Everyone did what was right...

Judges 17:6 & Judges 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

As the Virginia Tech tragedy plays 24/7 in the news, this one phrase from Judges keeps coming to mind. While there was clearly no moral conscience in the shooter, it amazes me how little conscience exists within the anchors, pendants and commentators... especially those at NBC.
And I suppose that we could take it one more step and be shocked by how many Americans have searched for and downloaded his photos and video. What value could his rantings possibly have for any of us?

Thinking back to this phrase I focused on the main story that it bookends. Nearly the entire space between (chapter 19 to 21) is consumed with a violent, bloody story of a Levite (of the priestly tribe of Israel), his unfaithful concubine (nothing more than property), the violent sexual perversion of Gibea (a Jewish City where they were required to be hospitable) and the slaughter and near annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin. All along the story, the reactions to sin become more and more violent, devastating and irreversible.

Perhaps the most tragically ironic part comes after the people of Israel swear an oath to God to utterly destroy the tribe of Benjamin and realize how bad that decision was. However, they find themselves in a bit of a quandary. If they don't cut off Benjamin, they break their oath to God. If they do cut off Benjamin, they negate the very promises and provisions of God to protect and preserve Israel and the 12 tribes.

How vastly different would this story have been if there was a king in Israel? I'm sure the people had this thought. A strong king who could levy consequences would have rightly punished the Gibeanites and saved the nation this tragedy. However, they failed to recognize that the nation of Israel did have a king. God Himself was their King. He spoke to them face to face at Sinai, He lead them through the wilderness, He parted seas, He fought for them throughout Canaan, and He protected them by raising up dynamic and faithful leaders as His representatives. And yet, the people of Israel failed to see the value and superiority of this Theocracy.

Over 230 years ago, our nation was founded on such an ideology. We would be a nation "under God" dedicated to the law of Scripture and morality of the Bible. Yet today, we forbid children to pray or even utter the names of God (unless it's in profanity) in school. We have removed God's law (the 10 Commandments) from our legal system. We have raised up and protected the rights of individuals above the nation and community God established. We have made righteousness an outcast and insanity a celebrity. And everyone does what is right in their own eyes.

We need to put the King back on the throne.