. Every man dead. that which was right in his own eyes. It doesn't take us to be tremendously gifted theologians to see parallels in our own society. Are we not living in a day and an age when every man does that which is right in his own eyes? And that does not just appear visible in the church. It's true in the church by and large. The church is in a confused state. And when I talk about the church, I'm obviously talking about the wide professing church. I'm not particularly referring to one particular congregation or denomination or one locality. But as we look at the church throughout Great Britain, is it not clear and evident that whatever the church is doing, they are doing what is right in their own eyes? There's such a variety of things that are going on and orchestrated and organized by the visible Christian church. It's clear and evident that God's word has been set aside and the church is doing that which is right in his own eyes, as indeed the covenant people of God did in these days. And we have to keep reminding ourselves, and we have to keep shaking ourselves, this book that we're looking at in Judges is not concerned with the heathen. It's not concerned with the Canaanites and the Amorites as such and the Moabites. It's not concerned about these individuals. It is outlining what God's covenant people did. The people that he took out of the land of bondage and brought them according to his promise into the promised land. and a people who had once upon a time wholeheartedly followed the Lord. They were delighted in the Lord. The Lord was the sum and substance of their lives. But after their leaders went, they quickly degenerated and became, in some instances, worse. Worse than the heathens that they had replaced. Well, we can see this today in the professing Christian church, but also we can see it in the world. We can see it in the world. Authority has been cast aside to some extent, and every man's now a king, and every man has the right to do what he wants. It's relativism. That's what we're dealing with. What's all right for you may not be all right for me. There is no absolute standard. If I find something's right for me, then it's right. And if you find that something is right for you, then it's right. It doesn't matter. Every man does that which is right in his own eyes. And you can see, friends, there's nothing new. You can see that the Bible is completely and utterly bang up to date. It is the most contemporary book on the planet. It deals with fallen human nature. And we can see it today, clearly if we look, that every man is demanding that he is right. And whatever he thinks, it's right. And whatever behavior he wants to engage in, it's right. It matters not And of course, society and the church is crying out, although it does not realize it is crying out for a king. And of course, that king It's the Lord Jesus Christ, but like the Jews of old, they're crying out, we will not have this man to reign over us. And they don't seem to realize that to be under subjection to the Lord Jesus, to have him as our captain, to have him as our leader, is true freedom. It's freedom with a capital F. It's real freedom. and it's real peace and it's real joy. Well, tonight, friends, to draw our studies to a close in this difficult book for us, we want to say three brief things from this text. In those days, there was no king in Israel. Every man did that which was right in his own eyes. First of all, we have here universal condemnation. Every man. Universal condemnation. The last few chapters have dealt with Benjamin and how they harbored people who raped and murdered a woman. and how they did not hand these people over to be tried and punished as they should have. And of course, Benjamin was culpable in this. They should not have done it. But if we look at this book, and if we look at that incident, and we only blame Benjamin, we're missing half the story. Because as we think we said last week, the Lord not only punished Benjamin, but the Lord punished the other 11 tribes also in that bloody civil conflict that inflicted so many losses upon the people of God. And therefore, friends, we are to realize that when it says that every man did that which was right in his own eyes, it's not just a swipe at Benjamin. It's a swipe at all the people. All of them were all guilty of this in one way or the other. They had cast aside God's law and God's authority and God's way, and they had gone their own way. and there was universal condemnation because Israel had tolerated immorality and Israel had tolerated idolatry. Yes, certainly, Benjamin was much worse. But Israel was far from innocent and far from pure in this matter. And God, in his wonderful sovereignty and his infinite wisdom, used this situation to chastise both parties, that both of them might come to see the error of their ways, and that both of them might come under this universal condemnation, all of them. had gone and forsaken the living God to some level and to some extent. It's not hard then for us to apply this to ourselves. The Bible does not flatter us. Many people will tell us that the Bible is written by man. There's no man would write this book. There's no man would write this book, friends, because it does not in any sense exalt man. It puts man in his right place. It removes him from the high pedestal and brings him down to the ground where he belongs, and does not portray him as he should be, as noble and upright, but one who ascended and comes short of the glory of God. And as there was universal condemnation in those days, that everybody was doing what they wanted. So there is universal condemnation in the Bible. It reminds all of us that we're sinners before a thrice holy God. Go back to Genesis. Not long after the creation, we don't know how long, but Adam and Eve fell and then murder and all kinds of sins encroached upon the world. The world became a dark and a sinful place and God looked down. Now God doesn't need to look down, God sees all things, but He's speaking to us after the manner of men. And He's informing us that He's well aware of the situation. And as He looked at the world, what did He see? What did he see upon his glorious creation? It had been marred by man's sin, and God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. That's not a complimentary picture and statement. Does that not paint man in a very black situation? Oh, the very depths of our heart. Oh, the very imaginations of our hearts, friends. They're rotten, they're vile. That's what he's saying. The wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Oh, do we realize what we carry around with us in our fallen human nature? Something that's only evil continually. There's no good in us whatsoever. Holy Job said, behold, I am vile. Oh friends, do we recognize this? Do we look at this and can we say to our shame, the Bible's right? Or are we ones who sit in the pew and do we think to ourselves that the Bible is describing someone else? Oh, if only that was so, but that's not the case. Every man. did that which was right in his own eyes. Every man looked at his life. Every man saw his life. And every man was doing what was right in his own eyes. And God was saying, it's all wrong. That's what he says. And that it's a universal condemnation in this text. And the Bible brings forth that clearly and plainly to us all. We can come to the house of God. We can be diligent at the means of grace. All of these things are good friends, but ultimately, ultimately, our natural wicked hearts are deceitful and they will deceive us. Thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Well, universal condemnation. What every man did, that which was right in his own eyes. We see that today, do we not? Many might to some extent, reluctantly agree with what the preacher is saying tonight. They might conclude, yes, it's true, it's not very pleasant, it's true, but my heart is not right. I know I'm a sinner. I know this, I feel it. But surely it's not quite as bad as the preacher's making out. And surely there is some way to be reconciled. There's something that I can do to be reconciled to God, to get this guilt removed. And what does that man do? What does that person do that's right in his own eyes? Does he not make his own way of salvation? Does he not concoct his own religion and his own way back to God? Is that not what we see all around us? Yes, we believe that God has provided a way for us to be reconciled. God, who has been offended by our behavior, Yet God in his infinite wisdom and his great love towards sinners, he himself single-handedly has provided a way of salvation. Think about it for a moment, friends. We hear about this and it goes above our heads and it fails to affect our hearts as it should. God who has been offended, God who could rightly turn his back upon us and destroy us, He has been offended. And rather than remain offended, as it were, he has taken the initiative. He has done something that mankind could never do. He devised the plan and the scheme of redemption. Who could ever think that the Son of God would come and die Oh, is this not beyond our imaginations? Who would possibly think that this would be the way of escape? God himself taking the initiative, God sending forth his only begotten son, the son of his bosom, him coming to this world, him taking upon himself our form, our nature, him going to the cross, him being punished in our place. God who has been offended, Yet God showing his love, providing a savior, his son. But what does that person who recognizes his sin, what does he do? He bypasses God's way of salvation. He is offended at the gospel. He thinks he knows better than God. He despises the Lord Jesus and he devises his own way of salvation. His own way that he thinks he will be reconciled to God. Every man did that which was right in his own eyes. And he takes up this religion, and he takes up that religion, and he follows that religion or whatever, and he thinks he'll get to heaven by doing this or by doing that. And God says to him this night, in those days there was no king in Israel. Every man did that which was right in his own eyes. And what happened when every man did that which was right in his own eyes? It ended up in chaos. It ended up in confusion. And that's what will happen if we do that which is right in our own eyes. You know the verse I'm going to quote. You know it well. In fact, as far as I can see, it's repeated twice in the Book of Proverbs, word for word. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. There was a way that seemed right to the Benjamites and to the tribes of Israel, and it ended up in bloodshed and chaos. there is a way that seems right to men concerning their salvation, and it will end up in eternal ruin and heartache. Friends, this is not a time for every man to do that which is right in his own eyes. This is a time for every man to do what God says. Thus saith the Lord, we will do it. This must be our motto. We must embrace Christ. He is the only way. He himself said, I am the way and the truth and the life. No man cometh to father but by me. No religious man no wealthy man, no educated man, no man of any description will come to the father except they come through Christ. And therefore, we must not be wise in our own eyes, but we must be like little children. Except ye be converted and become like little children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven, Jesus says. And it is the most humblest thing in the world to become a Christian, to follow the Lord Jesus, because you cast aside all your own self-righteousness. You cast it all. You look to the crucified one. He was crucified beyond the city. He bore the reproach, and you must bear it, friends, if you're going to follow him. and you'll not be wise in the eyes of those around about you, and you'll not be wise in your own eyes, but the day will come when you will not be ashamed. You will not be embarrassed when you stand before him. Well, firstly then, Universal condemnation, every man. This text would also teach us secondly, surely, universal failure. Did that which was right. They thought they were doing right. They thought in their schemings and all their oaths and all their sworn statements before God and all their actions, On either side, on the side of the 11 tribes, on the side of Benjamin, they all had their schemings, they all had their disputes and debates, and they came to this conclusion, they're doing what is right. This is the way to go. And the end result is universal failure. It's again, it's fairly easy to Apply this. Not that long ago, we looked at the Sermon on the Mount. We looked towards the end of chapter seven. We noticed the broad way and the narrow way. The broad way, there's many going on it. The broad way, it's easy. The broad way, you can simply be carried along with the crowd. Nothing to stop you. You're not unusual. You're just like everyone else. Multitudes are on that road. It's an easy road. No difficulties. Nothing to tax you. Everything's going well. This is what they thought. They will do this. They will do that. We will sort out the Benjamins. The Benjamites said, we will protect those. It's not going to happen to us. But the end result was complete and utter chaos. Well, friends, if we are doing what is right in our own eyes, it will end up in failure. It will end up in eternal failure. It will end up in eternal woe. It will end up in eternal regret. It will end up in an eternity in misery where there shall be no respite, no relief, no escape, no light at the end of the tunnel. And therefore, it's vitally important for us that we consider What are we doing? Are we doing things that are right in our own eyes? Or are we seeking to follow the Lord? Are we taking up the cross and are we following him? Are we willing to be identified with him? Are we willing to bear the reproach? Or do we wish to win the approval of men? Oh, it might seem a wise thing to win the approval of men for a time. It helps us. Helps us in our social standing. Helps us maybe to get on in our occupation. It helps us if people think highly of us. But all we're doing, friends, is doing things right in our own eyes, and we're neglecting the one thing needful. Therefore, we must recognize that if this is describing us, every man did that which was right in his own eyes, then here's the message. It will lead to universal failure and disappointment. throughout all the ages of eternity. Lastly, and finally, we might notice here, thirdly, there was universal approval. Universal condemnation, universal failure, but universal approval. Every man did that which was right, in his own eyes. This way is the way of popularity. This way is the way where you make friends. This way is the way where you have a good influence. This way is the way of respect. This is the way that people will look up to you. Universal approval. What they did was right in their own eyes. But they weren't looking, friends. But there is the approval of another that we must have. You know, you'll be well familiar with it, many of you. The first question and answer in their catechism What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. In other words, this is why we have been created. There's a goal, there's a purpose in our creation. And what is that? It is to glorify God. In other words, it's to seem right in His eyes. Our lives are to be right in His eyes, not our eyes or anybody else's eyes. And if we are ones who experience universal approval, we need to take warning. We could think of that text that Jesus said, woe unto you when all men speak well of you. As the people of the Lord Jesus Christ, as disciples, we don't go out to harass people, we don't go out intentionally to rub them up the wrong way. Far from it. We seek to live peaceful and godly lives as we serve the Lord Jesus. But the point is, friends, if you're going to be true to Christ, if you're going to stand up for him in a wicked and corrupt generation, you will find that because of your witness and because of your testimony and because you won't engage with the kind of activities that others engage in and they will see a marked difference in your life and that difference will testify to shortcomings in their lives so that their conscience will be pricked by your conversation and by your lifestyle that you will rub them up the wrong way that your life will testify against their lives. And when they ask you questions, why do you do this? Or why do you not do that? You will not win their approval. And you will not be living in a way that was right in their eyes. but you will be living in a way that's right in the eyes of God. And surely this is what we want. We don't look for universal approval. We don't look to live and to do things that are right in our own eyes. We have, in some sense, put our own preferences to the back. We are seeking to live according to the word of God. Because without this, without this supreme, absolute standard that does not change, we'll all end up in exactly the same way where every man did that which was right in his own eyes. And every man applauded himself. And every man patted his own back. And every man congratulated himself. The result was complete and utter chaos. Where do we stand then today, friends? What about ourselves this evening? Are we ones who take the word of God? And are we ones who seek to put that word in practice? Are we ones who seek to win the approval of God and who are ones who are prepared to forgo our popularity? Or are we ones who do that which is right in our own eyes? Well, the clear warning for us, if we are, it will lead to disappointment and it will lead to chaos. Therefore, our prayer would be that we might learn from this book and that we would always seek to follow him, whom to know is life everlasting. Amen. May God bless his word to us. Let us pray together.