Cycle Of Redemption Series

Theme: Cycle of Redemption

Text: Judges 2:10-23

Greetings: ‘The Lord is good. His love endures forever.’

Introduction to the book of judges:

This book is part of former prophets (Joshua, Judges, 1, 2 Samuel, and 1, 2 Kings). Judges are called Sophetim. It describes the exploits of the number of champions during the period between the entry of Israelites to Canaan and the rise up of monarchs among Jews. This book sets the context of the Israelites between 1200 and 1050 BC. The major events of contemporary Palestine, and Transjordan were the calamities of the late Bronze Age. It was the time of the establishment of the Israelites as a nation or people. There was a lacking of central leadership in Israel. There were tribal heads but not very successful.

The cycle of redemption (Judges 2:11-19)

The Christian life is not believing in the cycle of birth but there is a cycle of redemption, a cycle of reformation, a cycle of resurgence and revival. This passage reveals in the short form of redemptive stories of the Israelites after Moses and Joshua. The demise of godly leaders leads to the death of the spirituality of the people. Here God raised 12 judges from 12 tribes but every time judges brought people to Christ but soon they forgot the grace of God. “Sin of the people-anger of God-punishment through enemies-cry of the people-compassion of God-salvation-lethargy-Sin of the people-anger of God-punishment through enemies-cry of the people-compassion of God-salvation.” This is the cycle of redemption found in this passage. Judge died, people lapsed into idolatry, and oppression by enemies, and cry for compassion, God raised judges to save them. This process was repeated again and again. Deuteronomist theory of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance (Dictionary of the Bible on Judges). The Judges explain how Israel failed to follow through on their mission to take the Promised Land. The generations following Joshua's death did not acknowledge God or the work He had done for Israel.

The works of God in Egypt and the wilderness, who had seen Jordan dried up, the walls of Jericho fall down, and the sun stood still at Joshua’s word, and their enemies smote down with hailstones, &, etc. (Patric Commentary).

Let’s see how we can come closer to God in midst of challenges. I would like to leave with you three spiritual insights as Corrupted people, Compassionate God, and charismatic leaders in the cycle of redemption.

1. Corrupted people (Judges 2:11-13)

The corrupted nature of people is defined by the word of God as ‘Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord.’ What are the evils? Abandoned YHWH, followed gods of the neighbors, they lusted after other gods, turned aside from holy ways. They relapsed and became worse and didn’t drop any of their evil practices, they were stubborn in their ways and never cared for their evil ways.

They were ‘being wholly intent on their earthly concerns in building houses, planting vineyards, and improving their lands. Unto which they were invited by the peace they enjoyed’ (Patric commentary). It raises a very valid question about life. How did the Israelites live without a great leader? They lived but not always well. The absence of a great national leader leads them to poverty, dangerous positions, uncertainties of the future, and defenseless borders under the attack of enemies.

The main reason cited here for the apostasy was the absence of a great leader like Joshua. Though Joshua never had a special and private revelation except in chapter 1 of Joshua. He was an ordinary person but had the fear of God. The new generation left the teachings of God. There was a rejection of the schematic confession given by Moses. “Only one God that to Yahweh.” The objects of the apostasy are Baal (powerful storm god), and Astarte (female deity for fertility).

The Israelites felt that they don’t have a god-like them to have different gods for different occasions. God of fertility, God of property, God of prosperity. So, they went after them. There were ideological clashes among the younger generations. Yahweh emphasized true worship and the truest adherence to the teachings of Yahweh.

“The wicked children of godly parents do so, and will therefore have a great deal to answer for. They corrupted themselves more than their fathers, strove to outdo them in multiplying strange gods and inventing profane and impious rites of worship, as it were in contradiction to their reformers. Thus, those that have forsaken the good ways of God, which they have once known and professed, commonly grow most daring and desperate in sin and have their hearts most hardened.” (Matthew Henry).

“The miseries of the one served as a foil to the felicities of the other. Those that throw off their communion with God, and have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, know not what they do now, and will have nothing to say for themselves on the day of account shortly. Thus, those who indulge their lusts and corruptions, which they should mortify, forfeit the grace of God, and it is justly withdrawn from them. If we will not resist the devil, we cannot expect that God should tread him under our feet.” (Matthew Henry).