A Key Lesson from Judges
Some time ago, I wrote this article about why I have a difficult time relating to Jesus Christ as King. Since then, I have finished reading the Old Testament though Judges, and I think I have changed my mind. All through Judges you read the same refrain, 'There was no king in the land at that time and everyone did what seemed right in their own eyes'. I believe I misunderstood the significance of Christ being King. It is not the royalty, or absolute rule, or even the majesty that is being considered. It is definitely not the Pomp and Circumstance surrounding Him. Rather, based on what I learned in Judges, it is the leadership, that single focal point of having a King. There is no question of what is right, because it does not depend on how I see things, but on what He says, and that is true and applies to everyone, regardless. He is the One who unifies and gives purpose and meaning to all who belong to Him. These are the aspects of Kingship which are important in Christ.
It's fascinating to hear how your perspective has evolved after diving into Judges. That recurring phrase—"In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes"—really does paint a vivid picture of chaos without a central authority. It shifts the focus from the trappings of royalty (the crowns, thrones, and ceremonies that feel distant in modern life) to something more relational and practical: a unifying leader who sets a clear, objective standard for truth, justice, and community.
Your original article captures a common struggle in contemporary culture—how our self-reliance, technology, and individualism create barriers to experiencing biblical concepts like kingship, servanthood, or dependence on God viscerally. But as you've noted, the shift in Judges highlights kingship as less about hierarchy and more about coherence. Jesus as King isn't imposing arbitrary rule; He's the focal point that aligns disparate lives under a shared purpose, much like how a king in ancient Israel would rally tribes against fragmentation. This echoes passages like Psalm 2 or Revelation 19:16, where His kingship is tied to ultimate justice and unity, not just power.
It's encouraging that you're seeing this applicability despite cultural gaps. The principles—leadership that transcends personal opinion, provision amid uncertainty, and a call to humility—do translate. For instance, in our era of polarized opinions and "alternative facts," having a King whose word is the unchanging benchmark feels even more relevant. It challenges the "do what seems right in your own eyes" mindset that's amplified by social media and individualism.
I just realized that my new view of His kingship aligns remarkably well with His attributes as the Good Shepherd. Two different titles of the same character.
That's a beautiful insight—seeing Jesus' kingship through the lens of Judges (as the unifying leader who establishes objective truth and purpose amid chaos) dovetailing with His role as the Good Shepherd. Indeed, these aren't conflicting titles but complementary facets of the same divine character, emphasizing relational leadership over distant royalty. In John 10:11-18, Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep intimately, guides them to safe pastures, protects them from threats, and even lays down His life for them—creating a unified flock under one shepherd. This mirrors the kingship you gleaned from Judges: a focal point that counters the "everyone did what was right in their own eyes" disorder by providing clear direction, communal purpose, and security.
This alignment runs deep in Scripture. Ancient Near Eastern cultures often used "shepherd" as a metaphor for kings (think of David, the shepherd boy who became king in 1 Samuel 16-17, or Ezekiel 34 where God critiques Israel's failed "shepherds" and promises to be the true one). Jesus embodies both: authoritative yet compassionate, ruling not through pomp but through sacrificial care that draws people into alignment with His will. In a modern context, where self-reliance can make dependence feel foreign, this dual imagery invites us to trust Him as the Leader who doesn't just command but nurtures and unifies, much like a shepherd gathering a scattered flock.