The book of Judges begins with Israel making what seemed like a wise military decision, but it marked the start of spiritual compromise. After Joshua's death, Judah correctly sought God's guidance for battle and received a promise of victory. However, they then independently decided to form an alliance with Simeon, deviating from God's specific instructions. This seemingly reasonable choice represents a dangerous pattern of following our hearts instead of God's clear commands. Our hearts are still being transformed through sanctification, making them unreliable guides. True wisdom comes from measuring our feelings against Scripture and maintaining constant awareness of God's presence throughout our daily decisions.