![[object Object]](https://d20cai2bqfzz6a.cloudfront.net/images/main_image/shutterstock_222556600_copy_1454110479_7.png)
Judges 1-3
Vicious Sin Cycle
Psalm 35:11-28 Rescued from Unrighteous Enemies
11.“Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.12.They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.13.But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.14.I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.15.But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease.17.Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.18.I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.19.Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.20.For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.21.Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, "Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!"22.You have seen it, Yahweh. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.23.Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!24.Vindicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me.25.Don’t let them say in their heart, "Aha! That’s the way we want it!" Don’t let them say, "We have swallowed him up!"
26.Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.
27.Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, "Yahweh be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant! "28.My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long."
Observation
35:11-28.David describes the unrighteous ways of his adversaries and appeals to the righteousness of God to fight them and vindicate him. He asks God to see and act, and put his enemies to shame. Then those who favor his righteous cause will rejoice and praise the God who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. David will also praise God for His righteousness, all day long.
Application
Be righteous, ask God to deal righteously on your behalf, and get ready to praise Him for His help.
Prayer
God, thanks that I can trust Your righteousness to rescue me from the unrighteous. Thanks too, that You have pleasure in the prosperity of Your servants. Amen.
Proverbs 10:12-14 Words that Help
12.“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.13.Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.14.Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.”Observations
10:12.Love wants what's best for others and doesn't magnify nor incite their wrongdoings, but intentionally (Piel stem) seeks to minimize them in an effort to protect the other person. It's not about sweeping everything under the carpet, but lovingly dealing with difficulties. See Fervent Love on Truthbase for how to cover a multitude of sins.
10:13-14.
Components of wisdom: discernment, understanding and knowledge are all really useful in speaking the truth in love.
Application
Do your words wisely help and heal or cause pain and destruction?
Prayer
Lord, guide my speech with wisdom and love, so that others are benefited by it, and can experience Your blessings. Amen.Judges 1-3 Vicious Sin Cycle
The books spans about 300 years, from the death of Joshua to Israel's first king. God did not have Joshua appoint a successor, but instead raised up individuals (judges) to provide leadership and deliverance in times of need. From fully obeying God and conquering their enemies, Israel disobeys and gets repeatedly defeated; but when they repent and call out to God, He raises up a deliverer. Judges 2:10-19 (see below) details the cycle of sin.The last verse of the book summarizes the sad state of affairs of a people who used to do what was right in God's eyes. Judges 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
Judges 1 Incomplete Obedience Leads to Compromise
1.1 It happened after the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked of Yahweh, saying, "Who should go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?"2.Yahweh said, "Judah shall go up. Behold, I have delivered the land into his hand."3.Judah said to Simeon his brother, "Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with you into your lot." So Simeon went with him.4.Judah went up; and Yahweh delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they struck in Bezek ten thousand men.5.They found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek; and they fought against him,6.But Adoni-Bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.7.Adoni-Bezek said, "Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, scavenged under my table: as I have done, so God has requited me." They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.8.The children of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.19.Yahweh was with Judah; and drove out the inhabitants of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.20.They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had spoken: and he drove out there the three sons of Anak.21.The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.22.The house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel; and Yahweh was with them...27.Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants...but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.28.It happened, when Israel had grown strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and did not utterly drive them out.29.Ephraim didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.30.Zebulun didn’t drive out the inhabitants...but the Canaanites lived among them, and became subject to forced labor.31.Asher didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob;32.but the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.33.Naphtali didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but he lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and of Beth Anath became subject to forced labour.34.The Amorites forced the children of Dan into the hill country; for they would not allow them to come down to the valley;35.but the Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became subject to forced labor.36.The border of the Amorites was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.Observations
1:1-8.Things start well enough with Israel inquiring of the Lord and carrying out His will. God had redeemed and given them the land (like Justification/forgiveness), but their responsibility was to draw on His strength to eradicate sin (like Sanctification/holiness); only then could they enjoy peace and rest (like Glorification). Judah, the lead tribe (Gen 49) joins with Simeon, who dwelt next to and within them, to destroy Bezek and humiliate their king as he had done to others. The chapter has flashbacks to events in Joshua that deal with conquest of the same territory. 1:19 Hinge passage. God was with them and they won; then they don't succeed in driving out the Canaanites as God instructed. When they encountered chariots of iron, they balked. (cf Josh 17:16).
1:21-36.
This section records the general failure of Israel to fully obey God and drive out the pagans. As a result, Israel lived among the pagans and eventually became like them, incurring God's wrath.
Application
If we don't fully obey God in drawing on His strength to eradicate sin and its sources, we will succumb to it, and experience discipline. (Common theme in the book and our lives.)
Prayer
God who is with me, help me obey and win the fight against influences that would draw me away from You and Your blessings. Amen.
Judges 2 Vicious Cycle of Sin
1.The angel of Yahweh came up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, "I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I swore to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you:2.and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not listened to my voice: why have you done this?3.Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you."4.It happened, when the angel of Yahweh spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.5.They called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there to Yahweh.7.The people served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Yahweh that he had worked for Israel.10.Also all that generation were gathered to their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, who didn’t know Yahweh, nor yet the work which he had worked for Israel.11.The children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals;12.and they forsook Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them: and they provoked Yahweh to anger.13.They forsook Yahweh, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.14.The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers who despoiled them; and he sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.15.Wherever they went out, the hand of Yahweh was against them for evil, as Yahweh had spoken, and as Yahweh had sworn to them: and they were very distressed.16.Yahweh raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who despoiled them.17.Yet they didn’t listen to their judges; for they played the prostitute after other gods, and bowed themselves down to them: they turned aside quickly out of the way in which their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of Yahweh. They didn’t do so.18.When Yahweh raised them up judges, then Yahweh was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it grieved Yahweh because of their groaning by reason of those who oppressed them and troubled them.19.But it happened, when the judge was dead, that they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them; they didn’t cease from their doings, nor from their stubborn way.20.The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel; and he said, "Because this nation have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not listened to my voice;21.I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died;22.that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Yahweh to walk therein, as their fathers kept it, or not."23.So Yahweh left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.Observations
2:2-4.Since they didn't listen to God and obey them, He will no longer help them.
2:7-15.
The older generation succeeded in following God but failed to prepare the next generation to do so, in spite of God's commands to teach their kids (Dt 6), and all the ritualistic reminders.
2:16-21.
These verses describe the vicious cycle of sin that plagued Israel for 300 years (and many believers today).
2:22-23.
God left pagans in the land as a test of Israel's obedience. They flunked.
Application
If we're actively involved in reproducing the Biblical lifestyle in others, we'll benefit them, and keep ourselves on the right path.
Prayer
Lord who is for me and with me, but against me when I sin, don't let me lose sight of the consequences of forgetting rather than following You. May I fear You all my days. Amen.
Judges 3 Intermarriage Into Enslaved Idolatry
1.Now these are the nations which Yahweh left, to prove Israel by them, even as many as had not known all the wars of Canaan;2.to teach them war...4.They were left to test Israel by them, to know whether they would listen to the commandments of Yahweh, which he commanded their fathers by Moses.5.The children of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites:6.and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.7.The children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and forgot Yahweh their God, and served the Baals and the Asheroth.8.Therefore the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served him eight years.9.When the children of Israel cried to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up a savior to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.10.The Spirit of Yahweh came on him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Yahweh delivered Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand.11.The land had rest forty years. Othniel the son of Kenaz died.12.The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: and Yahweh strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.14.The children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.15.But when the children of Israel cried to Yahweh, Yahweh raised them up a savior, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a man left-handed. The children of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.16.Ehud made him a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he wore it under his clothing on his right thigh.17.He offered the tribute to Eglon king of Moab: now Eglon was a very fat man.18.When he had made an end of offering the tribute, he sent away the people who bore the tribute.19.But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, "I have a secret errand to you, king." The king said, "Keep silence!" All who stood by him went out from him.20.Ehud came to him; and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. Ehud said, "I have a message from God to you." He arose out of his seat.21.Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body:22.and the handle also went in after the blade; and the fat closed on the blade, for he didn’t draw the sword out of his body; and it came out behind.26.Ehud escaped27....he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he before them.28.He said to them, "Follow me; for Yahweh has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand." They followed him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and didn’t allow any man to pass over.29.They struck of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, every lusty man, and every man of valor; and there escaped not a man.30.So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. The land had rest eighty years.31.After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck of the Philistines six hundred men with an oxgoad: and he also saved Israel.Observations
3:2.War against stronger opponents strengthens reliance upon God.
3:6-7.
Intermarriage leads to idolatry. Sin is more contagious than holiness. Recall the sensual base of pagan worship to understand its attraction. (See end of post on Lev 1-7).
3:8.
Since they didn't serve Him, God “sold” His people to a Mesopotamian king whose name means “Double wicked blackness,” and Israel served him eight years. A high price to pay for compromise.
3:9-11.
When Israel repented and cried out to God, He raised up the first judge, Othneil, Caleb's son in law who had killed the giant librarians (three posts ago). The Spirit of God came upon him, enabling him to defeat the enemy, and give Israel forty years of peace, one generation.
3:12.
Guess what? After getting comfortable, the next generation did evil and got eighteen years of serving fat Eglon, whom Ehud the lefty craftily killed. All Israel responds to the trumpet call and they wipe out ten thousand Moabites, yielding eighty years of peace, two generations.
3:31.
Shamgar only appears here and is referenced in 5:6.
Application
It's much better to call out to God in thanksgiving for His blessing, than to cry for Him to deliver us from slavery for our stupidity.
Prayer
God thanks that You do eventually relent from Your discipline when I repent from my independence and disobedience. Better yet, may I never forget what You've done for me, so that I only serve You all my days. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God tests His people, the ones He's redeemed, guided, preserved, protected and prospered. If they keep loyal to Him, He continues to bless them. If not, He aids their opponents in making their life miserable until they repent. He takes His time in answering their cries so they will learn to remember and do what He's said.
Us in a nutshell: We are not very good students of what God has done for us, frequently failing to remember His blessings. We tend to compromise our holiness and obedience by gravitating toward those taking the low road to sensual gratification rather than spiritual growth. If we don't serve God, we will serve sin, a mean master. When we are disciplined and in pain, we can call out to God, who eventually responds after we've reaped sufficient consequences (which can go on for decades).
Where to go for more
Truthbase.netGet off the Golden Calf Roller Coaster
Magic Lamp of Self Esteem