The Time to Seek

Does life ever feel like it’s spiraling with God nowhere near the center? Judges 19 shows what happens when a people stop seeking Him.

“In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was sojourning in the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah” (Judges 19:1).

These verses mark the beginning of a troubled time in Israel’s history. It started when a Levite took a concubine. By the time this chain of events was over, the tribe of Benjamin was practically eliminated.

The story opens when Israel had “no king.” Providing a perfect bookend, the last verse of this story (and the last verse of Judges) repeats this same phrase, adding, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

Clearly, there was no strong, godly leadership. No one seemed concerned about obeying God or seeking His face. The land was dominated by a spirit of rebellion and lawlessness. Theoretically, some tried to call people to repentance and purify the land, but they resorted to extreme methods. In the end, a monstrous civil war was fought, resulting in thousands of deaths.

These Israelites discovered how things can degenerate into chaos when God is not the center of our lives and when we don’t live by His Word or seek Him.

The Bible teaches us to “seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). We are to “seek His presence continually” (Psalm 105:4). Faced with difficulties, the prophet Hosea cried out, “Break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD” (Hosea 10:12).

Spend time seeking God. Fill your heart and mind with His Word. Commit your ways to Him.

Reflection Question: If you feel surrounded by chaos, seek the Lord and obey His voice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Judges end on such a dark note?

It’s a deliberate literary bookend—“no king in Israel … everyone did what was right in his own eyes”—showing the consequences of a nation without godly leadership or a shared commitment to God’s Word.

Does “seek the Lord while He may be found” (Isaiah 55:6) imply there’s a time when He can’t be found?

It’s a call to urgency, not a statement that God becomes unavailable; Scripture consistently presents Him as near to those who call on Him (Psalm 145:18).

What does it look like to “break up fallow ground” personally?

It means addressing neglected areas of your spiritual life—habits, relationships, or attitudes left unattended—before expecting fresh growth in your walk with God.