I am sure I've never been asked this question nor do I think I've ever asked this question. Which book of the Bible has the most tragic closing sentence? What do you think?
In spite of their words about God's wrath and judgment; predictions of all kinds of punishment on those who've rebelled. Most if not all of the prophets also bring words of hope and a better future. And as I've just skimmed through the last sentence of each prophetic book, they all seem to end on a note of hope and promise or a note of confidence in God.
Without reviewing the end of all 66 books, I am going to cast my vote for the last sentence in the book of Judges. The stories in the last few chapters are pretty sad. They display just how far the people of Israel could stray morally when they strayed from God. And then the author concludes by repeating a very descriptive, devastating statement from earlier in the book. Let me give it to you as found in two translations and one paraphrase.
"In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit." NIV
That truly is the natural desire of each heart - just to do what we think is right; what we feel like doing. How close does this come to describing the moral trend of our modern democratic countries? Yet how damning and devastating is that trend. What tragedy it brings to individuals, families, and cultures.
May God keep us wise enough to seek first His kingdom, His rule.
In spite of their words about God's wrath and judgment; predictions of all kinds of punishment on those who've rebelled. Most if not all of the prophets also bring words of hope and a better future. And as I've just skimmed through the last sentence of each prophetic book, they all seem to end on a note of hope and promise or a note of confidence in God.
Without reviewing the end of all 66 books, I am going to cast my vote for the last sentence in the book of Judges. The stories in the last few chapters are pretty sad. They display just how far the people of Israel could stray morally when they strayed from God. And then the author concludes by repeating a very descriptive, devastating statement from earlier in the book. Let me give it to you as found in two translations and one paraphrase.
"In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit." NIV
"In those daysthere was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." NKJV
"At that time there was no king in Israel. People did whatever they felt like doing." The Message
That truly is the natural desire of each heart - just to do what we think is right; what we feel like doing. How close does this come to describing the moral trend of our modern democratic countries? Yet how damning and devastating is that trend. What tragedy it brings to individuals, families, and cultures.
May God keep us wise enough to seek first His kingdom, His rule.
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