We Need A King
As the book of Judges comes to an end, the Lord has to tell us one more time, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25) Essentially, this is the theme of the book. It communicates volumes to us.
God did not really want the people to have an earthly king, when the people asked Samuel for one. I think that gives us an insight into this verse. God is not talking about a human king here, so much as He is speaking of Himself being their king. They did not follow Him as their king, so there was no authority. Everyone thought they could do whatever they pleased. That is a terrible situation. People can't know the truth apart from the revelation of God. He had given them His law, the 10 commandments and more. However, they threw it aside to go their own way. This is what brought so much grief.
The same is true for us today. Jesus is to be our King. He is Lord! We must submit to Him as Lord and follow Him. Recently, I was going over the plan of salvation with a teenage girl. I asked her the meaning of the word "Lord." She said, "Lord means ruler." I stopped to commend her. I have been asking that question for almost 40 years, and that was the best answer I have ever received from anyone of any age. Jesus is our Ruler. When we submit to His rule, we can know the truth, and the truth will set us free from so much bondage in life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ruth 2-4.
God did not really want the people to have an earthly king, when the people asked Samuel for one. I think that gives us an insight into this verse. God is not talking about a human king here, so much as He is speaking of Himself being their king. They did not follow Him as their king, so there was no authority. Everyone thought they could do whatever they pleased. That is a terrible situation. People can't know the truth apart from the revelation of God. He had given them His law, the 10 commandments and more. However, they threw it aside to go their own way. This is what brought so much grief.
The same is true for us today. Jesus is to be our King. He is Lord! We must submit to Him as Lord and follow Him. Recently, I was going over the plan of salvation with a teenage girl. I asked her the meaning of the word "Lord." She said, "Lord means ruler." I stopped to commend her. I have been asking that question for almost 40 years, and that was the best answer I have ever received from anyone of any age. Jesus is our Ruler. When we submit to His rule, we can know the truth, and the truth will set us free from so much bondage in life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ruth 2-4.