A People in Confusion

Judges 2:7; 11:16-23

GOLDEN TEXT: “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear.”—Hebrews 13:6

JOSHUA had no successor. Following his death, and until the Israelites clamored for a king, the nation was ruled by “judges.” These judges were raised up by the Lord in times of special need, and through them the people were delivered from the evils which came upon them as a result of their turning away from God. The account indicates that the first of these judges did not appear on the scene immediately upon the death of Joshua, inasmuch as the people remained more or less faithful to God for a time—until the elders who served with Joshua died.

These elders had witnessed the mighty works of God on behalf of the people during the days of Joshua, and the memory of this not only was a great stimulus to their faith, but it enabled them to keep the people as a whole reminded of their obligations to God. But when these elders died and a new generation of Israelites took over, the Lord was forgotten and soon the oppressive hand of their enemies made life burdensome for them.

As we saw in our previous lessen, the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites was considered virtually completed while Joshua lived, but in today’s lesson we learn that God permitted some of the Canaanites to remain to “test” Israel. When the Israelites forgot God and turned away from him to serve other gods, he permitted these remaining enemies to afflict them; and when they cried to him for help, he raised up judges to deliver them. These judges pointed out the sins of the people. Upon acknowledgment of their sins, and an earnest effort to return to God, divine help was again vouchsafed.

Othniel was the first of Israel’s judges. Gideon was another. One was a woman—Deborah. Under her leadership the first Armageddon battle was fought and won by the Israelites. Barak served under Deborah as Commander in Chief of Israel’s army in this memorable battle. Samuel was the last of these special judges. He also served as a prophet; and it was by him that Israel’s first king—Saul—was anointed. Samuel also anointed David to be the successor of Saul.

The experiences of Israel as a nation serve well to illustrate the fallen tendencies of the human race and how rapidly people as a whole turn away from God when left to their own devices. The brightest spots in the history of Israel as a nation are those periods when the people rallied to the service of God under the leadership of a faithful servant of God such as Moses, Joshua, the judges, and certain ones of their kings.

In some respects the period of Israel’s judges is illustrative of the thousand-year judgment period of the future when the whole world will be judged by Jesus and his church. The Israelites, because of their disobedience to divine law, found themselves in bondage to their enemies. Their judges pointed out their sins, and when they returned to God they were delivered. So it will be during the world’s coming judgment day.

Because of disobedience to divine law the entire human race has come under bondage to sin and death. The “judges” in the future judgment day will enlighten the people concerning their sins, and when the people acknowledge their wrongdoing and return to God, they, like the Israelites, will also be delivered from, their enemies. Indeed, the great enemy Death will be destroyed. That will be a glorious deliverance—an everlasting deliverance. And it will be far-reaching, too, for it will include those who have died. Concerning it Paul said that God has given “assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him [Jesus] from the dead.”—Acts 17:31

The Israelites did not always obey their judges; and when they did not, God’s blessings were withheld from them. This will also be true during the world’s future judgment day. Those who do not then obey will be “destroyed” from among the people—or, as it is stated by Jesus, they “shall go away into everlasting punishment.” (Acts 3:23; Matt. 25:46) As death is the divine punishment for sin, everlasting punishment will be everlasting death—an everlasting “cutting off” (Greek, Diaglott) from life.

The Golden Text is very meaningful in connection with God’s dealings with Israel. The Lord is always the Helper of his people when they are faithful to him. One of the divinely inspired sayings of James to all God’s people is, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” (James 4:8) God has never failed to fulfill this promise, and never will fail. If we find ourselves spiritually lean because we are lacking the blessings of God, it is because we have not fulfilled this condition. If we are being overcome by our “enemies” it is for the same reason.

God’s justice demands full obedience to his law, but his mercy is extended toward those whose hearts are perfect before him; and he extends to such a helping hand in their times of need. In the case of Israel as a nation, God’s helping hand was manifested in the person of the judges he raised up from time to time to deliver the people from their enemies. We should always be willing for God to judge us, and when we have our weaknesses revealed to us, do our best to overcome them.

QUESTIONS:

How was the nation of Israel governed following the death of Joshua?

In what way did the period of the judges illustrate the future judgment day of the world?

Upon what basis may we expect God to be our Helper in times of need?

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