THE TRAGEFY OF LAWLESSNESS

THE TRAGEDY OF LAWLESSNESS

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Judges 19

Key Verses: Judges 19:25–30

Description: When there is no regard for God’s law and everyone does what is right in their own eyes, lawlessness, violence, and evil take over.

Lesson: When everyone does what is right in their own eyes, evil abounds.

INTRODUCTION:
Judges 19 paints one of the darkest pictures in the history of Israel. In a time when there was no king in Israel, moral decay reached its peak. The Levite’s concubine was brutally abused and killed in Gibeah, a city that should have upheld righteousness. Instead of being a place of hospitality and protection, it became a place of wickedness, violence, and shame.

The story shows us what happens when God’s law is ignored and when a nation, community, or individual abandons His standard. Lawlessness always produces tragedy. Where there is no fear of God, sin runs unchecked, and society crumbles.

This passage is not just a historical record—it is a warning to us today. In our generation, where many reject God’s Word and follow their own desires, we see the same evils multiplying: violence, corruption, abuse, and the destruction of lives. We must learn from this tragedy and return to God’s authority as our foundation.

1. THE ROOT OF LAWLESSNESS
Lawlessness begins when people reject God’s authority and choose self-rule.

a) Disregard for God’s Word (Proverbs 29:18).
Where there is no vision or revelation of God, people cast off restraint.

b) Self-rule replaces God-rule (Judges 21:25).
In those days, Israel had no king, and everyone did as they pleased.

c) Moral compromise leads to corruption (Romans 1:21-23).
When people abandon God, their thinking becomes futile, and hearts are darkened.

d) Leadership failure creates chaos (Hosea 4:6).
Without godly leadership, people perish in ignorance and sin.

Biblical Example: Adam and Eve chose their own way instead of God’s command, and sin entered the world (Genesis 3:1-7).

2. THE FRUITS OF LAWLESSNESS
Lawlessness always produces destruction, sorrow, and shame.

a) Violence and abuse increase (Genesis 6:11).
The earth was filled with violence before the flood, just as in Gibeah.

b) Innocent lives are destroyed (Judges 19:25-28).
The Levite’s concubine was brutally treated and killed as a result of unchecked sin.

c) Society becomes numb to evil (Isaiah 5:20).
People call evil good and good evil when God’s law is despised.

d) Communities and nations collapse under sin (Psalm 9:17).
Every nation that forgets God faces ruin.

Biblical Example: Sodom and Gomorrah fell into wickedness and perished by God’s judgment (Genesis 19:24-25).

3. THE COST OF LAWLESSNESS
The price of rejecting God’s standard is always destruction.

a) Brokenness in families and communities (Judges 19:29).
The Levite’s family was shattered, and Israel was shaken.

b) Divine judgment is inevitable (Romans 6:23).
The wages of sin is death.

c) Collective responsibility is stirred (Judges 20:1-11).
Israel rose in anger against the sin in Gibeah.

d) Eternal separation from God (Matthew 7:23).
Lawless people will hear Jesus say, “Depart from Me.”

Biblical Example: King Saul lost his kingdom because he disobeyed God’s commands (1 Samuel 15:23).

4. THE REMEDY FOR LAWLESSNESS
God has provided a way of escape from the tragedy of lawlessness.

a) Submission to God’s authority (James 4:7).
Only by submitting to God can we resist the devil.

b) Living by God’s Word (Psalm 119:105).
The Word of God is the lamp and light to guide our path.

c) Transformation through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
In Christ, the old sinful nature is replaced with a new life.

d) Walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
The Spirit empowers us to overcome the desires of the flesh.

Biblical Example: The people of Nineveh repented at Jonah’s preaching, and God spared them from judgment (Jonah 3:5-10).

CONCLUSION:
The tragedy in Gibeah is a timeless reminder of the dangers of lawlessness. When God is rejected, sin abounds, violence increases, and lives are destroyed. But when we return to God’s Word, submit to His authority, and live by His Spirit, He restores order, righteousness, and peace.

As individuals, families, and nations, we must resist the temptation to live by our own standards and instead submit to God’s truth. Only then can we escape the tragedy of lawlessness and walk in the blessing of His kingdom.

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, deliver me from every spirit of lawlessness.
2. Father, restore righteousness in my life, family, and community.
3. Lord, protect me from the destructive fruits of sin.
4. Father, raise godly leaders to guide our generation in truth.
5. Lord, heal every broken family caused by sin and rebellion.
6. Father, empower the church to stand as a voice of righteousness.
7. Lord, let Your Word be the standard in my life always.
8. Father, let revival break forth in my nation.
9. Lord, silence every voice of corruption and rebellion around me.
10. Father, establish me in holiness and obedience to Your will.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS:
1. You will not be a victim of lawlessness in your generation!
2. The Lord will keep you from the corruption of this world!
3. You and your family shall stand for righteousness!
4. Evil will not prevail over your life and destiny!
5. God’s Word will remain the foundation of your life!
6. You will be a light in the midst of darkness!
7. Every destructive influence of sin is broken in your life!
8. The Spirit of God will empower you to overcome!
9. Your community and nation will not collapse under wickedness!
10. You will live in the peace, order, and blessing of God’s kingdom!