"Every man did that which was right in his own eyes"

[Danoded]

Judges 21:25 King James Version (KJV)

25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

From Samuel it's definitely clear that God disliked that the people of Israel* wanted a king to rule over them, and it did lead to many grave consequences for them and their children, but in the times before they had a king and only judges, did God approve of their actions, or where they doing that which they thought was right, but not what was right with God?

 

[Noxot]

I guess it depends on the individual

 

[dreadnought]

Judges 21:25 King James Version (KJV)

25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

From Samuel it's definitely clear that God disliked that the people of Israe wanted a king to rule over them, and it did lead to many grave consequences for them and their children, but in the times before they had a king and only judges, did God approve of their actions, or where they doing that which they thought was right, but not what was right with God?

If I remember correctly, they would go astray, suffer a good deal, and then the Lord would raise a prophet who would lead them back to the Lord.

 

[RDKirk]

Judges 21:25 King James Version (KJV)

25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

From Samuel it's definitely clear that God disliked that the people of Israe wanted a king to rule over them, and it did lead to many grave consequences for them and their children, but in the times before they had a king and only judges, did God approve of their actions, or where they doing that which they thought was right, but not what was right with God?

Every man thought he had free will.

In reality, every person is supposed to be under some human leadership, everyone should be in submission to someone.

The person who says, "I only submit to God" hasn't learned how to submit to anyone, so he's deluding himself that he submits even to God.

 

[Yekcidmij]

Judges 21:25 King James Version (KJV)

25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

From Samuel it's definitely clear that God disliked that the people of Israe wanted a king to rule over them, and it did lead to many grave consequences for them and their children, but in the times before they had a king and only judges, did God approve of their actions, or where they doing that which they thought was right, but not what was right with God?

The book of Judges seems to show the need for a king given the unstable situation under the various Judges. The refrain of, "in those days there was no king" and "everyone did right in their own eyes" is repeated several times right after a demonstration of unstable leadership by the Judges.

Samuel on the other hand criticizes the people's demand for a king, but the negative consequences of those demands seem to be realized in Saul, as David is presented as one "after God's own heart" and Solomon is presented as his wise and rightful descendant.

It seems to me that it all may be a sort of apologetic for David and/or Solomon. Judges shows the need for a king given that the Judges are incapable of leading, especially in the conflict with the Philistines. The beginning of Samuel show the failure of Eli's sons, Samuel's sons, and the prophesied failure of Saul as king, all of which are due to the people's refusal to follow the ways of and trust fully in Yahweh. Hence, the need for David's house.

 

[RDKirk]

The book of Judges seems to show the need for a king given the unstable situation under the various Judges. The refrain of, "in those days there was no king" and "everyone did right in their own eyes" is repeated several times right after a demonstration of unstable leadership by the Judges.

Samuel on the other hand criticizes the people's demand for a king, but the negative consequences of those demands seem to be realized in Saul, as David is presented as one "after God's own heart" and Solomon is presented as his wise and rightful descendant.

It seems to me that it all may be a sort of apologetic for David and/or Solomon. Judges shows the need for a king given that the Judges are incapable of leading, especially in the conflict with the Philistines. The beginning of Samuel show the failure of Eli's sons, Samuel's sons, and the prophesied failure of Saul as king, all of which are due to the people's refusal to follow the ways of and trust fully in Yahweh. Hence, the need for David's house.

OTOH, none of the kings was particularly good for Israel. David's activities caused the worst catastrophe to strike Israel until the Captivity, and his own failures as a father put the nation through rebellions.

Solomon was a harsh taskmaster who taxed the people mercilessly. His son caused the tax revolt that split the nation.

Even the "good" kings Josiah and Hezekiah made critical errors that led directly to the Captivity.

 

[Danoded]

OTOH, none of the kings was particularly good for Israel. David's activities caused the worst catastrophe to strike Israel until the Captivity, and his own failures as a father put the nation through rebellions.

Solomon was a harsh taskmaster who taxed the people mercilessly. His son caused the tax revolt that split the nation.

Even the "good" kings Josiah and Hezekiah made critical errors that led directly to the Captivity.

There's also the fact that many of the kings of Judah and Israel worshipped devils and demons, and turned God's people away from him. Many of the kings were evil, and each King, even David, either had a strife in the land (in the case of him and his son Absalom), or led to conflicts and turning the people away from God. Having a king rule over them definitely destroyed Israel.

 

[Noxot]

If I remember correctly, they would go astray, suffer a good deal, and then the Lord would raise a prophet who would lead them back to the Lord.

yeah and that happened about a billion times or so

 

[Yekcidmij]

OTOH, none of the kings was particularly good for Israel. David's activities caused the worst catastrophe to strike Israel until the Captivity, and his own failures as a father put the nation through rebellions.

Solomon was a harsh taskmaster who taxed the people mercilessly. His son caused the tax revolt that split the nation.

Even the "good" kings Josiah and Hezekiah made critical errors that led directly to the Captivity.

Agreed, which may be why Judges is more of an apology for David (and/or perhaps Solomon). It's hard to argue David or Solomon were really good as rulers. Both had to deal with numerous revolts (probably caused by their own failures), they didn't seem that popular with much of Israel, and their behavior was a little shady (beyond David's incident with Bathsheba and Uriah). Samuel's warning, though presented as applying to Saul, may well have ended up being applicable to all of them.

 

[JackRT]

Luke 12:57--- Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?

 

[dreadnought]

yeah and that happened about a billion times or so

not quite a billion