No Kings

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. Judges 21:25 NLT

The book of Judges tells the story of a people caught in a cycle. After Joshua, before Israel had a human king, they drifted. They turned from God, followed what felt right, and eventually found themselves in chaos. In their distress, they would cry out, and God, in His mercy, would raise up a judge to rescue them. For a time there would be peace, but it never lasted.

And the cycle would begin again.

At the center of it all was this: they had no king. Without God’s authority, truth became whatever each person believed it to be. What was right wasn’t defined by God anymore, but by what seemed right in their own eyes.

That line doesn’t just describe them.
It exposes us.

We live in a world that resists authority and elevates personal truth. Independence is praised. Autonomy is protected. The idea of answering to no one sounds appealing—until you see where it leads.

Because when everyone becomes their own authority, everything starts to fracture.

Not all at once.
But slowly.
Subtly.

We crown our feelings and call them truth. We elevate culture and let it redefine what God has already said. We follow our desires and justify them when they don’t align with His Word. We protect comfort, image, success, approval—anything that asks less of us than surrender.

And then we wonder why everything feels off—why truth feels unstable, unity keeps breaking, and nothing seems anchored anymore.

Because something is always on the throne.

The problem in Judges wasn’t just behavior; it was the absence of a King. And the same is true for us. Any place we remove Jesus from His rightful place, we begin to rely on our own understanding, justifying what we want and calling it right.

We do what seems right.

But “seems right” has never been a trustworthy compass.

We were never meant to lead ourselves.
We were created for a King.

Jesus.

And every time we push Him off the throne, something else takes His place—something louder, easier, and far less trustworthy.

So if everything feels off, it’s not random. It’s not just the culture or the circumstances.

It’s a throne issue.

Because whatever sits on the throne of your life will shape your thoughts, your choices, your direction—and ultimately, your future.

And there is only One who will never let everything fall apart.

Jesus.

You are loved!