Chapter 82. Judges 1, 2. Declension and Idolatry.
The tribe of Joseph sent spies to Bethel, that they might look on the land. These men found, one of the, in habitants who was willing to become traitor to his country that his life might be spared. He showed the entrance of the city to the Josephites, who smote it with the edge of the sword; only the man and his family were allowed to go. But unlike Rahab, he did not want to make his home with God’s people, for He had not learned that God is the God of heaven and earth, as she had, but he betrayed his country, only to save his life. He went into the land of the Hittites and there built another city, and called it Luz, which was the old name for Bethel. Neither of the remaining tribes drove out the inhabitants of the land, as expressly told by God to do. Instead, they were kept from their possessions, and some of them were forced to live in the mountains; others allowed them to live and pay tribute, but none of them obeyed the Lord to utterly destroy those idolaters.
Then the angel of the Lord came from Gilgal where the tabernacle was, to Bochim, and spoke to the people saying:
God brought you out of Egypt into the land He had promised your fathers. And said He would never break His covenant with you; He told you to make no league with the, inhabitants of this land, but to throw down their altars; but you have not obeyed His voice. Why have you done this? Wherefore, said God, I will not drive them from before you; but they shall be as thorn’s in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.
When the children of Israel heard these words from the angel of the Lord, they wept, and called the place “Bochim” “Weepers,” and sacrificed there unto the Lord. But they did not repent, but did worse evil, worshipping Baalim forsaking the God who had brought them out of Egypt. They served these idols, Baal and Ashtaroth, bowing and praying to them. What an awful thing this was to do! and we wonder how they dared, knowing what God is in holiness and power. Let us also take this for a warning and give the Lord His true place,— the first,—in our hearts else we too, shall have something in God’s place which would be our idol. The apostle John tells us: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” He did not mean, gods of wood or stone, but whatever keeps us from giving the Lord Jesus the first place.
God was angry against Israel, and delivered them into the hands of their enemies, who robbed them, and they could not defend themselves, and wherever they went, God’s hand was against them, and they were very much distressed.
Yet the Lord, ever pitiful, raised up judges who delivered them from their foes, but they would not listen to these, but went after other gods, worshipping them. Whenever God raised up a judge, the Lord was with him, and he would save Israel from their enemies. But as soon as he died, the people would return to their idols, corrupting themselves more than their fathers, and ceased not to do evil.
Then God was very angry and He said: Because this people have not listened to My voice, but have disobeyed Me I will not drive out any more nations, but I will leave them that I might prove Israel by them whether they will keep My way to walk in it as their fathers did or not.
As we shall see, the Lord willing, these nations proved sore trials to the Israelites, and they had to learn by sad experience what a solemn thing it is to have to do with God. And we too, who know more fully than they of old could ever know, what a God of love we have, may well fear His displeasure, for truly “our God is a consuming fire.” (Heb. 12:2929For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29).)
ML 02/04/1912