The Ruthless Mind of Man

A lady once came to Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts. “There’s nothing ... More

Rationalize

Two hundred Benjamites still needed wives, but the vow at Mizpah prevented the Israelites from giving their daughters to them in marriage (v. 18). A convenient way had to be found not only to preserve their vow but also to restore the families of Benjamin (vv. 13-17). This led to the abductions of the dancing maidens (v. 23). At Shiloh it was customary to celebrate the annual feasts with gaiety and dancing. Young girls danced in the open air next to the vineyards. This was a custom that the Israelites had evidently taken from the Canaanites. Suddenly about 200 eager young men came rushing out of the surrounding vineyards, grabbed the girls and made off with them (vv. 23-24). This had all been prearranged by the elders of Israel (vv. 19-21). They were prepared to answer any complaint of the parents with the story of war and the tragedy by which the former wives were killed (v. 22). 

It is evident that the elders of Israel were more concerned about maintaining the integrity of an oath than in protecting the young ladies. This shows how ruthless the mind of man can be when it is not interested in the mind of God. Things like this were bound to happen when “There was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (v. 25). During the time of the Judges, the people of Israel experienced trouble because everyone became his own authority and acted on his own opinion of right and wrong. This produced horrible results. Our world today is similar as individuals and societies have made themselves the final authorities without reference to God.

Application

The fact that “every man did what was right in his own eyes” (v. 25) is a sad commentary on the spiritual condition of the nation in those days. However, there has been times in my own life when I have rationalized something I wanted to do to the point it seemed right in my own eyes. It is also a sad time when I do this even when I know better.

Judges 21:13-25 (English Standard Version)


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