By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, University of Mobile
CONSEQUENCES
Judges 2:11–23
Although the Lord had given all the promised land to the Israelites by the time of Joshua’s death, there were still areas in their tribal allotments where they needed to drive out the inhabitants and possess the land. After some measure of success at first, they were unable to drive out the Canaanites in the valley (1:2–19). The Israelites compromised with the Canaanites and agreed to coexist with them.
Therefore, the Lord declared that He would not drive out the Canaanites from the land. The Canaanites would therefore be thorns in their sides, and their gods would be a trap to them.
The Evil (11–15)
As soon as Joshua and the elders who served with him died, the next generation arose, which did not know the Lord or the works He had done for Israel (2:10). As predicted by Moses, Israel did “evil in the Lord’s sight,” which refers to idolatry. In contrast to Joshua’s contemporaries, who had served the Lord (v. 7), Israel now served the Canaanite storm-fertility god Baal and the war-love goddess Astarte in their various local forms. This explains why these false deities are called “Baals” in verse 11 and “Ashtoreths” in verse 13.
These so-called deities were attractive to Israel because they promised their worshippers agricultural prosperity, abundant offspring and national security. By rejecting God, Israel provoked the Lord’s jealous anger.
Because of their disobedience, God took away the prosperity and security Israel hoped their pagan gods would provide. He delivered His people into the hand of marauding invaders and the hostile nations around them. When the Israelites went to battle, the Lord actively opposed them and brought about their defeat, just as He had threatened to do (Deut. 28:25).
The Cycle (16–19)
Even in anger, the Lord did not abandon Israel. When they groaned under the oppressive hand of their enemies, the Lord was moved to pity on their behalf. The absence of any mention of repentance highlights both God’s mercy and Israel’s spiritual poverty.
God’s pity moved Him to deliver His people through divinely appointed military leaders called judges who were also responsible to give the people moral guidance. God’s mercy, however, had no lasting impact on the nation. They quickly turned from the path of obedience and prostituted themselves to pagan gods. Each new generation acted more corruptly than the previous one.
Throughout the Book of Judges, we encounter repeated cycles. First, Israel abandoned the Lord and worshipped Canaanite gods. Second, God judged His people by allowing their enemies to oppress them. Third, Israel cried out to God for deliverance.
Fourth, the Lord demonstrated pity for His people by raising up a judge to deliver them. Fifth, there was a period of peace during the lifetime of the appointed judge. And sixth, the Israelites would persist in rebellion against God and act more wickedly than the previous generation.
The Declaration (20–23)
“The Lord’s anger burned against Israel.” God will not tolerate idolatry among His people. Because His people violated the covenant He had made with them, He declared He would not drive out the nations left in the promised land.
God left the inhabitants in the land to test Israel. Would they turn back to God and walk in His ways like their forefathers, or would they continue in rebellion against Him? The Lord did not grant His people victory over the Canaanites in the land. Israel’s unfaithfulness resulted in the loss of God’s blessing.
EDITOR’S NOTE — The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
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