Saturday, April 5, 2014

Right in His Own Eyes

The final verse in the Book of Judges reads  " In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

I read into this the suggestion that without authority over them, men will do as they will.  Further, it is my opinion that most men left to their own devices and having only themselves as arbiters of right and wrong will choose the wrong all too often.

In a perfect world, one which has never been since Eden, parents would raise up their children with a code of moral behavior such that the world could indeed operate smoothly and harmoniously.

However, as Jeremiah wrote, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

Do we not live in a day and society in which it is thought that man should do whatsoever he perceives to be right in his own eyes?

Jesus gave two directives which, were they followed by all people, would resolve all our problems:
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."




5 comments:

Jim said...

It would solve all problems. And it's really an easy authority to obey.

Secondary Roads said...

The moral foundation, aye there's the rub. To "let your conscience be your guide" or rise up and "listen to your heart." Either way "you in a heap a trouble boy."

vanilla said...

Jim, that is the unvarnished truth!

Chuck, a conscience improperly programmed is an unreliable guide.

Sharkbytes said...

I certainly think we have arrived at that point. It's all "whatever works for you."

vanilla said...

Sharkey, yes, and all too often with no consideration for how it might affect anyone else.