Judges chapter 18 verse 1 (NIV)
In those days Israel had no king.
Interestingly chapter 19 of Judges also begins with the same sentence. There must therefore be an important message in it.
Both chapters then go on to speak of terrible acts of lawlessness and violence which shows that people were doing whatever they wanted.
But Israel was never meant to have a king. God wanted them to be solely led by Him. He wanted them to be different from other countries and come under His leading. They rejected that and we see the consequences.
We are meant to come under authority for without it chaos quickly ensues, but those who folow Jesus must yield to God’s authority. By doing so we find we are not in a place of restriction as some might expect. Instead we find out what it means to be truly free. We are restored to the relationship with God that He wanted Israel to have. We don’t have to have our own way to live lnall it’s fullness. Jesus is the only King who can give us that.
Dear Lord,
Thank You that Jesus came to give us life and that more abundantly. Help me to yield fully to Him that I may live that life. I ask in His Name. Amen.