March 30: Judges 1-2

March 30, Judges 1-2

We are about to start a new book of the Bible, Judges. Let’s be honest - Israel has shown a track record of struggling to obey Yahweh consistently. This book is no exception! “The theme of Judges is the downward spiral of Israel’s national and spiritual life into chaos and apostasy, showing the need for a godly king to lead it.” (ESV Study Bible) In this book, we get to learn and see that disobedience has major consequences. Regardless of their disobedience, remember that we serve a God who redeems! Nobody is 100% sure who wrote this book, so it is anonymous. 

Judges 1 In the opening chapter of Judges, we see that the Israelites have done an incomplete job of obedience, or as we call in it in our home - disobedience. We read about additional military conquests and the first one seems crazy! Their battle with Judah and Simeon against the Perizzites… they catch the King and cut off his big toes and thumbs! Seems barbaric doesn't it? In essence, they were making him unfit for any more battles, and we find out that he has done this to some seventy other Kings that he has conquered. The King viewed it as God repaying him for his sins. Then the men of Judah fight Jerusalem, and conquer it. Do you remember Caleb? I hope so… well here we read about his challenge - whatever man conquers Kiriath-sepher would get his daughter in marriage. Caleb’s younger brother Othniel captured it, and he gets the daughter and also an extra blessing of springs of water so they could work the land. This story is similar to another one that we will read about with Israel’s fist King, but we will get to that…

Then we read about numerous other battles where the Israelites conquered, but disobeyed by not driving out all the inhabitants. Like we tell our kids, partial obedience is still disobedience. 

Judges 2 The angel of the Lord - this is one of God’s representatives - came to the Israel and (under God’s authority) reminds the Israelites of their apostasy (abandoning their covenant to Yahweh). The consequences of this disobedience is God will not protect them or drive out their enemies. 

Then we are able to recall the death of Joshua, who like Moses at the end of his life, is remembered as a servant of the Lord. 

You will get used to reading this line in this book… and the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord… They abandoned what their fathers did and forgot what God has done. They served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. Instead of serving only Yahweh, they were now bowing to the Israelite gods. These were the main gods of their time, and we will get to this in depth later… just know, it is something that Yahweh would be solemnly against.

Then we learn that the Lord raised up Judges to help guide the people, because they had whored after other gods and did not listen. Interesting that the term whored after… They are supposed to be faithful to God and when they are not, they are similar to a husband cheating on his wife. God’s anger was fierce and the Lord was no longer going to protect them like He was or be with Him - because God will not share His love, nor does he have to.

To sum it all up:

• When God calls us or tells us to do something, we must obey fully!
• We are supposed to be faithful to God and when they are not, we are similar to a husband cheating on his wife. God will not have it.