Urbana Friends Church

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Judges 2:6-3:6

Thank you for joining me in another study into the fascinating book of Judges. In this study we will conclude the first section of Judges, which is considered the introduction to Judges. This second half of the introductory section will further connect us to the book of Joshua while also allow the reader to see just how broken the Israelites become after the death of Joshua. Let’s break down this text:

  • 2:6-10 We get a second introduction in the story of Judges. We revisit Joshua giving the people of Israel the Promised land, granting each tribe their inheritance. While Joshua lives in the land, the people remain faithful. But following the death of Joshua, the next generation came up without knowledge of the Lord. 

  • Vv. 11-15 We are introduced to the idolatry and unfaithfulness of Israel without the mincing of words. As a consequence, the hand of the Lord was no longer with them and not leading the people into battle. Therefore, they were no longer victorious over their enemies. 

  • Vv. 16-23 We are introduced to the thematic cycle that exists throughout the rest of the book of Judges. Israel falls into idolatry and sins. The Lord allows them to fail causing Israel to cry out for help. God raises a judge who will save the people. But shortly after salvation they prove unworthy of such grace and fall again. They become hardened by this process and we will see that they become more corrupt as time progresses. 

  • 3:1-6 We see that in God’s divine plan for Israel, nations were still in the land that the people of Israel may be tested in their service to the Lord. 

To Know the Lord: Can you ever really know the Lord? Actually, you can. Though there are plenty of things we will never truly understand, we truly can have an experiential relationship with the Lord by the Holy Spirit through the sacrifice of the Son, Jesus Christ. 

The Next Generation: Oh how easy it was for the people of Israel to lose sight of what the Lord had done for them. It only took two generations from Joshua! We need to take a good and hard look at our personal leadership to make sure we are not doing the same things. Are we properly investing in the future? Do our children and grandchildren know what the Lord has done for us? By the third generation, these poor grandchildren had lost the language of talking about God. I fear many of us have done the same. 

The Lord’s Test: We see in this text that it is attested to God that evil people were allowed to stay in the Promised land alongside the Israelites. This was so that the faith of the Israelites could be tested. As uncomfortable that it may make us, God wants our faith tested. He wants us to come to him, to lean into his commands and promises. We should desire ourselves to be tested as we will become more connected to the Lord by so doing! When our tests come and difficulties arise, do not allow yourselves to become dismayed but be strengthened. God allows such tests that we make gain endurance and strength in him for his glory.