Judges 17:6

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Study Bible

In those days there was no king in Israel;
This phrase sets the historical context for the narrative. The period of the Judges was marked by a lack of centralized leadership in Israel. After the death of Joshua, Israel was led by judges, who were regional leaders rather than national rulers. This absence of a king is significant because it highlights the political and spiritual instability of the time. The Israelites were meant to be a theocracy, with God as their king, but they often failed to follow His commandments. This phrase foreshadows the eventual demand for a human king, as seen in 1 Samuel 8, when the Israelites ask Samuel to appoint a king to lead them like other nations.

everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
This phrase underscores the moral and spiritual chaos prevalent during the time of the Judges. Without a central authority or adherence to God's law, people acted according to their own subjective standards. This led to a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, as depicted throughout the Book of Judges. The phrase reflects the human tendency to stray from divine guidance when left to personal judgment, echoing the warning in Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." This period of moral relativism contrasts with the biblical call for obedience to God's commandments, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:8, where the Israelites are instructed not to do what is right in their own eyes but to follow God's statutes.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Micah
A man from the hill country of Ephraim who creates a shrine and hires a Levite to be his priest, illustrating the spiritual confusion and idolatry prevalent in Israel during this time.

2. Ephraim
A region in Israel where Micah lived, representing the broader context of Israel's tribal society without centralized leadership.

3. Levite
A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah who becomes a personal priest for Micah, highlighting the misuse of religious roles and the lack of adherence to God's law.

4. Israel
The nation of God's chosen people, who during this period, lacked a central authority and were often led astray by their own desires and interpretations of right and wrong.

5. Idolatry
The event of Micah creating a shrine and idols, which signifies the spiritual decline and moral relativism in Israel.

Teaching Points

The Danger of Moral Relativism
Without a standard of truth, society falls into chaos. Judges 17:6 illustrates the consequences of everyone doing what is right in their own eyes, leading to spiritual and moral decay.

The Need for Godly Leadership
The absence of a king in Israel points to the need for godly leadership. In our lives, we must seek guidance from God's Word and godly leaders to avoid spiritual confusion.

The Consequences of Idolatry
Micah's actions show how easily idolatry can infiltrate our lives when we stray from God's commands. We must guard our hearts against modern-day idols that can lead us away from God.

The Importance of Obedience to God's Law
The chaos in Israel serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to God's law. Obedience brings order and blessing, while disobedience leads to disorder and judgment.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the absence of a king in Israel during the time of Judges reflect the spiritual state of the nation, and what can we learn from this about the importance of godly leadership in our lives?

2. In what ways do we see moral relativism in today's society, and how can we, as Christians, uphold God's standard of truth in our daily lives?

3. How does Micah's creation of a shrine and idols serve as a warning against idolatry, and what are some modern-day idols that we need to be cautious of?

4. How can we ensure that we are not doing what is right in our own eyes but are instead aligning our actions with God's will as revealed in Scripture?

5. Reflect on a time when you faced a decision and were tempted to rely on your own understanding. How did seeking God's guidance through prayer and Scripture change the outcome?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Deuteronomy 12:8
This verse warns against doing what is right in one's own eyes, emphasizing the need for obedience to God's commands rather than personal judgment.

Proverbs 21:2
Highlights the idea that every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart, connecting to the theme of subjective morality versus divine judgment.

1 Samuel 8:7
When Israel demands a king, God tells Samuel that they have rejected Him as their king, linking to the absence of a king in Judges and the resulting chaos.

Romans 1:21-25
Describes humanity's tendency to exchange the truth of God for lies and worship created things, paralleling the idolatry seen in Judges 17.