THE NEED FOR A KING
“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” Judges 17:6 NIV
This is a statement that is repeated over and over in the book of Judges.
Each time it is mentioned, it introduces or follows a story showing extreme moral and spiritual decay, idolatry, sexual violence and civil wars. This phrase doesn’t just narrate the lawlessness present in Israel; it laments the lack of godly leadership and spiritual direction. Judgment alone cannot sustain peace because rules without righteous guidance are powerless to change the heart.
Consider a law against littering. Enforcement may punish offenders, but if the streets remain neglected if no one shows what dignity and care for public space look like — the law itself begins to feel arbitrary. Order is preserved not only through commands but through righteous example and faithful leadership. Israel had laws from God, yet their hearts were far from Him. Without a king to shepherd them, someone to model obedience and call the people to repentance, they drifted into moral chaos.
This passage reveals humanity’s deeper need: not just external control, but a righteous King who can lead with both authority and compassion. The longing expressed in this verse ultimately points beyond Saul or even David. It foreshadows Christ, the true King—who not only commands righteousness but transforms the hearts of those who follow Him. In Him we see justice and mercy meet. He does not merely enforce law; He fulfills it and invites us into a kingdom where grace trains us to live rightly (Titus 2:11–12).
In a world where everyone attempts to “do their thing” we desperately need the rule of Christ.
Prayer: My Father, I thank you for the sacred privilege of knowing you intimately. You alone are the true and righteous King. Thank You for not leaving us to our own devices, but for coming to lead us in truth and love. Reign in our hearts today. Teach us to walk not by what seems right in our own eyes, but by what is good in Yours, in Jesus name. Amen!
CI.
RELATED RESOURCES
• Judges 17:6
• Judges 18:1
• Psalm 32:8
• Isaiah 9:7
