When I was young, I liked TV shows about cowboys. I wore my six guns so often that one of Dad’s friends nicknamed me “Tex” (He called me that until he passed away). If you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would have said, “A cowboy.” I liked Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel, The Rifleman, The Lone Ranger, Gene Autrey, Hopalong Cassidy, and Roy Rogers.
One of the recurring phrases in the book of Judges is “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” (Judges 17:6) Sounds like the Wild West with its dirt streets and saloons. Things haven’t changed much, except now we have paved streets and a lot more bars.
There was no central authority in the land, so people did whatever they wanted. I’m sure there were some that obeyed God (the book of Ruth took place during those days), but there were others that followed their fleshly desires. Today, we have people on our streets who are bent on being in charge of their own lives. I don’t know all the issues of mental illness and anger, but when people don’t feel any responsibility toward God, all sorts of terrible things follow.
Another pattern that stands out in Judges is the cycle that repeats itself over and over. Obedience to the Lord is followed by disobedience, which results in God bringing about national oppression until the people repent and again surrender to Him. I believe our country is experiencing one of those cycles. We have seen a radical shift in our country. Instead of being a “God-fearing” people, our culture seems to be heading toward a “God-dishonoring” mindset. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:21) “I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin.” (Psalm 36:1–2)
We may have the rule of law but, in spite of that, we are seeing a flood of terrible events sweep over our land. But God will not be fooled or mocked. He remains on the throne of the universe, directing the course of history in spite of the sins of man. The greatest proof of that is how He used the sin of man to bring about justification through Jesus Christ. “Jesus of Nazareth was a Man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. This Man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.” (Acts 2:22–23)
Get on the right side of God. Willingly let Him direct your life. “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him.” (Psalm 32:9–10)
It won’t matter who is in City Hall or the White House. God not only directs the affairs of nations in spite of sin, but He also wants to direct your personal life.
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