286. CHAOS IN ISRAEL
"But every man did that which was right in his own eyes"
Faithful, courageous Joshua had developed around him a generation of God-fearing elders who, upon his death as the leader of the nation, were able to maintain the spiritual tone of the people (Josh. 24:31; Jud. 2:7). This generation was blessed in that they had witnessed the great wonders and miracles that God had shown before all the children of Israel during their exodus from Egypt and entry into the Promised Land. But the next generation was different: 'they knew not Yahweh, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel" (Jud. 2:10). No doubt their faithful parents had declared His wonderful works as they were com manded (Deut. 31:13; 32:7; Psa. 78:4), but their children indulged themselves with the blessings of their new land, with its cities, houses and vineyards for which they had laboured not! (Deut. 6:10-11). They "forgot Yahweh" and refused to set their hope in Him.
The aim of this lesson is to show the continuous failure of men when they compromise God's ways and the untiring strength, mercy and faithfulness of God towards those who call upon Him.
Judges 2
THE CAUSE OF ISRAEL'S FAILURE.
In Psalm 106:34-36 there is a summary of the process that led to the failure of this new generation when it entered the land: "They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom Yahweh commanded them. But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them."
One point led them to another and the opening chapters of the Book of Judges plot this course.
- They did not destroy the nations of Canaan € see Judges 1.
- Arising from this, they became associated with these wicked people € see Judges 2:1-4 where the angel came up from Gilgal (which symbolized to an earlier generation the destruction of carnal ways, Josh. 5:8-9) to Bochim and denounced Israel for making a league with the inhabitants of the land.
- The final step followed naturally when they worshipped the gods of their heathen friends € see Judges 2:11-13.
Each step was a flagrant breach of repeated commandments of God through Moses and Joshua concerning the nations of Canaan. "And when Yahweh thy God shall deliver them before thee;. . . thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them. . . For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods" (Deut. 7:2-4; also Ex. 34:11-17; Deut. 6:14; Num. 33:55; Josh. 23:6-13). These words of Moses were prophetic. The generation after Joshua enjoyed relative strength and in their self-confidence failed to utterly drive out the Canaanites, but put them under tribute (Jud. 1:28). Their sons married the daughters of the Canaanites (3:6), and were turned away to serve idols (2:10! 12).
THE CYCLIC PATTERN OF THE TIMES OF THE JUDGES.
The second chapter of Judges provides a key to the structure of the book.
€ Verses 10-13 reveal Israel's SIN.
€ Verses 14-15 show their SUFFERING for sin.
€ Verses 16-18 show that in SEEKING GOD they would find SALVATION through the deliverance by the judge raised up by God.
This lesson is the great moral of the book € SIN will bring SUFFERING, but SEEKING GOD will bring SALVATION.
But verse 19 reveals the characteristic of human nature. When the judge passed off the scene, the people turned from God and sinned. Then came suffering and the cycle began to repeat itself.
There are six heroic episodes in the book of Judges that show the same pattern of SIN, SUFFERING, SEEKING GOD and finding SALVATION.
When Cushan-Rishathaim King of Mesopotamia oppressed Israel, God sent Othniel to deliver them (3:7-11).
When Eglon of Moab oppressed Israel, God sent Ehud to deliver them (3:12-30).
When Jabin and Sisera oppressed Israel, God sent Deborah and Barak to deliver them (chapters 4 and 5).
When the Midianites oppressed Israel, God sent Gideon to deliver them (chapters 6 to 8).
When the Ammonites oppressed Israel, God sent Jephthah to deliver them (chapters 10 to 12).
When the Philistines oppressed Israel, God sent Samson to deliver them (chapter 13 to 16).
The chart at the end of the lesson shows this cyclical pattern in more detail.
CHAOS € NO KING IN ISRAEL.
In the closing chapters of the book of Judges there are two lengthy records of the abominable behaviour of Israel. These terrible stories are appended to the book, not because they happened at the end of the period of the Judges, but because they were apparently representative of many similar events that occurred during these times. These episodes are interlaced on four occasions with the poignant words: "In those days there was no king in Israel", and twice by the statement: "but every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).
The nation therefore lacked the unified direction and leadership of a king. Although the tabernacle was set up at Shiloh (18:31; cp. 19:18; 20:18), with the priests who could mediate God's will to Israel, generally the people paid little heed to it and so lacked co-ordination and divine authority. They did not see God as their king (cp. 1 Sam. 8:6-7), but refused Him, and it was left to every man to direct his own way.
This personal liberty led to great inconsistency in the nation. Whilst a faithful judge might lead several tribes to great conquest, others would remain unmoved (cp. 5:14-17). When Gideon routed the enemy, other cities of Israel refused him and his men necessary victuals (8:5-6). Judah originally was chosen to begin the conquests against the Canaanites, and yet in later years they betrayed Samson in the same cause (1:2; 15:11).
It was a time of poor cohesion, of much wickedness, of occasional righteousness, of spiritual heights and then depths all over the nation.
GOD'S STRENGTH MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.
Faith is impressed upon us in this book as the means of deliverance. "No king is saved by the multitude of an host, a mighty man is not delivered by much strength" (Psa. 33:16). In the book of Judges, God used the most insignificant means to impress this lesson of faith and dependence. Deliverance came to Israel by: €
A left-handed man and a dagger (3:15-16).
An ox-goad (3:31).
A woman and a tent peg (4:21-22).
One woman (5:7).
300 men with pitchers and lamps (7:6, 16).
A woman and a stone (9:53).
A social outcast (11:2-3).
The jawbone of an ass (15:16).
In all these instances we are taught to turn from our own strength and learn the lesson spoken to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9).
THE ECCLESIA TODAY AWAITS ITS KING.
The period of the Judges came between the work of Joshua, who provided opportunity for every man to enter his inheritance, and the setting up of the kingdom under David and Solomon. It was a long time (450 years) of alternating success and failure, of triumph and tragedy.
In this it is highly typical of ecclesial life in our times. As Joshua set up elders who wisely guided the people after his death (Josh. 24:31), so Yahweh Jesus did likewise when he appointed the Apostles and elders to follow him (Eph. 4:11-12). But since their day the history of the Truth has often mirrored the times of the Judges € when there is "no king in Israel" and "every man does that which is right in his own eyes". We are lacking a Divine authority recognised and respected by all € a central point of command. Consequently, from the death of the Apostles to this present hour, triumph and tribulation have followed each other: the Truth has been revived at various times only to be submerged again. This results from the continuous failure of men in compromising God's ways. Yet now is our opportunity to prepare for the coming of David's son to set up the kingdom and reign in Jerusalem (cp. 2 Sam. 5:12). And even in these last perilous times we can preserve our heritage if we put our faith in Yahweh our God and see in His strength our means of deliverance.
DEBORAH € A WOMAN OF FAITH (Judges 4 & 5).
One of the most stirring of the judges was a woman, a prophetess, called Deborah. Israel was again in sore affliction because of their sin. God had sold them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan. His commander-in-chief, Sisera, paraded his great forces (including 900 chariots of iron) before the eyes of cowering Israel.
After 20 years of such oppression, Israel cried unto their God (4:3), Who answered them through the voice of Deborah. She called Barak of Kadesh-Naphtali to assemble with 10,000 men on top of Mt. Tabor. Humanly-speaking this was a suicidal plan for this cone-shaped mountain rose conspicuously from the plain of Esdraelon where the chariots of Sisera held total command. The lives of the 10,000 depended on their faith, which was strengthened by the fact that Deborah, God's prophetess, was among them.
At a Divinely-appointed time Deborah gave the word to attack. A mere 10,000 followed courageous Barak as he plunged down the 300 metre mount to the amassed chariots and multitude of the Gentiles on the plain (4:14). But God was on his side. The heavens broke forth with water, the plain became a thick black bog, and the river Kishon flooded its banks. Sisera's orderly array of chariots and infantry was completely routed (5:19-23).
The agile Sisera escaped on foot but in his folly he accepted the hospitality of another great woman of faith, Jael. Although a member of the disloyal family of Heber (4:11-12), Jael was a true Israelite in heart. While the mighty prince lay asleep on the floor of her tent, she put her feminine timidity aside and, taking a hammer in one hand and a tent-peg
in the other, she smote the peg through his head so that it fastened into the ground (5:24-27). Thus "Yahweh sold Sisera into the hand of a woman", as Deborah had earlier prophesied (4:9).
So God, in one day, delivered Israel from 20 years of self-inflicted oppression, principally by the faith of two women. Deborah later caused Israel to rejoice in the words of a song of triumph:
"I will sing unto Yahweh;
I will sing praise to Yahweh, God of Israel" (5:3).
LESSONS FOR US:
The great need of a new generation is to hearken to the wise and godly counsel of faithful parents and elders.
When the growing children lose the separateness from the world which the Truth demands, then the very preservation of the Truth is endangered and the new generation starts to do "that which is right in its own eyes."
The book of Judges teaches that sin has painful consequences, bringing inevitable slavery to further sin and death.
But the book also teaches the abundant mercy of God. SIN brings SUFFERING, but SEEKING GOD will bring SALVATION.
God does not require human strength and ingenuity to achieve His purpose; rather he uses things and people the world considers weak.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 2, No. 12
"The Ways of Providence" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 13
"The Judges" (C.S.S.S. Study Notes)
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
- "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which is right in his own eyes". What time in Israel's history does this refer to? What was the problem with the people and how did they arrive at this position?
- In what ways does the book of Judges illustrate the principle that God's strength is made perfect in weakness?
- What lessons do we learn from the victory of Deborah and Barak?
- What recurring pattern of events do we find in the book of Judges?
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
1. Outline the cyclical pattern of the book of Judges. What lesson do we learn from this?