JUDGES PART 2

Sorry I'm late this morning. Had a problem with the internet.


"40 YEARS" seems to have been a round number denoting a generation. Note how often "40" is used throughout the Bible; at the Flood it rained 40 days and nights; Moses fled at 40; was in Midian 40 years; was in the mount 40 days. Israel wandered 40 years. The spies were 40 days in Canaan, Elijah fasted 40 days. 40 days' respite was given to Nineveh. Jesus fasted 40 days and sojourned 40 days after resurrection.

The Hebrew Nation, after the death of Joshua, had no strong central government. They were a confederacy of twelve independent tribes, with no unifying force, except their God. The form of government in the days of the Judges is spoken of as the "Theocracy;*" that is, God himself was supposed to be the direct ruler of the nation. But the people did not take their God very seriously, and were continually falling away into Idolatry. Being in a state of anarchy, more or less, and harassed at times by civil war among themselves and surrounded by enemies who made attempt after attempt to exterminate them, the Hebrew Nation was very slow in it National Development, and did not become a great nation til it was organized into a Kingdom in the days of Samuel and David.

The book of Judges is the history of Israel during the government of the Judges, who were occasional delivers, raised up by God to rescue Israel from their oppressors, to reform the state of religion and to administer justice to the people. The state of God's people does not appear in this book so prosperous, nor their character so religious, as might have been expected; but there were many believers among them, and the tabernacle service was attended to. the history exemplifies the frequent warnings and predictions of Moses, and should have close attention. The whole book is full of important instruction.

The refrain running through the Book is every man did that which was right in his own eyes. They were ever and always falling away from God into the worship of idols. When they did this God delivered Israel into the hands of their oppressors. Then when Israel, in their suffering and distress, turned back, and cried to God, God had pity on Israel, and raised up Judges, who saved Israel from their enemies. As long as the Judge lived, the people served God. But when the Judge died, the people again played the harlot after idols.

Invariably, when they served God, they prospered, and when they served idols, they suffered. Israel's troubles were due directly to their disobedience. They did not keep themselves from idols. They did not exterminate the inhabitants of the land, as they had been commanded, and from time to time the struggle for mastery was renewed.

Look here now. Some people say that the Old Testament isn't important. I would have to object once again for these reasons: we have a tendency to do what is right in our own eyes, we are ever and always falling away from God in the worship of "I's" (meaning ourselves or by following someone not of God). Another reason we, today, do not prosper is because of our "disobedience." We have enemies today as well. We don't take the time to judge the fruits of others works, we don't take the time to separate ourselves from the ways of the world, and we certainly put "I" first, yes, even at times before God. Even as Israel would do in their time of trouble, we cry out to God in our suffering and distress and He is right there ready to forgive and help us once again. So, think about it for a few minutes, who is to blame when things go wrong in our lives? Nobody but ourselves. We are so busy blaming others for all that has gone wrong in our lives that we forget to look deep inside ourselves for the real reason.

Who puts the stumbling blocks in our paths? Who causes the trials and tribulations in our lives? Why are they put there? What do we do during these periods in our lives?

God's blessings to each of you,
LJG

SOURCES: King James Bible, Halley's Bible Handbook, Matthew Henry,

*government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided