Judges 10:6-16
6 Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the sons of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; so they abandoned the Lord and did not serve Him.
7 And the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the sons of Ammon.
8 And they afflicted and oppressed the sons of Israel that year; for eighteen years they oppressed all the sons of Israel who were beyond the Jordan, in Gilead in the land of the Amorites.
9 And the sons of Ammon crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was in great difficulty.
10 Then the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against You, for indeed, we have abandoned our God and served the Baals.”
11 And the Lord said to the sons of Israel, “Did I not save you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the sons of Ammon, and the Philistines?
12 And when the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites oppressed you, you cried out to Me, and I saved you from their hands.
13 Yet you abandoned Me and served other gods; therefore I will no longer save you.
14 Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.”
15 Then the sons of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please save us this day.”
16 So they removed the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord; and He could no longer endure the misery of Israel.
Unfaithfulness and Judgement
Seven groups of gods
The 45-year period of peace and prosperity under Tola and Jair has come to an end, and once again, a time of unfaithfulness has arrived. The cycle of the book of Judges consists of unfaithfulness, judgment, and cry out of distress. When the people repent, God will surely deliver with His grace. Like a father welcoming a prodigal son, our Heavenly Father accepts those who truly repent. Let us learn this from today’s passage. The Israelites have turned from the Lord and served seven different groups of gods: (1) Baal (Canaanite god), (2) Ashtaroth (Canaanite god), (3) the gods of Aram, (4) the gods of Sidon (with the chief god being Ashtaroth), (5) the gods of Moab (with the chief god being Chemosh), (6) the gods of the Ammonites (with the chief god being Molech), and (7) the gods of the Philistines (with the chief god being Dagon). During this time, the spiritual condition of the Israelites became heavily influenced by Canaanite culture. As a result, the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He allowed them to be oppressed by the Philistines and Ammonites. (1) The Philistines afflicted the Israelites on the west side of the Jordan River. It was Samson, who was raised up to deliver Israel from the Philistines. (2) The Ammonites troubled the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan River. It was Jephthah, who was raised up to deliver Israel from the Ammonites.
Repentance
The Israelites cried out to the Lord seeking help. The Lord recounted the oppressions by the seven Gentile nations and the deliverance He had provided. In the end, the Lord rebuked them, saying, “Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen.” This was a heavy irony. The Israelites recognized the depth of their sin and confessed their repentance, seeking the Lord’s mercy. True repentance requires action. The Israelites removed the foreign gods (idols) from among them and began to serve the Lord. Seeing this, the Lord’s heart was moved. The Bible says, “He could no longer endure the misery of Israel.” In any age, the Lord’s mercy is poured out upon those who repent. Our Heavenly Father waits for the return of the prodigal sons (and daughters). How will you respond to the love of the Father?
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, You are the God of love, who waits for the return of the prodigal children. May I walk with you as my only God. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.