When Everyone Does What’s Right in Their Own Eyes
A Study Guide for Spiritual Cycles, Broken Leaders, and God’s Unfailing Grace
1. Introduction: What Is Judges and Why Does It Matter?
Judges picks up after Joshua’s death, during a time when Israel had no centralized leadership.
The people repeatedly fall into a cycle: sin → oppression → repentance → deliverance → peace → repeat.
The book spans about 300–400 years and shows both God’s faithfulness and Israel’s failure.
Reflection: Without God’s rule, people always drift toward chaos—even when they think they’re doing the right thing.
2. The Cycle of Sin and Rescue (Judges 1–2)
Israel fails to fully drive out the enemy nations as God commanded.
This leads to compromise, idolatry, and intermarriage with pagan cultures.
God raises up “judges”—deliverers—to rescue the people when they cry out.
Takeaway: Partial obedience always leads to spiritual compromise. You can’t mix holiness with worldliness.
3. God Uses Flawed People (Judges 3–16)
Key Judges and what we learn from them:
Othniel (Judges 3:7–11): The first judge; God’s Spirit empowers him to defeat Israel’s enemies.
Ehud (Judges 3:12–30): Left-handed assassin who kills the Moabite king—God uses the unexpected.
Deborah (Judges 4–5): A bold female prophet and judge, partnered with Barak to defeat Sisera.
Gideon (Judges 6–8): Called while hiding, doubted often, but led a small army to victory by God’s hand.
Jephthah (Judges 10–12): A rejected son who rises to lead—but makes a tragic vow.
Samson (Judges 13–16): A man of strength but weak character—used by God in spite of himself.
Lesson: God doesn’t wait for perfect people—He uses willing ones. Even in weakness, He shows His power.
4. The Consequences of Moral Collapse (Judges 17–21)
These final chapters are chaotic and disturbing, showing how bad things can get when God is ignored:
Idolatry is normalized (Micah’s shrine and a hired Levite).
Sexual violence and murder occur (the Levite’s concubine in chapter 19).
Civil war erupts among the tribes of Israel.
Warning: When God’s truth is rejected, society doesn’t just drift—it spirals.
5. Repeated Theme: “There Was No King in Israel…”
The phrase appears 4 times (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25), always followed by descriptions of moral chaos.
The problem wasn’t just political—it was spiritual.
The people had rejected God as King, and everyone did “what was right in their own eyes.”
Truth: Human opinion is not a safe foundation. Only God’s Word provides moral clarity and lasting peace.
6. Key Verses to Memorize or Meditate On
Judges 2:18 – “Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge…”
Judges 6:12 – “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”
Judges 16:28 – “O Lord God, please remember me and strengthen me just once more…”
Judges 21:25 – “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
7. Questions for Discussion or Journaling
What spiritual cycle do you see repeated in Judges—and do you see it today in your own life or culture?
How does God’s use of flawed judges encourage you in your walk with Him?
Why did Israel so easily turn to idol worship and compromise?
How do the final chapters of Judges show what happens when people reject God’s authority?
What does the phrase “everyone did what was right in their own eyes” teach us about truth and morality?
How does this book increase your appreciation for Jesus as the perfect Judge and King?