Judges 2:10 "After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel."
God keeps his word. God keeping his word can be a blessing or a curse, but that's not always up to Him.
Judges 2 is an amazing view into Israel's freefall into idolatry and turning away from God to the Baals. It actually only took one generation. Which surprised me at first, but then I figured this is Israel doing what they do. Screwing up. But from one generation to the next, mom and dad knowing God, and then their children not knowing God? And then that spread all across Israel? Wow.
All the things happened to Israel that God said would happen if they turned away...defeat in battle, they were plundered by raiders, etc.
So God Himself, reached into Israel, and raised up leaders...judges if you will, who were intended to be the go-betweens and spiritual standards for the nation of Israel. These judges are described as saving Israel from the hands of the raiders, so maybe they had Israel on the right track for at least a brief period, but then it's back into idolatry...quickly. God still had compassion...love...for the people of Israel as they groaned and wept as they were being robbed and defeated, but apparently they did not repent, and turn away from their rebellion, which was a contingent of the covenant for God to return His blessings. Israel made the choice to break the covenant, God offered relief if the Israelites wanted. Apparently they did not.
So why wouldn't God just reach in and make things all better? That's probably, actually, not what God was all about. Could he? Sure. But in breaking His own covenant to provide temporary relief, would he continue to still be God? He bonded His word.
Showing posts with label judges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label judges. Show all posts
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Dt. 17: Ruling
Deuteronomy 17:6 "On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness."
More warnings against other religions. God did not want to see things like Asherah Poles or sacred stones erected in Israel. Probably even if these stones were in honor of Him. Also, there is a reiteration that a sacrifice for sin had to be perfect...without defect or deformity. Only perfection could remove imperfection.
So terrible an offense to God is leading others astray that people who do so must be put to death by stoning. Can you imagine? Who ever witnessed this blasphemy was the person who was to cast the first stone. I guess that's a good rule. This probably sought to reduce the number of people who would just go around accusing people of blasphemy so they could be stoned. What a horrific way to kill. You just throw rocks at someone until they die? Horrifying.
The judges were given charge over difficult cases, and my guess is that they were Levites, so God presumably spoke through them, and issued judgment through them. It was because of this divine word that the Israelites were commanded to do exactly as the judges say, without deviating to the right or to left. Straight up. Anyone going against the judges was to be put to death.
Verse 14 is the first mention I can recall of the possibility of Israel having a king over them. But it doesn't seem as though God is encouraging Israel to appoint a king, or to ask for one. Moses just went through a whole ceremony that set Joshua up to replace him as...leader...I guess. A king had several requirements:
1. Appointed by God
2. Must be an Israelite
3. Must not acquire wealth, or return to Egypt to get more horses
4. Most not take many wives, else he be led astray
5. Had to study and learn Gods laws and decrees
Kings were in the habit of compromise and making deals, and we have already seen what happens when Israel gets together with other nations. Idolatry and immorality. That seems to be the underlying reason why God did not want a king over Israel, and set these safeguards in place to ensure that a future king did not screw with Israel. If a king followed God's laws, as verse 20 says, then he and his descendants will reign a long time.
More warnings against other religions. God did not want to see things like Asherah Poles or sacred stones erected in Israel. Probably even if these stones were in honor of Him. Also, there is a reiteration that a sacrifice for sin had to be perfect...without defect or deformity. Only perfection could remove imperfection.
So terrible an offense to God is leading others astray that people who do so must be put to death by stoning. Can you imagine? Who ever witnessed this blasphemy was the person who was to cast the first stone. I guess that's a good rule. This probably sought to reduce the number of people who would just go around accusing people of blasphemy so they could be stoned. What a horrific way to kill. You just throw rocks at someone until they die? Horrifying.
The judges were given charge over difficult cases, and my guess is that they were Levites, so God presumably spoke through them, and issued judgment through them. It was because of this divine word that the Israelites were commanded to do exactly as the judges say, without deviating to the right or to left. Straight up. Anyone going against the judges was to be put to death.
Verse 14 is the first mention I can recall of the possibility of Israel having a king over them. But it doesn't seem as though God is encouraging Israel to appoint a king, or to ask for one. Moses just went through a whole ceremony that set Joshua up to replace him as...leader...I guess. A king had several requirements:
1. Appointed by God
2. Must be an Israelite
3. Must not acquire wealth, or return to Egypt to get more horses
4. Most not take many wives, else he be led astray
5. Had to study and learn Gods laws and decrees
Kings were in the habit of compromise and making deals, and we have already seen what happens when Israel gets together with other nations. Idolatry and immorality. That seems to be the underlying reason why God did not want a king over Israel, and set these safeguards in place to ensure that a future king did not screw with Israel. If a king followed God's laws, as verse 20 says, then he and his descendants will reign a long time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
