What I Don't Like About Judges
Of all the books of the Bible, Judges is one of the most difficult for me. God's hand is revealed with mercy. Man's rebellion is gross and haunting.
The opening chapter reflects on the good leadership of Joshua. Wars follow. God had promised complete deliverance, but the Israelites refused to pursue complete victory.
Compromise was easier than complete victory. They allowed heathen tribes to stay in Canaan. They intermarried with the heathen tribes. Sin turned ugly.
Leadership failed. Leaders succumbed to the will of the people. Popularity determined values. Virtue took a vacation.
By chapter 4 conditions were so deplorable "the children of Israel cried out to the Lord" (v.3). A heathen king of Canaan ruthlessly controlled God's people for 20 years.
Where were the valiant men? Where were the men who looked to God? Where were the godly leaders that should have risen up and given counsel to seek the Lord? When leaders sin, their nation sins. We do not know all of the story. What we do know is that God prepared a woman named Deborah. Her husband's name is mentioned, and he fades into the background. In the wisdom of God the Bible notes that Deborah would sit under a palm tree and give counsel to those who came to her from all over Israel. The notation that she was married and held court outside in plain view protects her integrity---how careful God is! Deborah was instrumental in leading God's people to victory. So much for those who think only men can lead.
The people forgot God. Midianites were allowed to conquer and oppress Israel for seven years. Things became so terrible that God's people lived in caves, dens, and strongholds (6:2).
The people cried out to the Lord. God sent a prophet with harsh words for their rebellion. But, because the people cried out, God sent an angel and commissioned a farmer to become a general. Chapters 6,7,& 8 record one of the great miracles of the Bible. Nevertheless, the people soon backslid, i.e., rebelled against God.
Gideon refused to become the leader of Israel, but in his greed asked for gold earrings taken from the conquered people. Then Gideon established a false form of worship which caused great sexual sins among people God had delivered.
Jephthah, a rebel leading rebels, was visited by the Spirit of the Lord. Jephthah in a religious moment neglected prayer and made a pledge to God. God did not ask for the pledge. The pledge was not necessary. Jephthah did not ask God for counsel. He ended up sacrificing his own daughter in a sickening and disgusting show of his own stubborn stupidity. What a disgusting story of stubborn ego.
The ugly stories continue. Samson was anointed from his mother's womb to be a deliverer. But Samson liked wild women. Samson used his religious privilege for personal pleasure. In the end a woman bested Samson. He ended up with his hair shaved, eyes blinded, chained and being used as a human "beast" to walk in endless circles. There is no joy in his death with 3,000 Philistines. Israel was in bondage when Samson died...just as when he came to deliver them.
Chapters 17 and 18 are about Micah who stole silver from his mother to have it formed into an idol god. His mother blessed him upon his confession. He hired a priest to watch over his idols. Men from the Tribe of Dan come by Micah's house and convinced the priest to steal the idols and come with them. The money-loving-preacher sold his soul to the devil again and became a priest over stolen idol gods.
Just when it seems it cannot get any worse an Ephraimite spent the night in Gibeah with his concubine (sex slave). Perverted men wanted the Ephraimite to come out of the house and have sexual relations (men with men). The Ephraimite instead sent out his concubine to be gang raped all night. In the morning she was found dead on the doorstep. The Ephraimite cut her body into twelve parts and sent a part to each tribe of Israel. War followed. The Tribe of Benjamin was almost totally destroyed.
Judges ends with "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 23:25).
What I do not like about Judges is the relentless picture of how quickly men and women forget the mercies of God. Carnal pleasures, greed and pride rush in to steal away the humility that brought God to the rescue.
I am deeply sobered these days as I reflect upon current events. Again and again I think about Nebuchadnezzar who openly defied God. God determined Nebuchadnezzar needed an attitude adjustment.
This Pastor's Heart is intended for every believer to check his/her compass. Is the needle still pointed home? Are we prayerfully keeping the promises we made to Jesus when He saved us from hell? Are we walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit?
People are people. The Book of Judges is a Book of Warning. It is a Book of God's mercies, yet it amply depicts the price when a nation sins. Let us not be so foolish as to think we can get to the preferred future without God. Let us seek the Lord before we are brought under oppression by a heathen king/nation.
Prayerfully,
Pastor Bare
Isaiah 1:18