Judges 2:11-19
11 Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals,
12 and they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed other gods from the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them; so they provoked the Lord to anger.
13 They abandoned the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.
14 Then the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He handed them over to plunderers, and they plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand against their enemies.
15 Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and just as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed.
16 Then the Lord raised up judges who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them.
17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they committed infidelity with other gods and bowed down to them. They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do the same as their fathers.
18 And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who tormented and oppressed them.
19 But it came about, when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their obstinate ways.
Repeated pattern in the time of the Judges
Four stages
In today’s passage, a pattern that repeats during the time of the judges is introduced. This pattern consists of four stages. (1) The first stage is the stage of apostasy. The Israelites become ensnared in Baal worship. “Baal” refers to the god of fertility, widely worshipped in the land of Canaan. The word “Baal” carries meanings such as lord, master, or owner, and it came to be used as a title for the god of agriculture. Baal was believed to die and be resurrected every year. Immoral worship involving temple prostitutes was conducted to promote the resurrection of Baal. For the Israelites, who had only known a semi-nomadic lifestyle until settling in the land of Canaan, the Baal worship became a significant temptation. On the other hand, “Ashtaroth” was Baal’s wife, considered as the goddess of fertility, war, and love. (2) The next stage is the stage of judgment. The apostasy of the Israelites initially appeared in the form of syncretism, but eventually the worship of the Lord was forgotten. In response to the unfaithfulness of the Israelites, the Lord brought judgment upon them. He used the neighboring nations that the Israelites failed to drive out as instruments of His judgment. (3) The third stage is the stage of repentance. The Israelites cried out to the Lord for help in their distress. The Lord God is the only one who we can rely on in times of trouble. (4) The fourth stage is the stage of deliverance through the judges. Hearing the people’s cry, the Lord sent judges to deliver the Israelites and prevent their destruction at the hands of their enemies.
The real problem
Israel’s repentance was not a true repentance. As a result, the Israelites found themselves trapped in the same spiritual cycle repeatedly. Moreover, with each cycle, their spiritual condition worsened. Eventually, as seen in the example of Samson, even the judges themselves became corrupted in nature. Are you currently facing specific problems? Or are you seeking to solve problems by relying on something other than the Lord God? If so, let us learn from the failures of the Israelites. Let us meditate on what true repentance means.
Today's prayer
O God of Israel, I place my trust solely in You. Please be near me and help me when I cry out. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.