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There is a recurring theme throughout the Book of Judges and then later is repeated in the years leading up to Israel’s exile: A godly leader passes off the scene and the people return to their old selfish, godless lifestyle. This sinful life brings God’s punishment, which causes the people to cry out to God for help. God raises up a leader who leads the people in repentance and a return to God. As a result, God’s blessings again flow to His people. Then that leader passes off the scene and the cycle repeats.
This recurring thought is in the middle of a particularly dark time for Israel: “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; see also 18:1).
The entire 17th and 18th chapters of Judges is a sickening story of the Israelites utterly turning their back on God so they could go do whatever they want. And worst of all, we see godless leaders taking advantage of the situation to line their pockets with worldly riches.
Just because there is a God-fearing leader on the scene doesn’t guarantee that the people will follow his or her lead and devote themselves to God. But a godless leader almost always results in people debasing themselves by thumbing their nose at God’s laws.
God raises up leaders and holds them accountable for their actions. He told Ezekiel that there would be consequences for both boldly speaking God’s message or for keeping silent (see Ezekiel 3:16-21).
God calls His leaders to know His ways, to walk in integrity in that way, and then to call others to walk in that way too.
A mark of a godly leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
This is part 84 in my series on godly leadership. You can check out all of my posts in this series by clicking here.
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Craig T. Owens 
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