The Sinful Failure of Israel
September 20, 2021
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.