Judges 19 - 21

At the end of the Book of Judges, the writer seems to sum up the life of the children of Israel with -

"In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." (Old Testament Judges 21:25)

To Moses the children of Israel promised -

"...All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient."
(Old Testament Exodus 24:7)

And not many years before they had covenanted to Joshua -

"All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses." (Old Testament Joshua 1:16 - 17)

During the days of the Judges, the people had digressed to where -

"...every man did that which was right in his own eyes..." (Old Testament Judges 21:25)

They seemed to become much like that of which prophesied by Paul of the last days saying -

"THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof..." (New Testament 2 Timothy 3:1 - 5)

It becomes apparent in the Book of Judges -

"...how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one." (Book of Mormon Alma 46:8)

"O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world!
5 Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths!
6 Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide." (Book of Mormon Helaman 12:4 - 6)

As you can tell, this not much different than the people of our day in the people today -

"...put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:20)

May we live to walk in wisdom's path, live righteously, keep the commandments, and do what is right in the Lord's eyes, not our "own eyes".