Judges 3:28 – 15:12

Overview

As we enter Day 18 of our reading, the Israelites have allowed some of the nations they were to conquer to live among them in the promised land.  They broke their covenant and sinned against God.  They lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. They also intermarried with these people and “served” their gods.  So, during this time, God uses individuals known as Judges to rescue the Isreaelites.   The Judges are:

  • Ehud ~ Judges 3:15
  • Otheneil ~ Judges 3:9
  • Shamgar ~ Judges 3:31
  • Deborah ~ Judges 4:4
  • Gideon ~ Judges 6:36
  • Abimelech ~ Judges 9:22
  • Tolar ~ Judges 10:1
  • Jair ~ Judges 10:3
  • Jephthah ~ Judges 12:7
  • Ibzan ~ Judges 12:8
  • Elon ~ Judges 12:11
  • Abdon ~Judges 12:13
  • Samson ~Judges 16:30
Cycle Of Sin

Cycle Of Sin

A cycle of disobedience (sin) of the people would occur in the time of the Judge.  Then they would crying out to God for help.  God would send a Judge to rescue them.  Finally, the people would be rescued and the nation would worship God.  This happens over and over and over with 14 different Judges.  These were usually military type leaders and their rescues lasted only as long as the Judge themselves.  As we continue to read, we learn that the tribe of Dan had not received it’s inheritance of the promise land and was living with the other nations.  They were worshiping many of the foreign gods that they were warned about. Towards the end of our reading for the day we learn that almost the entire tribe of Benjamin is killed in a “civil war”.  The resounding theme of the book of Judges so far seems to be “The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD”.

Scripture – Judges 8:22-23

22 The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”  23 But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.”

 

Observation

Throughout the book of Judges we learn the Israelite people did not know God or what he had done through Moses.  They did not practice the law, instead, they did as they saw fit.  Not having God apart of their lives, this generation new nothing more than to try and solve their problems without Him.  They didn’t know the God of Abraham, but were willing to put their trust in a Man or Woman to lead them.  As long as the God appointed Judge was with them, God blessed them.  When the Judge was gone, the Israelite people had no direction or leader to point them to God and they struggled.  The people cried out for Gideon (one of the Judges) to rule over them.  Gideon was wise enough to know that they should allow God to rule & lead.

Application

It is difficult to put our faith into something we cannot see or have not experienced.  The Israelite people had fallen away from God and were trying to do it on their own.   Many times we try and live life without God.  We put our trust & hope and time into people and temporary things.  When challenges in life come along, we turn to the latest “self-help” remedy.   We look to the experts to help us solve our problems while God is calling out for us to let Him lead.

Prayer

Lord, give me the ears to listen when you call my name.  Let me lean on you and not my own understanding as I walk along the path of life.  Give me the courage to let you lead as I follow.  Help me to stay close to you even today.