The Sinful Failure of Israel
December 10, 2022
Commentary
Here we find Israel forgetting their maker and making unholy alliances with their pagan neighbors (vv. 1-4). As a result of living among their unconquered foes intermarriages soon took place and idolatry followed (vv. 5-7). When believers make common cause with the unbeliever the unbelievers are usually not influenced for good but instead the believers are dragged down by the compromising.
For eight years Israel was in bondage to a king of Mesopotamia (v. 8). When Israel cried out to God for help Othniel was sent as the first Judge to deliver them (vv. 9-10). This first Judge was a noble young man, but we must understand that the Spirit of the Lord empowered him. Victory for God’s people always comes with an exercise of the will but most importantly by the power of the Holy Spirit. After this resounding victory we find Israel at rest for 40 years (v. 11).
Application
What area of my life do I have a battle going on? Is it something I have been doing that I shouldn’t be or is it something I am not doing that I should be? Do I need to cry out to God about this?
Judges 3:1– 11 (NET)
1 These were the nations the Lord permitted to remain so he could use them to test Israel—he wanted to test all those who had not experienced battle against the Canaanites. 2 He left those nations simply because he wanted to teach the subsequent generations of Israelites, who had not experienced the earlier battles, how to conduct holy war. 3 These were the nations: the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath. 4 They were left to test Israel, so the Lord would know if his people would obey the commands he gave their ancestors through Moses.
5 The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 6 They took the Canaanites’ daughters as wives and gave their daughters to the Canaanites; they worshiped their gods as well.
7 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. They forgot the Lord their God and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs. 8 The Lord was furious with Israel and turned them over to King Cushan Rishathaim of Armon Haraim. They were Cushan Rishathaim’s subjects for eight years. 9 When the Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, he raised up a deliverer for the Israelites who rescued them. His name was Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 The Lord’s Spirit empowered him and he led Israel. When he went to do battle, the Lord handed over to him King Cushan Rishathaim of Armon and he overpowered him. 11 The land had rest for forty years; then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
Illustration: Henry Morrison’s wife “You are not home yet”
Henry C. Morrison was a great missionary who served the Lord in Africa for over 40 years. On the way back to United States, he began to wonder “will anyone remember us?” Unknown to Henry Morrison and his wife, Teddy Roosevelt, President of U.S., was also on board that ship. He had gone to Africa for a hunting trip. When ship pulled into New York harbor he looked to see if anyone had come to welcome them back home. Thousands of people were there cheering. Bands were playing. There were signs, banners, and billboards everywhere saying, “Welcome Home”. Henry and his wife were so excited about the crowds of people that were there to welcome them home. When they went to get off, they realized that the people were already gone. They had come to welcome Teddy Roosevelt. Henry Morrison went to his hotel room with a heavy heart. As he sat there on the bed, he asked his wife, “Honey, I just don’t get it…for 40 years we poured our lives into ministry and service. And yet we come back to America and not a single soul comes to welcome us home!” His wife came and sat down next to her husband, she put her hand on his shoulder, and comforted him with words that he would never forget, “Henry, you have forgotten something, you’re not home yet!” (Source Unknown, Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).