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(Judges 1:1-3:6)
The American Western was a favorite film and television genre for decades. A courageous generation settling untamed territory captured the imagination of their settled descendants. The independence and freedom of that bygone society still holds appeal. At the same time, the frontier held challenges and dangers, such as shootouts, brothels, barfights, isolation, epidemics, vigilantism, and public hangings. Undeveloped society offers both sweeping possibilities and questionable morality. It wasn't called the Wild West for nothing.
The biblical book of Judges is the Wild West era of Israel's history. It is an era of settlers and frontier justice. It describes a time before ordered society, before fixed territories, before defined authority, when survival trumped stability. Consequently, this biblical book includes more brutality, sexual violence, religious chaos, lawlessness, and oppression than any other in Scripture.
In some ways, the harshness makes the lessons of Judges difficult to grasp. Modern readers have not experienced a society that is anything like Israelite society during that era. Furthermore, we don't want to. However, as current world conflicts show us, human depravity is unchanged. Society is fragile. Wild West living can resurface without much notice, especially when we reject the organizing principles of God's Word.
At the end of Joshua's conquest, the major cities and prominent kings of Canaan were conquered, but the task of settling the promised land was incomplete. While the Israelites had established their dominance over their new territory, there remained many strongholds to subdue. Although the tribal allotments had been clearly laid out, each of the twelve tribes had the task of driving out any remaining inhabitants in order to dwell peacefully in the land.
In only two generations, the people of Israel went from being chattel slaves to a nation of conquerors. They went from living in subservience to possessing and ruling their own land. In one generation, they went from camping in the wilderness living on miracle food from heaven to the responsibilities of maintaining, managing, and producing their own resources. The transition was swift and rough.
Moses brought Israel out of Egypt.
Joshua brought them into their new land.
Who would lead them forward?
During this steep learning curve, no capital city, no penal system, no human executive, no common infrastructure, no official currency, and no standing army existed. In such a situation, the reader could be forgiven for thinking there was no government.
However, God did not bring this people into the promised land only to abandon them there. In order for the Israelites to govern themselves, God gave them unique tools for ordering their society-tools they would need to fully embrace and utilize. They had the Torah. They had the priesthood. And they had the Lord himself.
The Torah (the Bible's first five books) was their chief asset. The Book of Law given through Moses included their ethnic and cultural history. It highlighted their exceptional place among the people of the world as God's chosen people. As such, they were required to live God's way, so the Torah also spelled out an ethical system of laws and obligations. The Law provided policies for virtually every aspect of life and restrictions to remind them of their uniqueness in the world, as well as penalties and remedies for violations.
God ordained the tribe of Levi, and especially its priestly class, to oversee the implementation of this new way of life. Their religious duties performed on behalf of the nation were meant to continually remind the people of God's character and requirements. Those duties included leading Israel in worship, proclaiming God's ways, dispensing his justice, and representing the people before God.
Hovering over these organizing resources, Israel had the favor of YAHWEH. If they loved and followed him, he would continue to care for them personally. He would fight for them in battle. He would prosper their work. He would bless their crops. He would expand their reign over the region. With their cooperation, he would exalt them above all the other nations. Simply looking at Israel would give the world an example of God's faithfulness, power, and love.
If they honored him, he would honor them.
If.
The biblical book of Judges is a collection of historical accounts from this transition period of Hebrew history. It is the narrative of a nation settling. Settling their land, of course, but also settling for less. Israel settled for less obedience than God required, less territory than God gave them, and less blessing than God desired for them.
"Fail" video reels are another entertaining genre, at least for those with a slightly twisted sense of humor. Watching a tree surgeon miscalculate, a skier crash and burn, or a bride take a tumble is addictive. Why else would people tune in to watch a TV show featuring nothing but other people's home videos? Failure can be funny.
But Israel's string of failures in Judges 1 shows nothing humorous. One tribe after another fell short of its potential. Compromising with their new neighbors, they settled for less land and heritage than God promised them.
No matter how brutal the human summary of Israel's failures might be, it could never have the impact of God's own summary given through his divine messenger.
From this point on, the history of Israel is one of compromise, idolatry, and conflict with the surrounding peoples. The Israelites did not erase the idolatry and moral degradation of the Canaanites as God intended. Instead, the chosen people of God tolerated, accepted, and eventually adopted it. The downward spiral of the rest of the book of Judges bears this out.
Every earth satellite faces a similar and lethal hazard, namely, a decaying orbit. Earth's gravity, tidal influences, and brushes with the outer atmosphere create drag on these objects. Without regular intervention from a vigilant ground crew, each revolution would bring them closer to fiery re-entry and destruction. Skilled software engineers program the corrections that counteract these influences and keep the satellite aloft. Israel's commitment to God was threatened by the same danger. Without regular seasons of repentance and renewal led by godly and humble leaders, decay and devastation were inevitable.
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