Successes and Failures of Israel

Judges 2:6-16

GOLDEN TEXT: “Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people.”—Proverbs 14:34

TODAY’S lesson embraces a period of time in Israel’s history during which the people were ruled by judges. The period of the Judges followed Joshua’s leadership, and ended when the Israelites asked for a king to rule over them; Saul being the first of the kings. Whether the Israelites were under national leaders such as Moses and Joshua, or ruled by judges or kings, they continued to be a stiff-necked people, often lacking in faith and true devotion to God.

The Israelites, however, were no different in this respect from the people of other nations. Jews and Gentiles alike are born in sin and misshapen in iniquity, and all are as prone to sin as sparks are to fly upward. (Psalm 51:5; Job 5:7) Few have been those in any age who would exercise faith in the invisible God, restrain their carnal natures, and continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) It has been much easier for most people to worship gods of stone and wood—or of flesh, in the form Of human leadership—than to give their undivided allegiance to the great Creator who cannot be seen.

Even under the strong and courageous leadership of Joshua, the Israelites had not made too good a showing of devotion to God. For this reason God had not fully blessed them. God had asked them not to become contaminated with the Canaanites, and especially not to join with them in their worship of other gods. In driving the Canaanites out of the land, the Israelites were also to destroy their altars of worship. But God’s instructions were not fully carried out, and shortly before Joshua died the Lord called this to their attention, which brought about national repentance.—Judges 2:1-5

The record is that from the time of this experience until Joshua died, and the elders of Israel who outlived him died, the people served the Lord. Apparently their repentance and offering of sacrifice was sincere. After all, the nation had much evidence of God’s favor, a great deal upon which to base their faith that He would continue to care for them if they were faithful to Him. He had brought them over Jordan and had given them victory over many of their powerful enemies. There had been much in God’s dealings with this generation of Israelites to give their faith something tangible to lay hold upon. It would have been strange indeed if, after having their shortcomings called to their attention by an angel of the Lord, they would not, for a while at least, make a more resolute effort to serve so great a Creator.

But by the time Joshua and his assistants died, the majority of all the Israelites who entered the promised land with them, were also gathered to their fathers, and a new generation was on the scene, making their influence felt in the national affairs of Israel. The account states that this new generation “knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel.”—Judges 2:10

The inevitable result of fallen man not caring to know the Lord is always exactly as is recorded concerning this rebellious people; namely, that “the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord.” (Judges 2:11) One of their great sins was the worshiping of other gods. When Jehovah was fighting Israel’s battles during the days when Joshua was His representative among them, this new generation of Israelites were not old enough to appreciate fully the significance of what was occurring. Hence, their knowledge of God was limited and the idols of the heathen were more tangible as objects of worship.

Our lesson identifies two of the false gods worshiped by the Israelites as Baal and Ashtaroth. Baal was the supreme male deity of the Canaanitish nations, and Ashtaroth was their chief female object of worship. Some suppose Baal to correspond to the sun, while Ashtaroth is associated with the moon. Others claim that Baal was Jupiter and Ashtaroth, Venus. In either case, there can be no doubt about the antiquity of the worship of these false gods. Time and again they supplanted the worship of the true God in the hearts and lives of the Israelites.

Throughout the period of the Judges, Israel was guilty of many backslidings. When the people were unfaithful to God, He withdrew His favor from them. In fact, God was actively against His covenant people whenever and to the extent that they were unfaithful to their covenant with Him. But His punishments were intended as corrections; and when, in His wisdom, He saw that they had learned a necessary lesson, the sunshine of His favor returned to them.

During this particular period of their national history, God’s favor was manifested by raising up a judge through whom the Israelites were delivered from their enemies. In this we have a practical illustration of the manner in which God’s favors will come to all mankind during the thousand years of the coming Judgment Day. During this Gospel age God has been preparing judges for this very purpose. Jesus was the first, and will be the chief Judge. His church will be associate judges with Him. Under their administration mankind, long oppressed by the great task-master Satan and plagued by sin and death, will be delivered and blessed. Paul declares that the enlightenment and blessings of the Judgment Day have been assured to all by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.—Acts 17:31

QUESTIONS:

What was the period of the Judges? How did God’s dealings with Israel during that time differ from that which preceded and followed?

Who were the chief false gods worshiped by the Israelites?

How does the period of the Judges correspond with the Judgment Day?

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