Judges 1 — The Conquest for Canaan Continues but Fails
Judges 2:1-15 — Israel’s Disobedience and Unfaithfulness, Joshua’s Death
Judges 2:16-23 — The Lord Raises Up Judges
Judges 3:1-11 — Othniel the Judge
Judges 3:12-31 — Ehud the Judge, Shamgar the Judge
Thoughts about serving others
This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.
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Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
Before jumping into Judges, the last interaction of Joshua is really interesting (Josh 24:16-28). Joshua is explaining they must remember the Lord’s deliverance and serve him only, the people respond: “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!” (Josh 24:16). Surprisingly Joshua responds, “You are not able to serve the Lord” (Josh 24:19-20). The people respond, “No! We will serve the Lord” (v21). Joshua acts as an antagonist to rile the people into understanding it’s not on their own power, but they must rely on strength of the Lord, he makes them think carefully about their words. This sets the stage for Judges and reminds us not to just talk about what we will do, but actually do what we say before the witnesses of people and the Lord. Lord help me to remember not to rely on my own strength, but to always give you honor and glory for the things you have done in this life and praise for the life we get to share in glory.
Things begin well in Judges, but after one generation died, “another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals” (Judges 2:10-11). This history is summed up in a few verses, “Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them…yet they would not listen…” (Judges 2:16-17).
It’s easy to look at this narrative and conclude the people were easily swayed; it’s easy to judge when we have hindsight in our favor. Years pass in between a few verses and it’s difficult to see how the Israelites drift away from serving the Lord, yet we know they do. The challenge for us is to hold onto God’s Word, to look to him for wisdom, not to rely on our own insight, but God’s direction, his voice. Lord help me to hear your voice and to remain in you. Far be it from me to serve the gods of this land! I pray these are not just words. Help me put action behind those thoughts and serve only you in all I do each and every day. Amen.