A look at the book of Judges

[jeremiah7]

A look at the book of Judges- 1- The need for Judges

Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals; and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger. They forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for calamity, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed. Nevertheless, the LORD raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do so. And when the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them out of 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 oppressed them and harassed them. And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way. (Judges 2:11-19) (NKJV)

It was sort of a chain reaction. A stubborn people forsook the Lord Almighty and served idols after the generation of Joshua had passed away . This angered God and he gave them into the hands of their enemies and they were plundered. When they suffered and were greatly distressed and groaned, the LORD had pity on them and raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. But the Israelites were stubborn and fell into idolatry again. And the sin-punishment-distress cries-God showing mercy-raising of judges-deliverance act was repeated again and again.

Even in our times, people are stubborn and cannot forsake idolatry, even after God, through his channels make them realize that it is wrong. They then go through the same chain reaction as the Israelites did. Most seem to ignore a punishment when actually it should have been a lesson thoroughly learnt.

 

[jeremiah7]

A look at the book of Judges- 2- Othniel

Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons; and they served their gods. So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs. Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years. When the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim. So the land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died. (Judges 3:5-11) (NKJV)

When the Israelites were travelling to Canaan from Egypt, God had warned them through Moses,
Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst. But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods, and one of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice,
and you take of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and make your sons play the harlot with their gods. (Exodus 34:12-16)

The Israelites broke their covenant with God and made covenants with the inhabitants of Canaan and as God said, they were a snare to them.

8 years of punishment here for the Israelites for disobeying God. God sold them into the hands of the king of Mesopotamia. When distressed, they cried out to the LORD and he raised up a deliverer for them: Othniel the son of Kenaz who delivered them by warring with the enemy king and the land had rest for 40 years.

We read of Othniel in the book of Joshua:
Caleb said, "He who attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife." So Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. (Joshua 15:16,17).
The same has been mentioned in Judges Chapter 1.

Caleb was a warrior and wanted his son-in-law to be one as well. So he put forth a challenge and Othniel took it up. God gave him victory and Caleb's daughter Achsah became his wife.

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

 

[jeremiah7]

A look at the book of Judges- 3- Ehud

And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. Then he gathered to himself the people of Ammon and Amalek, went and defeated Israel, and took possession of the City of Palms. So the children of Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years. But when the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. By him the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Ehud made himself a dagger (it was double-edged and a cubit in length) and fastened it under his clothes on his right thigh. So he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.) And when he had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried the tribute. But he himself turned back from the stone images that were at Gilgal, and said, "I have a secret message for you, O king." He said, "Keep silence!" And all who attended him went out from him. So Ehud came to him (now he was sitting upstairs in his cool private chamber). Then Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you." So he arose from his seat. Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. Even the hilt went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the dagger out of his belly; and his entrails came out. Then Ehud went out through the porch and shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them. When he had gone out, Eglon's servants came to look, and to their surprise, the doors of the upper room were locked. So they said, "He is probably attending to his needs in the cool chamber." So they waited till they were embarrassed, and still he had not opened the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them. And there was their master, fallen dead on the floor. But Ehud had escaped while they delayed, and passed beyond the stone images and escaped to Seirah. And it happened, when he arrived, that he blew the trumpet in the mountains of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mountains; and he led them. Then he said to them, "Follow me, for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand." So they went down after him, seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over. And at that time they killed about ten thousand men of Moab, all stout men of valor; not a man escaped. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years. (Judges 3:12-30)(NKJV)

Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years for sinning against God. But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man........... Moab was subdued by Ehud. And the land had rest for eighty years.

8 years of punishment by being subject to the King of Mesopotamia was followed by 18 years of servitude for doing evil again. Ehud, the new judge or deliverer that God raised up, acted with stealth and killed the enemy king Eglon.

Warring against the enemy is what we as believers have to do all the time.
How do we deal with the enemy of our souls, Satan, is a question that the Bible addresses very clearly. The armor of God is the prescription.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- (Ephesians 6:11-18)

The armor of God.....so very important. Hope you are wearing it this day.

 

[jeremiah7]

A look at the book of Judges- 4- Shamgar

After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel. (Judges 3:31) (NKJV)

One of the six minor judges chosen by God to deliver Israel from their enemies was Shamgar. Shamgar is not a Hebrew name, so Bible scholars think of him to be a non-Israelite. He was a contemporary of Deborah, the prophetess, for we read about him in her song in Judges 5.
In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, In the days of Jael, The highways were deserted, And the travelers walked along the byways. (Judges 5:6)

Shamgar's name means "a stranger" and his father's name, Anath means "an answer." Perhaps
Shamgar must have been from Beth-Anath or for that matter.....son of Anath.....must have been a title given to him for his valor.
Anath, interestingly was the chief goddess of love and war, the sister and helpmate of the god Baal.

Whatever it be, Shamgar delivered Israel. The verse above says he used an ox-goad to kill six hundred Philistines. Ox-goad is a a long wooden stick with a pointed end, which may be metallic.
Perhaps he was a local judge rather than a national one.
The best thing that can be said about him is that he was available when God needed him.
He maybe not as well known as the other judges, but God used him mightily when the need arose. God not only uses "the Pauls and the Peters", but also the less knowns or unknowns. Praise be to him.