The book of Judges may be ancient, but it couldn’t be more relevant for today. It reflects the spiritual and moral compromise we often see in our culture today—even in the lives of some who claim to follow Jesus. And yet, despite the darkness, Judges gives us a powerful picture of hope that no matter how far God’s people turn away from Him, when they cry out to Him for help, God will save them.
God had commanded the Israelites to remove the Canaanites and other people groups from the Promised Land so as to avoid moral corruption—to avoid their way of worship involving idols, child sacrifice, and sexual immorality. Yet in Chapter 1 of Judges many pagan people groups still remained in the land.
Chapter 2 gives us an overview of what we’ll see in the rest of the book—a series of cycles in which Israel falls into sin, then God allows them to be oppressed by another nation, then the people recognize their sin and cry out to God, and then God sends a deliverer – a judge. Throughout chapters 3-16 we see this cycle of sin and salvation carried out again and again. In the last chapters, 17-21, we see Israel hitting rock bottom.
This whole book is very disturbing… and that’s the point. We see the utter depravity of humankind when people forget all about God. So how do we today avoid the mistakes made in the book of Judges?
How do you occupy the Promised Land God has given to you?
- Ruthlessly guard against compromise. Decide before you enter the ‘Land’ that you will obey. If you are not careful, little by little, over time, you will exchange your convictions for compromise. When we trade our convictions for compromise, we risk losing the very foundation of who we are in Christ. If we conform to this world, we become less like Jesus and more like the world. If we love the world, then love for God is not in us, and we forget about God.
In a permissive culture, how do you NOT compromise your convictions?
- Pre-determine to do what is right in God’s eyes. Wherever it is that you think you might be tempted to compromise, decide ahead of time that you will do what is right. Put boundaries and routines in place so you will not fall to temptation. Predetermine that you will be in church on the weekend.
What happens when you fail? God will not let you get comfortable in your sin. God loves you too much for that. God will get your attention in some way. And when He does get your attention, you must make a choice. Choosing to do what you think is right in your own eyes will result in death. Choosing God’s way leads to life. “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him” (Deuteronomy 30: 19-20).
Judges gives us a powerful picture of hope. At least seven times Israel cried out to God and God rescued them. No matter how far God's people stray, God continues to pursue, rescue, and redeem them. He remains faithful to His promises.
When we call out to God, He will save us. But Judges shows us also that no matter how bad people get, God is always working for His glory and for our good. God’s grace… shown towards sinful people… will always be available. You and I can always turn back to God.