The book of Judges ends with a sad sentence: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). This deep dive looks at what that means, and why it matters for us.
The same words. Judges 17:6 says the very same thing. Those words describe the whole time of the judges, when people stopped asking what God wanted.
Two ways of seeing. Judges 2:11 says Israel “did evil in the sight of the Lord.” The same people thought they were doing what was right in their own eyes. God saw it one way, and they saw it another way.
Following feelings. When everyone does what seems right to them, people follow their feelings, their friends or whatever is easiest. Nobody is listening to God.
A way that seems right. “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Something can feel right and still be wrong.
Wise or foolish. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15). Heeds counsel means listens to good advice.
Samson's choice. Samson saw a Philistine woman and told his parents, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well” (Judges 14:3). He chose what looked good to him instead of asking what God wanted.
An old story. In the garden, Eve saw that the tree “was pleasant to the eyes” (Genesis 3:6). She trusted her own eyes instead of God's word, and sin came into the world.
Our own way. “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). This is not only Israel's problem. It is everyone's problem.
God sees the heart. “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Why we need God's Word. Our hearts often want what is wrong. God's Word shows us what is truly right, even when our feelings disagree.
Good advice. God gives us parents, pastors and teachers who love Jesus. Listening to them is part of listening to God.
What we learn. Feeling right is not the same as being right. God's eyes see truly, and our eyes do not always.
What to do. Before you make a choice this week, stop and ask, What does God say? Pray, and ask a grown-up who loves Jesus to help you.
Judges says, “In those days there was no king in Israel” (Judges 21:25). The people needed someone to lead them in God's ways. But what kind of king did they need?
God was their King. When the people asked Gideon to rule over them, he said the Lord would rule over them instead (Judges 8:23). The real problem was that Israel would not let God be their King.
Kings came later. Israel did get kings: Saul, then David, then Solomon and many more. Some were good for a while, but every one of them sinned.
A promised King. Long before, Jacob said, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah” (Genesis 49:10). A scepter is a king's staff. God promised a King from the tribe of Judah.
The King is born. Wise men came asking, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2). That King was Jesus.
A different King. Jesus never did what was right in His own eyes. He said of His Father, “I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29).
Not My will. The night before the cross, Jesus prayed that His Father's will would be done, not His own (Luke 22:42). He chose God's way even when it was hard.
A King who died for His people. Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). He paid for all the times we went our own way.
A gentle King. Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). A yoke is a wooden bar that joins two animals to work together.
His Word guides us. “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
Trust Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
Love obeys. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). We obey our King because we love Him.
What we learn. Everyone follows a king: either ourselves or Jesus. Jesus is the King who is always good.
What to do. Tell Jesus you want Him to be King of your choices. Read a little of His Word each day so you know what He says.
Complete all sections to finish!
Read each section and answer the questions correctly.