Judges 10
TOLA and Jair were mercifully raised up by God to preserve Israel for periods exceeding twenty years each, but when both were dead, the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord. They “corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from, their stubborn way.” (chapter 2 verse 19).
More idols than before were adopted from the nations around, and the people whom God had made His own, and by wonderful acts of power and grace had brought from cruel slavery in Egypt to peace and plenty in Canaan, “forsook the Lord and served not Him” (verse 6).
We are not surprised then that “the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel,” and that He sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and the Ammonites to whose gods they bowed down. The chastening they now received was severe, but necessarily so. Left to themselves, the children of Israel invariably fell into the ways of the idolatrous world.
This also has been the experience of the people of God since the cross of Christ, though much more enlightened and blessed. There is no safety in following man no matter how intelligent and however blessed of God. Well may repentant Israel say,
“God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble,” Psalm 46:11<<To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.>> God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1); and so, here in our chapter the people, “sore distressed”, cried unto Him, confessing their sin in forsaking their God and in serving idols.
There was not now immediate deliverance; these confessions had been made before, under the rod of affliction, but when once relief was given, the people had gone on with the practices which had brought on the suffering.
“Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen! Let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation!” is God’s answer, and it leads to deeper exercise. The strange gods are now put away, and they serve the Lord. Then His heart is grieved for the misery of Israel (verse 16). In His own time., but none the less certainly, He will deliver them, answering the prayer of their exercised hearts. So James tells us (chapter 5 verse 16).
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” We must wait for the next chapter to tell how deliverance came.
ML 12/06/1925