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The Teachings of The Book of Judges
The Teachings of The Book of Judges
In my reading on Judges, I came across this written by James Smith:
E. Teaching of the Book
The Book of Judges demonstrates the terrible consequences of disobedience to God. The path to destruction is clearly marked in the book. Disregard for God’s command to drive out the Canaanites led to toleration, compromise, intermarriage and outright apostasy. This path led to political disunity, foreign oppression, social chaos, and individual immorality. A basic lesson in Judges can be discovered by placing in juxtaposition two emphases. Twice the book declares that “every man did what was right in his own eyes” (17:6; 21:25). Seven times Judges states that “the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Yahweh” (e.g., 2:11). These two emphases stress that the natural man is inclined to do evil. Without revelation and the motivation to obey it man will inevitably choose the path of destruction.
Judges illustrates the methods God employs in dealing with his people. Here the anger of God burns against sin (2:14, 20). He “sold” his people (2:14; 3:8; 4:2; 10:7) or “gave” them (2:14; 6:1; 13:1) into the hand of some enemy. Once God is said to have “strengthened the hand” of an enemy against Israel (3:12). Thus the God of holiness cannot and does not ignore sin but on the contrary, he punishes it.
The Book of Judges also illustrates the principle that where sin abounds, grace abounds much more (Rom 5:20). Five times Israel “cried” (za˓aq) unto Yahweh (3:9, 15; 4:3; 6:6; 10:10). Three times God spoke to his people, presumably through prophet-like individuals (2:1–3; 6:8–10; 10:11–14). Only once is national repentance clearly indicated in the text (10:10–16). Nonetheless, the Lord was moved to pity by the the groaning of his people in the midst of their various oppressions (2:18). Therefore, he raised up a deliverer for them (3:9, 15) through whom the current enemy was subdued (3:30; 4:23; 8:28; 11:33). Then the land would enjoy “rest” for a time (3:11, 30; 5:31; 8:28). The lack of emphasis on the repentance of Israel in the text serves to underscore the amazing grace of God in this book.
On a more devotional level, Judges illustrates the principle that God chooses weak and foolish things to confound the wise and powerful things of this world (1 Cor 1:27). To gain the victory in Judges God used an ox goad (3:31), a nail (4:21), some trumpets, pitchers and lamps (7:20), a millstone (9:53) and the jawbone of a donkey (15:15). Some of the deliverers God raised up were most unlikely candidates: a bastard son, a ladies’ man, a left-handed butcher, a mother, and a cowardly idol worshiper
(James E. Smith, Old Testament Survey Series: The Books of History, College Press Publishing Company, pgs. 42-43).
In this snapshot of Israel's history, we see the repeating patterns of God's dealings with humanity. To make it personal, I only have to look at my own history with God. Give thanks for the mercy, long-suffering, and graciousness of our God.
Hugh DeLong
