Religion & Spirituality
Judges 21:25 – In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. This is the final verse in the book of Judges, and is a fitting conclusion to the moral and political chaos of the time. God had led his people out of slavery. Then he led them through the wilderness to the land he had promised. They didn’t conquer the land, however, and were no better morally than the pagans who lived there. What they needed most was a godly king to help them fulfill their destiny. Syncretism is the blending of religious ideas to come up with something new. The people of Israel took a few ideas from God’s word, and blended them with a few ideas from the people groups around them – and proceeded to contradict God’s word at almost every point. Kings were later appointed, and things improved a little. But the kings had problems of their own, and often did more harm than good – until, finally, a righteous king arrived. The people took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” That king was Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the world, and will return as King of kings and Lord of lords. Then we’ll have the king that we need, and the world will be as it ought to be forever. That’s where the Bible – and all of human history – is going.