Juízes 2

Juízes 2

Constable - Each cycle of apostasy was worse than the former one. "The Israelites were stiff-necked in the wilderness, but they were even more obstinate in the Promised Land. A new environment, alas, did not mean a new attitude." (Wolf). Israel had been warned (that's one of the great purposes of God's Word - Are you reading it daily, looking for those "divine stop signs" so to speak?) “But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim 14 –for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous (qin'ah) God–15 otherwise you might make a covenant (karath beriyth) with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot (zanah; Lxx = ekporneuo - indulge in gross immorality) with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice, 16 and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might play the harlot (zanah; Lxx = ekporneuo - indulge in gross immorality) with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot (zanah; Lxx = ekporneuo - indulge in gross immorality) with their gods (cf an example of this national travesty in Nu 25:1-11+). (Ex 34:13-16+) And bowed (shachah) themselves down to them - This repeats the description of Judges 2:12+ They turned aside (sur) quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked In obeying the commandments of the LORD - Note the adverb quickly (maher) which is translated in the Septuagint with tacheos which means without delay, as soon as possible! Incredible! The way refers not to a perfect walk, but a walk that was in the direction of holiness, generally obeying God's commands. The same phrase used of golden calf episode, where Moses declares "And I saw that you had indeed sinned against the LORD your God. You had made for yourselves a molten calf; you had turned aside quickly from the way which the LORD had commanded you." (Dt 9:16+) They did not do as their fathers - They did not obey as their fathers. How did their fathers do/obey? Joshua 24:24+ says first of all they agreed with Joshua's charge "The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey His voice.” Earlier in Judges we read "The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the LORD which He had done for Israel." (Jdg 2:7+) And then we read that "Israel served the LORD (THIS IS THE BEST PREVENTATIVE AGAINST SERVING THE BAALS!) all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, and had known all the deeds of the LORD which He had done for Israel." (Joshua 24:31+) In short, the people wasted their suffering. That is they did not learn the lessons God wanted them to learn and profit from His chastening. Played the harlot (02181) zanah is a verb meaning to fornicate, to prostitute and refers to marital infidelity or unfaithfulness. It was word used elsewhere in the OT to describe prostitution (Lev 21:7, Pr 7:10). Many of the uses of zanah are figurative describing Israel 's (The Wife of Jehovah) commission of "spiritual prostitution" by having "intercourse" so to speak with other gods (cp 1Co 6:16). Indeed, idolatry is looked upon as prostitution (Isa 50:1, 2, 3; Isa 54:6, 7, 8; Jer 2:1, 2, 3; Jer 3:1ff; Hos 2:1ff; Jas 4:4+; Rev 2:4+). In addition zanah describes Israel’s improper relationships with other nations (Isa 23:17; Ezek 23:30; Nah 3:4). "The thought seems to be of having relations with these nations for the sake of political and monetary benefit, although in the case of Nineveh the added element of alluring, deceitful tactics leading on to oppressive dominance is implied." (TWOT) "A third figurative meaning is found in Isa 1:21, where the Israelites’ departure from God’s approved moral standards is called harlotry." (TWOT) In Exodus 34 God warns Israel using zanah as a metaphor describing Israel’s breach of the Lord’s covenant relationship ("make a covenant...play the harlot" in Ex 34:16+) Bowed down (prostrated, worshipped) (07812) shachah means to bow down, to prostrate oneself, to crouch, to fall down, to humbly beseech, to do reverence, to worship. The idea is to assume a prostrate position as would in paying homage to royalty (Ge 43:28) or to God (Ge 24:26, Ps 95:6). In the first use in Genesis (which has most of the uses - 21v), when Abraham saw "three men (one of Whom was most likely the pre-incarnate Christ)… standing opposite him… he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed (shachah) himself to the earth (Ge 18:2, cp Lot bowing to the two angels - Ge 19:1) It is used to describe Joseph's brother's sheaves which "bowed down to my sheaf.” (Ge 37:7) When God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, he told his men to remain for they would go to "worship and return to you." (Ge 22:5) Joshua bowed down to the "Captain of the host of the LORD," (Joshua 5:14) almost assuredly a preincarnate appearance of Messiah. In Josh 23:7, 16 Joshua warned Israel NOT to bow down to the idols of the land, but in Jdg 2:12, 17, 19 that is exactly what they did! Ray Stedman sees some powerful lessons for believers in the book of Judges writing that… The great lesson of Judges is that we must take God seriously, and we must take our enemy seriously. Jesus Christ has come to save us from our sins, not to help us to comfortably accommodate ourselves to them. He has come to drive those sins and habits out of us. If we do not take God seriously about these so-called little things, then step by step, gradually and imperceptibly, we will move away from God’s grace, and we will sink into moral and spiritual collapse. Occasionally, we hear the story of an outstanding man or woman of God who suddenly, unexpectedly is found to be caught up in dishonest or immoral behavior. A scandal erupts, then widespread disillusionment. People shake their heads in bewilderment and ask, “How could this happen so suddenly? What caused this abrupt change in this person?” I’m convinced that in almost every case, there was nothing sudden about this behavior. Long before this seemingly sudden moral implosion took place, there was a long period of inner deterioration, gradual compromise, secret sins, little sins. They took their toll, day by day, until a major moral collapse became inevitable. You may be asking yourself, “Is this happening to me? In some area of my life am I saying, ‘Lord, this really isn’t very important. Why bother me with this little matter? This isn’t very important, is it Lord?’ “ That is a dangerous attitude. If that is your attitude, you are exposing yourself to peril. Listen to the message of Judges. Read the book carefully. Listen to God’s warning-yet-loving voice. If you read it closely, with an open heart, you will make the same discovery I did: The book of Judges is a mirror in which we are able to see ourselves and our condition more clearly. May God give us the courage and the wisdom to take the insights of Judges and apply them personally, so that the image we see in that mirror will look less like that of failed, deteriorating Israel and more like Jesus Christ. (Adventuring through the Bible) Judges 2:18 And when the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them. And when the LORD raised up judges for them: Ex 3:12 Jos 1:5 Ac 18:9,10 for the LORD was moved to pity (repented - KJV): Jdg 10:16 Ge 6:6 De 32:36 Ps 90:13 106:44,45 Jer 18:7-10 Ho 11:8 Jon 3:10 groanings: Ex 2:24 2Ki 13:4,22,23 Ps 12:5 English translation of the Septuagint (LXX): And because the Lord raised them up judges, so the Lord was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved at their groaning by reason of them that besieged them and afflicted them. And when the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning: (Exodus 3:12; Joshua 1:5; Acts 18:9,10) (Jdg 10:16; Genesis 6:6; Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalms 90:13; 106:44,45; Jeremiah 18:7-10; Hosea 11:8; Jonah 3:10) (Exodus 2:24; 2Kings 13:4,22,23; Psalms 12:5) Jehovah raised up Judges This verse teaches us 3 significant facts about the judges: (1) God raised them up. They were not appointed by men or elected. Israel did not merit them. In fact other than their "groanings" there is no record of Israel specifically asking for a Judge/Savior! This is an example of mercy (not giving Israel what they deserved) and grace (giving them what they did not deserve) -- remember that whenever you study Israel and are tempted to point a finger of condemnation at them, there are four fingers pointing back at you. Flesh is always going to be flesh, and Israel is just a vivid picture of our fallen flesh! (2) God was with the Judge (HIS HOLY SPIRIT) empowering them to carry out the task He gave them. (3) God worked through the Judges who were the channels of His presence. As long as the judge was alive, God brought freedom and victory to His people. One might say that during this period, Israel was essentially functioning as a theocracy for these leaders were directly raised up by God, empowered by God, and answerable to God, the King in Israel. Groaning (naaqah) means to utter sounds of despair, especially as a result of oppression. A groan refers to a non-verbal guttural noise of great physical pain and suffering. It is not necessarily supplicating. And yet God still responded even to their groaning! This reminds us of Yahweh's response to Israel in bondage in Egypt... "So God heard their groaning and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." (Exodus 2:24+) "And furthermore I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage; and I have remembered My covenant. (Exodus 6:5+) Jehovah is still the same God here in Judges (circa 1100BC) as He was in Egypt (circa 1400 bc) when Israel groaned under Egyptian slavery. Truly God's mercies never cease! (Lam 3:22-23) Hundreds of years do not cool the warmth of His compassions. Truths such as these should cause all of us to read the Old Testament with a sense of anticipation and excitement at what we will discover about our infinite God. God is not a man and so He does not break His covenants, and He does not desert His people. In fact, as the people experience their richly deserved judgment, we read He "was moved to pity by their groaning." What a beautiful picture of God's heart of compassion! In the midst of wrath, He remembers mercy. His people sin against Him even as a faithless wife commits harlotry with strangers (cf Israel The Wife of Jehovah). They rebelled, rejected Him, and spurned the love He expressed like a husband to them. God could easily and justifiably declared "That's enough" and justice would had have no complaint. But as God saw Israel wallowing in their bondage to sin, His heart was moved with pity and love. Judges is full of the grace of God, the same grace and love which ultimately sent the Lord Jesus to the Cross. If God allowed men to be destroyed in their sin, the angels would keep on singing their eternal song: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts." But God's love keeps reaching out, and would be fully consummated in the old rugged Cross of Calvary. George Bush on was moved to pity (KJV - repented the Lord) - He altered the course of his providence, acted as if he repented. See on Ge 6:6, 7; Dt 32:36. (Notes) Because of those who oppressed and afflicted them - Oppressed (lachats; Lxx - poliorkeo = hard pressed, enclosed) means to press, experience distress, crush, etc. There is no more graphic word picture of the meaning of this Hebrew verb than that of Balaam's donkey pressing up (lachats) against the wall and thereby pressing (lachats) Balaam's foot against the wall (Nu 22:25+). F B Meyer Our Daily Homily - Jdg 2:18 "The Lord raised them up judges" This was better than nothing. It was better to have even the fitful gleam of deliverance than to settle down under a monotony of servitude; but how much better it would have been if their national history had been a steady progression from one degree of prosperity to another, like the sun rising towards the perfect day! It was of God’s kindness and grace that the judges created these temporary respites; it was the fault of their own infidelity and sin that they were not always delivered. This fitful life is too often the experience of the believer. We have our Gideons, and Baraks, and Samsons; times of revival, times of deep and blessed experience, followed by backsliding and relapse; times when the flood-tide of grace rises high in our soul, to be succeeded by the ebb, with long stretches of desert sand. Thank God for the judges; but be on the alert for the reign of the kings, for David and Solomon, Josiah and Hezekiah — for the reign of the King. The days of the judges were those in which there was no king over Israel. The fitfulness of our experience is often attributable to our failure to recognize the kingship of Jesus. We worship other gods — the gods of the nations around; the idols of the market-place, the studio, the camp, and the bar. The aims and practices of the worldly and ungodly too much engross our thoughts, and sway our behavior. Alas for us! Is it strange that God leaves us to reap much bitterness, recalling us when He can, but longing to be able to do some permanent work of salvation and edification? Oh, let us gladly accord Him what is his right, to “sit and rule upon his throne.” Some Assembly Required Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies. Judges 2:18 Today's Scripture & Insight: Judges 2:7–19 Around our home, the words “some assembly required” have been the cause of great frustration (mine) and great humor (my family). When my wife and I first married, I attempted to make simple home repairs—with disastrous results. A repaired shower handle worked perfectly—if the plan was for the water to run between the walls. My fiascoes continued after we had children, when I assured my wife, Cheryl, I “don’t need instructions” to put these “simple” toys together. Wrong! Gradually, I learned my lesson and began to pay strict attention to the instructions and things went together as they should. Unfortunately, the longer things went well, the more confident I became, and soon I was again ignoring instructions with predictably disastrous results. The ancient Israelites struggled with a similar tendency: they would forget God, ignoring His instructions to avoid following after Baal and the other gods of the region (Judg. 2:12). This produced disastrous results, until God, in His mercy, raised up judges to rescue them and bring them back to Himself (v. 18). Lord, keep me close to You this day. Remind me of Your presence through Your Word and prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Our greatest privilege is to enjoy God’s presence. Judges 2:19 But it came about when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways. But it came about when the judge died: Jdg 2:7 3:11,12 4:1 8:33 Jos 24:31 2Ch 24:17,18 act more corruptly than their fathers: Jer 16:12 Mt 23:32 they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways. 1Sa 15:23 Ps 78:8 Jer 3:17 23:17 RAPID RETURN TO EVIL PRACTICES OF IDOLATRY But - Another sad/bad term of contrast. It came about when the judge died, that they would turn back - There is an old saying "when the cat's away, the mice will play" and this idiom aptly describes the rapid reversion of Israel's behavior to idolatry and godlessness. So while Israel may have experienced some degree of "reformation" while the judge was alive, their hearts were not circumcised (see circumcision of the heart) and thus they did not manifest genuine repentance (clearly there were exceptions like Samson's parents, but a godly remnant was clearly in the minority during the days of the Judges). (Jdg 2:7) (THIS VERSE PREVIEWS ISRAEL'S SUBSEQUENT RESPONSE TO DEATH OF A LEADER) The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the LORD which He had done for Israel. (Jdg 3:11) Then the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died. 12 Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. (Jdg 4:1) Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died. (Jdg 8:33) Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god. But - Always pause, ponder and query this strategic term of contrast. They reversed their direction, turning from good to evil. Davis explains the problem that occurred when the judge died, noting that often we "discover the true nature of people by observing them when they are not bound by external constraints. Take a class full of second graders. Let the teacher leave the room and all Cain gets raised. They, like Israel, are showing their true nature. During a judge’s lifetime Israel tolerates an external righteousness. But let the judge die, let the “restraining one” be taken out of the way, and there is continual slopping back into idolatry. Even the kindness of God (Judges 2:16, 18) does not move the Israelites to faithfulness or repentance. They do not and apparently cannot keep themselves from the slavery of sin (Judges 2:19); they are held in sin’s grip; they have Baal in their blood. Sometimes we have difficulty understanding the slavery of sin (a key theme of Judges, by the way), understanding sin as power. There is a mystery about it… “When the judge died, they turned back and acted more corruptly than their fathers” (Judges 2:19). Why did they always do that? Why could they not break that pattern? It is mysterious; but Judges does teach us that that is the tragic tyranny of sin. Sin is not simply an action you do or fail to do, that you can choose to do or not to do. Sin is a power that holds you in its grip. That is precisely what the apostle meant when he averred that all — both Jew and Gentile, both religious man and pagan man — are “under sin” (Ro 3:9-note), by which he means “under the power of sin” (RSV). And until the church gets a proper view of sin, we will never see salvation as much more than a moving religious charade rather than as an act of holy, vicious violence by which Christ wrenches his people out of the clammy clutches of the prince of darkness (cf. 1Jn 3:8).(Judges: Such a Great Salvation - Focus on the Bible) (Bolding added) Acted more corruptly (shachath) than their fathers, in following other gods to serve (abad) them and bow down (shachah) to them - Some 700 years later God has a similar description of Judah declaring "‘You too have done evil, even more than your forefathers; for behold, you are each one walking according to the stubbornness of his own evil heart, without listening to Me." (Jer 16:12) in Jeremiah 2:5 (GOD SAYS) "they went far from Me And walked after emptiness and became empty?" (NIV = They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.) Acted corruptly (shachath) in the Septuagint is the verb diaphtheiro (active voice = the choice of their will!) which literally speaks of something that is spoiled and figuratively of Israel becoming morally corrupt, depraved, ruined! This was the condition of their heart and the progressive declension was the rotten fruit of an impure heart - following idols, serving idols, bowing down (worshipping) idols. Other gods in the Lxx is heteros, signifying gods of a different kind (i.e., not gods at all!). To serve (abad) is translated in the Lxx with the verb latreuo which means to carry out religious duties in a spirit of worship. Liddell-Scott adds that latreuo conveys the sense of to be bound or enslaved to, a good picture of what idols will do - they will "master" you (cf Mt 6:24+)! It follows that then you willingly bow down (shachah) or prostrate your self! The Septuagint (LXX) translates "bow down" with the picturesque verb proskuneo which conveys the basic sense to bow down and kiss someone's feet, garment hem, or the ground in front of him (picture God's people kissing the feet of gods which are no gods! - this is how far you can go when you abandon God!) and thus means to express in attitude or gesture one’s complete dependence on or submission to a high authority figure. It means to fall down and worship or to prostrate oneself before and reverence or welcome respectfully! This is what Israel was doing to the vile Canaanite idols which were associated with unspeakable depravity and wickedness. What a sad picture of God's Chosen people directly rebellion against God's explicit command "You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me." (Ex 20:3-5+) THOUGHT - NT believers can fall into idolatry. Notice how the last section of Colossians 3:5+ describes idolatry as greed (or covetousness)! Watch over your heart w all diligence (Pr 4:23+). They did not abandon their practices or their stubborn (qasheh) ways: (1Sa 15:23; Ps 78:8; Jer 3:17; 23:17) - The psalmist has a similar description that they were "A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart And whose spirit was not faithful to God." (Ps 78:8) Stubborn (qasheh) means stiff-necked or obstinate and is translated in the Septuagint with skleros which literally means hard to the touch and figuratively describes the hearts of the rebellious Israelites as being unyielding in their attitude and behavior (stubborn). This reminds us of the words of Stephen's sermon to the hard hearted Jews who eventually stoned him to death - "You men who are stiff-necked (sklerotrachelos) and uncircumcised (aperitmetos) in heart (cf circumcision of heart) and ears are always resisting (present tense) the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did (JUST LIKE IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES!)." (Acts 7:51+) Judges 2:19 has an unusual use of the Hebrew verb (naphal) which means abandon, cease = NIV renders it "refused to give up". The LXX translates naphal with aporrhipto which gives us a vivid picture for this same verb is used in the NT in Acts 27:43 to describe those who "should jump overboard" from a ship that would soon be wrecked! (Interesting thought to ponder in context of idolatry!) In Jdg 2:19 the root problem seems to be that they never made a clean break (note Greek verb is in the active voice which calls for a decision of our will to carry out a certain action) with the false gods… they chose not to "jump overboard" from this "ship of idols" even though it was bound for certain destruction. THOUGHT - What is the important lesson for believers today? These verses serve as a testimony and reminder that sin is always a serious matter to the children of God. If we do not deal decisively with sin in our lives, we will never experience the fullness of the Spirit and Christ's victory over sin. There must be no compromise and no peaceful coexistence with sin. If we try to go only part of the way in our commitment to the Lord Jesus, we will find ourselves bound up in a spiral that inexorably takes us downhill spiritually. The cycle of disobedience, discipline, despair, deliverance is seen today whenever God’s people turn away from His Word and go their own way. The spiritual theme at this point is obvious -- God gives the victory to all believers but only by faith and obedience do we enter fully into the victory He has made available. He is sovereign but He demands personal response and responsibility. The antidote to the Judges complex is the constant application of 1 John 1:9 to our lives. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1Jn 1:9+) That is God's provision for fellowship, and our opportunity for abundant, victorious living. The pattern of Joshua-Judges serves as an excellent illustration of the conflicts of the Christian life. In Christ we have been guaranteed total victorious possession of “the land.” The inheritance of our salvation is assured, however, we must maintain our personal relationship to God by continually driving out our “enemies.” Therefore, separated and dedicated Christian living is necessary to maintain the victory which has been assured to us. ILLUSTRATION - If you want to know just how up-to-date the Book of Judges is, listen to the words of the late General Douglas