A Judge in this book of the Bible doesn’t refer to someone who administers the law or who decides the fate of another called into question. In ancient Israel, the latter was the job of the high priest. A Judge here was rather a champion who brought victory and peace to the land, hence Judges were more of military leaders.
Overall, ancient Israel had 15 Judges from after Joshua, until she got her first King, Saul. However, only 13 Judges are mentioned in the book of Judges, among which one, Abimelech, who wasn’t installed by God. As for the remaining two, Eli and Samuel, we will get to see them in the upcoming book 1 Samuel.
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Post contents
Previously…
Under the leadership of Joshua, the Israelites have finally taken possession of Canaan, the land promised by God to their ancestor Abraham, and lived in it according to the terms their fathers agreed on at Mt Sinai.
Back to Judges
Unfortunately, Joshua and all the generation who accepted the rule of the Lord over their nation passed away, leaving one which had no particular interest in God (Judges 2). These got enticed by the ways of life of the Canaanite remnants, the ones leftover from the cities which weren’t conquered under Joshua’s rule. Hence, the current Israelites discarded God, His ways, and His promises.
Because they prostituted themselves with other gods, they faced the consequences of their choice, and as God had promised, He no longer shielded Israel from the Canaanite oppression. For as stated in their covenant (Deuteronomy 28), God turned His face from them as they had done to Him.
Yet, not completely.
For the moment they ran back and cried to God because of their suffering, He remembered the very same covenant that also states He will always forgive them no matter what (Deuteronomy 30) and was quick to rescue them by raising a Judge to deliver them from their enemies.
The pattern
Hence, the book of Judges is like an unending evil merry-go-round of unfaithfulness and disobedience, then begging and forgiveness.
Israel will be blessed because they are God’s chosen ones, but will choose other gods over Yahweh and suffer violence and bloodshed from Canaan, who is all about revenge. Then they will turn to God pleading for Mercy, who bound by His alliance and by His love for them will rescue them and bless them, only to realise after some time that the disobedience returns and the process is renewed.
This happened 12 times throughout this book.
How many times do you think this happened and happens in human history? Or in our individual lives?
Judges were not enough to maintain Israel in the state of salvation. Only the Saviour-King God promised would accomplish this task. Maybe that is why Israel requested one, as we shall see in 1 Samuel. But before that, there is someone important who lived during the time of Ehud, the second Judge of Israel.
Ruth.
It is her story the Bible presents us next.
Takeaway
It has been quite a while since God has been working with backstabbers, starting with Lucifer and ending with you and me.
The book of Judges enables us to see our story from the point of view of a third party and makes us notice the ease with which at the slightest opportunity we fail God. On one side it is annoying to see how human beings can be this half-witted and on the other side, it brings us to our knees in humility and gratefulness in front of this God who has not and will never abandon us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
No matter how hard we try, neither elaborate solutions, nor whatever ingenious systems we frame, can enable us to find eternal bliss or salvation.
Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson couldn’t do this. Only Jesus, the one God promised from Day 1 saves. None other can bring peace, none other can bring everlasting goodness in this world.
How did you enjoy this summary? What is one thing you like about the book of Judges? I am listening.
Cheers to our Lord !!
