GLIMPSES OF LIGHT, IN DARK TIMES

GLIMPSES OF LIGHT, IN DARK TIMES

The infallible word of God protects us from the danger of revisionist history pushed by many teachers and spiritual advisors today. The author of the book of Judges does not hesitate to share the full story of the bad events that happened to God’s people along with the good. Our human nature and desire for independence make us inclined to stray from God. Spiritual decline and departure lead to unfortunate results, but God, in His grace, seeks out and restores those who backslide.

The Book of Judges shares these events from ancient history to help us today. From Joshua's death to the start of Israel's monarchy, judges led the people as they shifted from a nomadic tribe to a nation with a clear identity. Yet, national decline comes from turning away from God, which mirrors the problems we face now. History keeps repeating itself.

Over more than four hundred years of failure, the Israelites showed loyalty for 336 years, during which they were, to some extent, faithful to God. From approximately 450 years, 111 were spent in unfaithfulness to Him. During those times of significant national departure, important events and individuals are documented. A powerful story that highlights the steadfastness of some of God’s people, as well as their flaws, is found in the Book of Ruth, which took place during the time of the Judges.

Judges features several unique elements. The book has two openings, 1:1 and 2:6. It includes the oldest known written parable in the world, found in 9:8-15. Additionally, it presents the greatest battle song in chapter five. Moreover, it chronicles the rise of a woman to prominence and leadership in a nation.

It also challenges us to confront our tendency to drift away from God and the failures that lead to judgment, as well as the salvation from failure that God's mercy provides. There are seven instances of apostasy, seven periods of captivity, seven times the people cry out to God, and seven acts of deliverance. God wants His people to grow and prosper, so He pursues them when they stumble and restores them when they repent. The events are not shown in chronological order but in a spiritual sequence. Israel’s obvious reliance on God comes first, followed by the severe consequences of forsaking the Lord, and finally, the depths of sin a nation can descend into.

The cycles of Israel’s relationship with God start with His blessing on the people and then move to their complacency. Complacency leads to idolatry, which causes suffering at the hands of enemies. When repentance is clear, God’s deliverance comes through the various judges He raises up to lead. The tendency to sin is evident throughout the book, but it also highlights the positive by showing God’s unfailing grace and unending love for His people.

This book shares many lessons on how God transforms human weakness into strength. The key verse is 17:6: "In those days there was no king in Israel, but everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Yet, "God has chosen the weak things...." (1 Cor. 1:27-29). God used Ehud (3:12-30), who was left-handed, and Shamgar with his ox-goad (3:31); Deborah (4:1-5:31), who might be seen as the "weaker sex"—though she was not a weak woman—and Barak (4:10,13), with 10,000 foot soldiers against an army with 900 iron chariots. He also used Jael (4:21; 5:26), wielding a tent pin in her left hand and a hammer in her right, and Gideon (7:1-8), whose army was reduced to 300 men armed with pitchers, torches, and trumpets to defeat Israel’s enemies. A woman killed Abimelech (9:53) with a piece of a millstone. After him, the judge was Tola, whose name means "worm." Once again, another woman enters the story: Samson's mother, whom God miraculously used to bring Samson into the world—who, in turn, could use the jawbone of an ass to kill 1,000 Philistines.

Joshua records the times when Israel trusted and obeyed the Lord, serving as a book of conquest and unity. In contrast, Judges depicts a narrative of unbelief, disobedience, and defeat, with its pages marked by division and chaos. Scripture is often ignored and dismissed. This account shows the consequences of turning away from the Lord.

The book of Judges tells a story that offers many lessons about the results of turning away from God. One thing is certain: judgment against sin is unavoidable. God remains forever righteous and holy. Compromising our God-given, Bible-based convictions and disobeying His divine will puts us at risk of missing out on His blessings now. Allowing sin to go unaddressed, along with the evil that follows, brings disaster to a nation, community, and individual. A downward spiral of sin happens when we fail to learn from history and only live for today and the "pleasures of sin for a season."