Psalm 12, The Problem with Libertarianism

Libertarianism is defined by The Century Dictionary online as,

A political philosophy maintaining that all persons are the absolute owners of their own lives, and should be free to do whatever they wish with their persons or property, provided they allow others the same liberty.

Judges 17-18 gives us a good illustration of the dangers of libertarian thinking and governing.  After all, Israel was defined by, “there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (17:6).  Consider:

·       17:13: This is typical “carnal” thinking.  Pride of life!  If it gives you a sense of importance, go for it!  The man hired a priest, who happened to be from the Levitical line.  But the man had also established a shrine where the centerpiece was a carved image (17:4) which violates #1-2 of the Ten Commandments.  He made up his own religion.  Libertarianism says, “go for it.”  The problem is that when it comes to Israel, the rule is: “blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” (Ps. 33:12). 

·       18:1: Here is more carnal thinking.  Do what comes easy, an auxiliary principal to, if it feels good, do it.  Lust of the flesh!  The Danites did not trust God and so looked elsewhere for their inheritance. 

·       18:5-6: Did the Levite really ask God?  No!  He heard some other voice.  God would have told him to tell the Danites to go back where they came from and trust God and follow His plan.  Ah, but, as J. Vernon McGee put it, it’s the “sweet talk of a hired preacher.”  Libertarianism allows anyone to declare themselves an expert on whatever will enhance their bank account.

·       18:19: And more carnal thinking.  Lust of the eyes!  Bigger is better.  The Levite can break his word to Micah because, well, just because.  There’s no law says he can’t.  So he can break his vow with Micah who has been good to him.  And he can choose promotion to a bigger and more important position. 

·       18:7: “There were no rulers in the land who might put them to shame for anything.”  What does that mean?  A ruler shames you by tossing you in prison because you broke the law.  The ruler has authority to keep the peace in his jurisdiction.  Laish didn’t have this; they also were living as libertarians. 

Under a libertarian philosophy you will always end up in the Psalm 12 situation: “Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases!  For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. … The wicked prowl on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men” (12:1,7).  Libertarian society won’t work for the same reason evolution won’t work: when left on their own, they both will run downhill.  Death is at work in the sinful material world and in the sinful societal world.  In His faithfulness, God provides governmental leaders for the purpose of maintaining peace within the nation and around the nation’s borders.