What Seems Right
Daily Old Testament Reading: Judges 21; Ruth 1-2
Daily Focus Passage: Judges 21
The Book of Judges closes with a very telling statement, "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25). This declaration reveals a mindset driven by the flesh and life without regard for truth or others. The closing remark provides a dynamic of people living freely without concern for the Lord or truth. Instead of understanding the ways of the Lord, the people defined their own "right and wrong." Thus, the people did what they wanted without concern of obeying the Lord.
The statement in Judges 21:25 mirrors much of what we find in the culture around us today. People elevate personal rights and opinions over the truth of the Word of God. They allow personal interpretation to trump the revealed Word of God. This fuels a culture of doing what seems right in one's eyes because it reflects what Satan did in the garden when he asked Eve if God really said not to touch the tree. As a result, we must understand this dynamic to battle the temptation of altering truth and living in a state of “what seems right to us.”
THE STATE OF WHAT SEEMS RIGHT
The culture we find in the book of Judges centered on people living how they desired and attempting to define morality by their thoughts, opinions, and feelings instead of truth. This flesh-driven approach led them constantly away from the Lord and caused several moments of punishment, pain, and hurt. Thus, we must understand various ways this approach to life occurs.
First, people become controlled by what SEEMS RIGHT. When people define truth and morality by what “seems right,” they allow the flesh to control their world and their approach to living in the world. The issue with living in this mentality becomes evident as morality and truth become based on relativism and flesh. Thus, the idea of absolute truth and the leading of the Lord become rejected.
Second, people become driven by what FEELS RIGHT. People can move from the logic of humanity and begin to base their morality and truth on feelings. Feelings lead people astray because emotions can cause rash and illogical responses. We must remember that something may feel right in the sinful flesh but remain morally and biblically wrong. Thus, a culture driven by feeling and not truth becomes a culture of constant highs and lows and no consistency.
Third, people become focused on their PERSONAL RIGHT. When people live for the self and do not concern themselves with the Lord or others, their life only becomes about their right to do or not do something. When the statement “my right” appears in our vocabulary, we have already set ourselves down a course separated from the Lord. In Christ, we sacrifice our personal rights and surrender our life to the Lord. Thus, living by personal right is against the ways of the Lord.
Fourth, people live rejecting the WAYS OF GOD AS RIGHT. When people choose to live by their opinions, ways, and feelings, they reject the ways of the Lord and the truth of the Lord found in His Word. This approach to life is not in harmony with a relationship with the Lord but rather exists as a rebel before the Lord.
THE FUEL OF THE NOT RIGHT LIFE
The approach to living life according to “what seems right” is fueled by at least four different realities. First, the REJECTION OF THE LORD’S TRUTH fuels an improper approach to life. When the Word of God and His truth are rejected, then the life of the flesh is fueled by this abandonment. When we attempt to rewrite or redefine truth, we live in a state of rebellion against the Lord and try to elevate ourselves to the status of God when it comes to defining and declaring truth.
Second, the ABSENCE OF GODLY LEADERS OR SUBMISSION TO THEM promotes a self-centered approach to life. In the Book of Judges, we find times when an absence of godly leaders occurred, and as a result, the people wandered away in rebellion. When the leaders do not align themselves with the Lord or when the people reject godly leaders, then life becomes about the self and not obedience and sacrifice. This approach to life encourages a life of disobedience before the Lord.
Third, the ELEVATION OF SELFISH INTENTIONS drives the flesh to live outside the will and ways of the Lord. When people elevate their personal feelings and desire over the truth of the Lord, selfishness dominates life. The elevation of selfishness places the self on the throne of one’s life and refuses to allow the will, ways, and leading of the Lord to control their life. Thus, living for the self promotes the “seems right” approach.
Fourth, the PURSUIT OF SELF-GLORY AND GRATIFICATION blind people from living in obedience. When the ways of the flesh dominate life, people want to elevate the self above others and receive glory and recognition for the self. At the same time, they attempt to satisfy the longing formed by sin through the gratification that fades away by living according to the ways of this world. Thus, the more one seeks gratification in self-glory, the more the person seeks to gain praise and live in a manner that rejects truth to find momentary gratification.
The Book of Judges closes with a remarkable statement. The statement defined the culture of the Book of Judges and continues to define the culture today. We live in a “seems right” culture that rejects the truth of the Lord and even does so at times in the name of the Lord. May we seek the Lord and ask him to reveal the presence of this approach to life in our lives and seek repentance. May we pray for a movement of God leading to repentance as a culture lost in a “seems right” mentality.
