4. Staying on Higher Ground: The LORD Raise Judges
Hymns: 133 He Took My Sins Away 108 I’ve Found a Friend 116 Higher Ground
Judges 2
16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. 17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. 18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. 19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way. 20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; 21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: 22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. 23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
The LORD Raised Up Judges
OUTLINE
- Cycles of Apostasy (v16-19)
- Periods of Misery (v20-23)
INTRODUCTION
Judges was written to continue the history of Israel from the death of Joshua to the time of Samuel. It records the great failures of Israel during the era of Israel’s theocracy.
The Hebrew word “judges” translated means “to save, to rescue”. The judges appeared as saviours during the theocracy period. They came to the scene only because of Israel’s sins and failures.
Their basic responsibilities were to deliver Israel from foreign oppressors and to curtail sin in Israel. All these were done with the help of God.
The judges were also leaders who helped the people settle their disputes (Judges 4:4,5). They came from different tribes and functioned locally within the tribe, rather than nationally within Israel. In some cases, their terms of office overlapped.
Each judge was a ruler, a person who protected the people, and a saviour. The judges gave us a picture of what the promised Saviour will be like. That person is Jesus Christ. The book of Judges shows the need for a person who is righteous (pure in mind and life).
Judges 2:11-14 (KJV) And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
The book of Judges records seven apostasies of the nation of Israel during the theocracy. An “apostasy” is a deliberate turning away from God. In each of these cases, Israel became enslaved to a foreign power. And when they repented, God would then send a judge to deliver them from their oppressor.
| Judge | Oppression (Years, Peace) | Reference | |
| 1 | Othniel | Mesopotamians (8, 40) | 3:7-11 |
| 2 | Ehud | Moabites (18, 80) | 3:12-30 |
| 3 | Shamgar | Philistines (?) | 3:31 |
| 4 | Deborah with Barak | Canaanites (20, 40) | 4-5 |
| 5 | Gideon | Midianites (7, 40) | 6-8 |
| 6 | Tola | Unknown (?, 23) | 10:1-2 |
| 7 | Jair | Unknown (?, 22) | 10:3-5 |
| 8 | Jephthah | Ammonites (18, 6) | 10:6-12:7 |
| 9 | Izban | Unknown (?, 7) | 12:8-10 |
| 10 | Eglon | Unknown (?, 10) | 12:11-12 |
| 11 | Abdon | Unknown (?, 18) | 12:13-15 |
| 12 | Samson | Philistines (40, 20) | 13:1-16:31 |
It extends to Eli and Samuel in 1 Samuel where the oppressors were the Philistines.
It is noted that the book of Judges records seven apostasies of the nation of Israel during the theocracy.
An “apostasy” is a deliberate turning away from God. In each of these cases, Israel became enslaved to a foreign power. And when they repented, God would then send a judge to deliver them from their oppressor.
- Cycles of Apostasy (v16-19)
16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. 17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. 18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. 19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
We notice a series of departures from the Lord and the harassment of the enemy to cause them much misery till they call out to God for help. The Lord then by His mercy sent help.
FIRST APOSTASY (3:7-11)
In chapter 3, we find the Israelites settling among the Syrian nations. Their desire to live in peace with the Syrians resulted in unholy intermarriages (3:6).
Not only that, the Israelites also accepted the Syrian’s pagan religion (3:7). When they worshipped idols, God allowed the Mesopotamians to oppress them (3:8). The Israelites then realized that God had departed from them. They cried for help and the Lord sent Othniel to deliver them. Othniel was Caleb’s nephew. Judges 3:10-11 says: “And the spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel…And the land had rest forty years.”
SECOND APOSTASY (3:12-31)
The Israelites disobeyed the Lord a second time. God used the Moabites to punish His own people. The Moabites ruled the Israelites for 18 years.
But when the Israelites cried to God. He raised up Ehud, from the tribe of Benjamin, to deliver the Israelites. Ehud assassinated the king of Moab and brought about deliverance for the oppressed area of Israel. After this deliverance, there were 80 years of peace for the people of Israel.
At the end of chapter 3, we also read of another judge. Shamgar rescued the Israelites from the Philistines. His feat was nothing short of a miracle. With an ox-goad, he single-handedly killed 600 Philistines and saved Israel (3:31).
THIRD APOSTASY (4,5)
When the Israelites sinned a third time, they were punished by the Canaanites for 20 years (4:3). The oppression under Jabin, the Canaanite king and Sisera, his captain, was terrible. And again, the Israelites cried and God heard them.
The time God sent a lady judge, Deborah (with Barak) to defeat Jabin and Sisera. God was right when He called the Israelites a stiff-necked people. This was their third lesson. Will they now not be obedient to Him? Not yet. The true reformer had not yet come. With this deliverance, Israel rested for forty years.
FOURTH APOSTASY (6:8-32)
The Midianites, the Amalekites and the people of the East were Bodouin raiders who lived in the southeast of the Jordan. They harassed Israel at every opportunity for seven years so much so that the Israelites had to hide in caves and bury their grain and feared for their lives and future.
In desperation, the Israelites cried to the Lord, and God sent Gideon to deliver them. But Gideon was hesitant and wanted many proofs of God’s faithfulness.
After much reassurances from God, Gideon and his band of 300 men made a surprise attack at night on the Midianite camp in the valley of Jezreel. The Midianites were caught by surprise, confused and defeated.
FIFTH APOSTASY (8:33-10:5)
Under Gideon’s leadership, there was peace in the land for 40 years. But soon after Gideon’s death, Scripture records that the Israelites “went a-whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god” (8:33). Gideon was one of the most successful judges in maintaining peace and order. But after his death, Abimelech, his wicked son murdered his brothers and made himself king for three years. Abimelech was probably contemporary judges. Tola served west of the Jordan and Jair on the east side.
SIXTH APOSTASY (10:6-12:15)
Over the years, the Israelites committed the same sin of idolatry. Their spiritual condition was appalling. To punish the Israelites, God sent judgment from the Philistines for 18 years.
When they came under the heavy weight of oppression, they cried to God again. For the first time, God refused to hear them and reminded them of their habitual sin (10:13). God “was grieved for the misery of Israel” (10:16).
Jephthah was God’s choice this time. Born of a harlot, Jephthah was despised by his own people. But God can use anyone in spite of the person’s background. Jephthah led the Israelites against the Ammonites. After his great victory Jephthah judged Israel for six years.
SEVENTH APOSTASY
The phrase, “…Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord” was becoming a too familiar refrain. This time they were disciplined by the Philistines for 40 years. The man that God chose this time was special. His birth was announced by the angel of the Lord (13:3). He was already set aside for the job before his birth.
Samson would be the one to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. God endowed Samson with great strength, and he used those talents to win victories over the Philistines. When brute strength failed to defeat Samson, the alluring Delilah did the job. Because of self-confidence, Samson fell into the hands of the Philistines. But God was able to use Samson’s weakness to destroy the Philistines.
- Periods of Misery (v20-23)
20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; 21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: 22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. 23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
When the people of God left the Lord, compromised their faith, they lose their spiritual bearing and life was miserable.
The Lord allowed the enemies to remain in the land as thorns in their sights as He told them.
Judges 2:1-5 (KJV) And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
It was the privilege of Israel that they had not only a law in general sent them from heaven, once for all, to direct them into and keep them in the way of happiness, but that they had particular messages sent them from heaven, as there was occasion, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, when at any time they turned aside out of that way.
Besides the written word which they had before them to read, they often heard a word behind them, saying, This is the way (Isaiah 30:21).
Isaiah 30:21 (KJV) And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Here begins that way of God’s dealing with them. When they would not hear Moses, let it be tried whether they will hear the prophets. In these verses we have a very awakening sermon that was preached to them when they began to cool in their religion.
The place is called Bochim (v1), because it gained that name upon this occasion. All Israel needed the reproof and warning here given, and therefore it is spoken to them all. [Matthew Henry]