Judges 17:6
“In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
Between the time that Joshua died and the time that Saul was set up as king, the Israelites had no king or leader who ruled them nationally. Many of the judges were regional leaders and not national leaders. The results of not having a king was that much heartache was experienced.
Everyone needs a king in their life. When I talk about a king in your life, I’m talking about someone who can tell you what you can and cannot do. When you have no king in your life, then at some point you will know heartache. The authorities we set up in our lives are there to keep us from heartache. When you read the Book of Judges, you will see four tragic actions that resulted from no authorities.
First, situational truth is the result of no king. You will notice in the verse above, “…every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” They had no border of truth other than their own feelings. In other words, there was no accountability for their actions, so their conscience dictated truth by how it affected them. You cannot be the one who dictates what is right and wrong because right and wrong will be dictated by your desires. Situational truth always leads to heartache. You must have absolutes to dictate what is right and wrong.
Second, when there is no king people will lose their drive. In chapter 18:1, the people were negligent in their responsibility to conquer Canaan. You will always find that people who have no strong authority in their lives will be a people who have no drive or motivation to go forward. This is why you must set deadlines and goals, and have a schedule to dictate what you will do at each minute of the day. Those deadlines, schedules and goals becomes your driving force to help you get things done.
Third, no guards of protection is the result of no king. In chapter 18:7, the people “dwelt careless” and had no walls or army to protect them. Everyone needs rules and standards in their life. An authority who doesn’t have rules and standards is an authority who leads people into heartache. Rules and standards are not there to keep you from enjoying life, but they are there to protect you from eventual heartache so that you can enjoy life. You need someone to tell you that you can or cannot do something. This is what keeps you from destroying your life.
Fourth, an immoral mindset is the result of no king. In chapter 19:1, the mindset of the people was very immoral. There was no restraint to their immorality. If you don’t have someone who can tell you what you can and cannot do, then you will eventually find yourself living an immoral life. Someone has to tell you not to look at certain things or go to certain places. Immorality always begins when people break down the guards that authorities have set up in their lives.
You need an authority in your life to tell you what you can and cannot do. Of course the Word of God is the final authority, but God’s Word needs an authority who will make sure people follow their guidelines. Let me encourage you to place an authority in your life who will use God’s Word as their guideline for truth, and then submit yourself to them. If you have no king, then you will know heartache.