JUDGES
OBSERVATION:
THE BOOK OF JUDGES PICKS UP WHERE THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY ENDS. JOSHUA WAS SUCCESSFUL IN DRIVING OUT PAGAN WORSHIP AND ENEMIES. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY LATER EMBRACED PAGAN IDOLATRY.
THE BOOK FORTUNATELY GIVES GLIMPSES OF WHAT CHRIST CAN DO TO RESTORE BROKEN FELLOWSHIP.
INTERPRETATION:
JUDGES 2: 1-2
POINTS TO PONDER:
ISRAEL ENGAGED IN TREATIES AND COVENANTS WITH THE CANAANITES, AMORITES AND JEBUSITES, ALL PAGAN TRIBES. GOD ASKED, “WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS?” THEIR DIRECTIVE WAS TO DRIVE OUT THESE PAGAN TRIBES.
THE LORD CLEARLY ADDRESSED THE DISOBEDIENCE OF ISRAEL. THEY WERE TO BE A SEPARATE PEOPLE UNTO HIM. THEY WERE TO BE AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE TO ALL NATIONS OF WHAT THE LORD CAN DO. GOD DECLARED HE WOULD NOT DRIVE OUT THE PAGANS BECAUSE OF THEIR DISOBEDIENCE. IT WAS A WAY OF CORRECTING THEIR DISOBEDIENCE (JUDGES 2:3).
THOSE WHO EXPECT FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD’S ENEMIES ARE UTTERLY DECEIVED. THERE WAS NO EXCUSE FOR THEIR SINS!
APPLICATION:
BELIEVERS SOMETIMES WANT GOD TO DO THE WORK OF CHRISTIAN MATURITY. GOD WANTS YOU PROACTIVE IN GAINING MATURITY!
