Bible Verse: “Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.” (Judges 2:18-19)
Scripture Reading: Judges 1:1–2:23
The book of Judges is well known for its portrayal of Israel’s failure to remain faithful to their God.
Delivered from slavery in Egypt, brought through the wilderness to the Promised Land, and granted miraculous military victories over formidable enemies, it is easy to suppose that the relationship with Yahweh was unshakeable.
But at the end of the previous book of Joshua, we are served a steaming bowl of foreshadowing:
“Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah” (Joshua 15:63).
“They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor” (Joshua 16:10).
“Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely” (Joshua 17:12-13).
In the middle of the conquest of the land, we are told that some of the inhabitants remained in place. Joshua himself gave Israel an ominous warning in his farewell speech:
But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you. (Joshua 23:12-13)
Joshua tips the hand to where the book of Judges is going. And in the first two chapters, we arrive at a nation turning away from God, ensnared by the practices of the people left in the land.
This week, we’ll be walking through the book of Judges, a book described as “a sobering expression of the human condition.” And we’ll attempt to read the entire book to get a feel for the depths to which the leaders and the people have fallen.
This is a book full of warnings not to lose sight of our God or become lax in protecting our hearts and minds. We’ll learn this week that Scripture warns as well as encourages.
Prayer: God, the stories in Judges are a troubling reminder that even when we experience Your goodness and faithfulness, our hearts, minds, and actions can betray our commitment to You. Help me to see clearly where I am allowing snares that present a danger to me and those around me. Help me to see where I need to change. Amen.
Reflection: Are there any areas in your life where you have “failed to completely” drive out a negative influence? How can you examine your life effectively to identify those areas where snares to your commitment to God may exist?
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