DAILY READING : JUDGES 10 - 12

 

TEXT : Jdg 10:6  And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. Jdg 10:10  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. Jdg 10:11  And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? Jdg 10:12  The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Jdg 10:13  Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Jdg 10:14  Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. Jdg 10:15  And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. Jdg 10:16  And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

 

THEME : THE MERCY OF GOD

 

As mentioned, the book of Judges is a record of Israel's continual failure to serve God then asking for His aid when in trouble. It paints a vivid picture of God's people - both Israel and the Church. This is so, because not only have [we] sinned against God before we entered into covenant with Him, but often fail Him afterward as well. For this reason, we need to be eternally grateful for God's merciful nature in that He forgives sin - before and after His people covenant with Him. It is motivation for both joy and humility before Him that although we fail, He never does.

 

The men of Gilead choose an unlikely deliverer to help them in picking Jephthah. As the eleventh chapter states he was not only the son of a harlot - most likely a Gentile, but these same men cast him out from Gilead some time before. Now, when they are in trouble they call for him in his exile at Tob to fight for them and rescue them. Unlike Gideon, Jephthah's condition is that they make him their head if he prevails. To this, they agree.

 

Jephthah had a reputation for being a man of valor, as he travelled as a bandit with other "loose" men he had chosen. In many respects, Jephthah is not a likely choice to deliver God's people due to his own shortcomings. Yet, the men of Gilead ask him for his help. Still, what is more interesting is how the "Spirit of the Lord" comes on him. [Jdg 11:29] In this alone, we see how God can use "weak things" of the world to confound the mighty. God's unique ways of delivering those who call on Him for help continually prove that He is God and no flesh will glory in His presence. It is also engaging to note the writer of Hebrews lists this same "son of a harlot" as an example of great men of faith in Hebrews chapter 11. [Heb 11:32]

 

The Apostle Paul wrote of the Church -

 

1Co 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1Co 1:22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 1Co 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 1Co 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1Co 1:25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

 

Concerning Jephthah's vow, there are differences of opinion on whether Jephthah actually offered his daughter as a burnt offering or kept her a virgin all of her life. Albert Barnes submits Jephthah intended it to be a human sacrifice from the start.

 

"The words of this verse prove conclusively that Jephthah intended his vow to apply to human beings, not animals: for only one of his household could be expected to come forth from the door of his house to meet him. They also preclude any other meaning than that Jephthah contemplated a human sacrifice. This need not, however, surprise us, when we recollect his Syrian birth and long residence in a Syrian city, where such fierce rites were probably common. The Syrians and Phoenicians were conspicuous among the ancient pagan nations for human sacrifices, and the transfer, under such circumstances, to Yahweh of the rites with which the false gods were honored, is just what one might expect. The circumstance of the Spirit of the Lord coming on Jephthah Jdg_11:29 is no difficulty; as it by no means follows that because the Spirit of God endued him with supernatural valor and energy for vanquishing the Ammonites, He therefore also endued him with spiritual knowledge and wisdom. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, but that did not prevent his erring in the matter of the ephod." Jdg_8:27. Compare 1Co_12:4-11; Gal_2:11-14.

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : IF GOD WERE NOT MERCIFUL, WE WOULD HAVE NO HOPE!

 

What we read in the Book of Judges is the comforting attribute of God's merciful nature. Repeatedly Israel apostatizes from God. Yet, when brought low by their sins, He hears their cry for help and deliverance. As I said, it paints a vivid picture of you and I since we share the same humanity the people of the Bible do. Not all sin is equal - that is true. Yet, sin is still the transgression of the Law with punishment attached. 

 

God both has and is merciful to all of us. We fail Him, and He hears our cries for help. We promise Him we will not sin again and we go back to it in no time. If God were not merciful, we would have no hope. Thankfully, Christ Who is the Judge of the world is also our Savior! He became a man though He is and always was God. This is the ultimate deliverance! God became a man, subjected Himself to the same temptations that we have, yet He never sinned. Therefore, He is not only able to save us by His sinless nature, but He also knows our frailties and weaknesses.

 

"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." [Heb 2:17 - 18]

 

God commands us not to sin. Yet, He also tells us through the Apostle John we always have an advocate with the Father. This is the mercy of God.

 

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. [1 Jn 2:1 - 2]

 

When we humble ourselves, acknowledge our sin, and ask for forgiveness, God is willing to forgive us. Only the proud who justify themselves are not eligible for God's mercy and forgiveness. This what Jesus teaches in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican.

 

Luk 18:9  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Luk 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Luk 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 

We should also be merciful to others as well, for this is the requirement of God to receive mercy.

 

Mat_5:7  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Luk_6:36  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

 

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. [Mar 11: 25 - 26]