Judges 2:11-16 "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: (12) And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. (13) And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. (14) And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. (15) Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. (16) Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them."
The people of Israel had now gone into the land of Promise. It only took one
generation after Joshua died for the people to turn away from God. They did not
obey God in driving all the people out of the land and as a result, they began
serving the gods of the Canaanites. They did evil in the sight of the Lord.
They forsook the Lord God of their fathers. They followed other gods, bowed
themselves to them and in doing so, provoked the Lord to anger. This is a sad
statement, but it is the nature of humanity. This wasn't just the case with
ancient Israel. This is still the case today. We will fall away also if we, as
God's children, are not diligent in our worship and service unto the Lord. It
only takes one generation for an entire nation to turn away from the only true
and living God and find themselves in bondage to a people who serve gods of
this world.
"Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the
hand of those that spoiled them." God raised up deliverers that would
guide the nation back unto the Lord, but the people would turn away again when
that deliverer (judge) died. It was, and still is, a constant cycle among God's
people. We pray for revival, but it seems we are not diligent in our service
unto the Lord. We pray for revival, but we want to look like and act like the
world. We pray for revival, but we are not willing to stand against those who
would try to destroy us. We pray for revival, but we take heed to those who "preach
tolerance" even of those who are against our Lord. We pray for revival,
but do we really want that which is revival in the sight of God? Or, do we
merely want to be comfortable in our own ways? The picture is not a pretty one
that we see in the first few chapters of the book of Judges, but I'm thankful
that we serve the only true and living God - the Creator of this universe and
all that is in it.
"And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there
arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works
which he had done for Israel. (11) And the children of Israel did
evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim." (Judges 2:10-11)
1 All hail the power of Jesus' name! Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all!
2 O seed of Israel's chosen race now ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all!
3 Let every tongue and every tribe on this terrestrial ball,
to him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all!